MPA Internships and Jobs
Overview
An internship is required for the Master of Public Administration pre-service students (MPA students with no previous professional work experience).
The internship program serves students’ interests by providing real-world experiences working with professionals in government, private sector, and/or non-profit organizations. Our internship director, Dr. Tracy Appling, works individually with students to identify the best placement for them. Students are then able to earn academic credit for their experience.
The internship position allows students to practice and extend skills learned in the MPA program. The internship experience has played a critical role in the job placement outcomes of students with limited professional work experience and of experienced students who are not currently employed or who are planning a career change.
Internship Opportunities
During the past three years, our students have interned with the following agencies
- City of Durham
- City of Raleigh
- Common Cause
- Durham County
- NC Academy of Physician Assistance
- NC Department of Environmental Quality
- NC Department of Public Instruction
- NC General Assembly
- NC Rural Center
- North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
- Public School Forum of North Carolina
- RTI International
- SPCA of Wake County
- Town of Cary
- Town of Knightdale
- Town of Wake Forest
- United Way of North Carolina
- Urban Ministries
- Wake County Emergency Management
Additional Resources
- The American Society for Public Administration
- How to Write a Federal Resume in 2021
- National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
- NC State University Career Development Center
- Presidential Management Fellows Program
- PublicServiceCareers.org
- USA Jobs
- Tips for applying to federal jobs
- N.C. Center for Nonprofits
- YNPN Triangle NC
You can find additional internship and job opportunities through ePACK, NC State’s source for finding internships and entry-level jobs.