Public Administration Internships

For questions regarding the Public Administration Internships please contact Bernard Rhinerson, the Internship Coordinator.

SDSU's Public Administration Program has developed an internship program as an integral part of its undergraduate and graduate Public Administration Program, and is seeking to forge partnerships with government and nonprofit agencies that are interested in serving as placement sites for public administration interns. The internship placements most commonly sought by the Public Administration Program are part-time internships lasting one academic semester, but may also include full-time placements and internships of longer duration. An internship of 12 units (one semester) beyond the 36 units of coursework is required of students who nave not had equivalent experience. Interns are usually placed in a governmental agency and will perform duties of an administrative nature. Placements have typically been with city managers, budget offices, personnel offices, in offices of heads of major operating Departments and/or with private consulting firms or private not for profit agencies.

The Internship Process

Initial Consultations Between Student and Internship Coordinator
Student attends an internship meeting at the beginning of the semester, receives course syllabus, forms, and schedules a follow-up meeting with the Internship Coordinator to discuss desired internship placement and to:

  • confirm student’s eligibility for internship course (PA 498) and level of professionalism
  • provide coordinator with personal resume and copy of official or unofficial transcript
  • determine interests
  • identify potential internship sites
  • receive add code for PA 498 from coordinator if approved

Agency Interview and Enrollment in Internship Course

  • student interviews at agency and receives agency approval for internship;
  • student and agency establish compensation arrangements (if applicable);
  • student returns necessary forms to Internship Coordinator prior to beginning internship;
  • student receives final approval from Internship Coordinator to enroll in internship course.

Orientation At Agency

  • student and agency mentor establish work schedule;
  • student and agency mentor develop work responsibilities and training.

Student Written Assignments (submitted to Internship Coordinator)

  • Weekly Journal (typed): briefly describe internship work each week and also describe organizational environment, problem-solving approaches, and relation between relevant academic coursework/literature and agency work.
  • Paper (typed): Undergraduate (5 page): Paper content requirements will be explained in the course syllabus.

Exit Interview with Agency Mentor

  • student interviews with agency mentor;
  • agency mentor submits written evaluation of intern to Internship Coordinator.

Final Grade
Internship Coordinator determines a student’s final grade based on reviewing the agency
mentor evaluation and the student’s written assignments.

Helpful Information and Forms
PA Assignment Placement Report Form
 PA Intern Evaluation Form
PA Intern Opportunity Contacts