PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION INTERNSHIPS
Prepare with Purpose
Discover the work that interests you.
Getting an internship during your undergraduate career lets you apply knowledge from classes, builds confidence in your skills and helps you figure out your career path. Students have obtained internships at government agencies like Oneida Nation and Brown County; nonprofit organizations like United Way and Freedom House; for-profit organizations like Humana and Schneider; and on-campus opportunities like Admissions and the Kress Events Center.
How to Find an Internship
Start early! Preferably the semester before you want to register for an internship, meet with the public administration internship coordinator, Ashley Heath, to prepare a strategy to find your perfect internship opportunity. You will need to prepare a cover letter and résumé to send to possible sponsoring organizations. Here are some resources to help you look for an internship:
- Handshake: Leverage UW-Green Bay's online job listing system.
- LinkedIn: Search for internships in your area of interest.
- Career Planning: See up-to-date internship listings.
Internship Qualifications
An internship is about 10-12 hours per week per semester, or 150 hours for 3 credits. Internships can be taken for 3 to 12 credits, and count toward your 120 credits needed for graduation.
To Qualify for an Internship
To qualify for a public administration internship, you need to:
- Have a 2.75 or higher cumulative GPA
- Be a junior or senior
- Complete 3 public administration courses
- Declared major in public administration
Internship Proposal Form
Once you have an accepted internship position, ask Ashley Heath to complete the Proposal Form. This form contains:
- The location and duration of the internship
- Any compensation you will be receiving
- The duties you will be performing as an intern
To complete the proposal form, you must get the appropriate signatures from the host organization's supervisor of your internship. To register for the internship credits, submit your completed form to the Registrar's office.
Internship Expectations
1. Track Your Hours
Keep track of your hours and document duties performed.
2. Keep in Touch
Meet with the public administration internship coordinator about two weeks into the internship and monthly thereafter to let them know how things are going.
3. Write it Out
Complete a final 8-10 page paper and a weekly reflection journal, due at the end of the semester to the internship coordinator.
4. Be Celebrated!
Participate in the 'Celebrating Students!' event held at the end of the semester.
Meet a
Phoenix
“I've done one internship so far and that was with the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce. I worked underneath the Chamber, President Laurie Radke. My official role was community legislative outreach intern… this program helped me prepare for [a career] by understanding how nonprofits work. I got to really hone in on some of the skills that are going to be really important in a future career in public administration.”
Jacob Lau '22
Double Major in Public Administration and Political Science
Want to Know More?
Need more information about how to get an internship? Ask Ashley Heath, our Internship Coordinator, for help.