Internships & Careers

Students must complete a 3-credit hour internship experience (200 hours). Students with prior managerial work experience may substitute a relevant POL course for the internship with the prior approval of the MPA Director. In a case where a student is unable to obtain an internship, a relevant POL course may be substituted with the prior written approval of the MPA Director.

Click here to view our Internship Guidelines.

Click here to view our Internship Assessment Rubric.

Our program has compiled a list of organizations in which students may begin their search for an internship. Students are not limited to the organizations below. We encourage students to speak with the program director for questions regarding how to source an internship.

• InternshipJobs.com

  Internjobs.com

  This is a global database of internships and entry-level positions for students, recent graduates and career changers.

• Miami-Dade County Executive Leadership Program

  Miami-Dade County Executive Leadership Program

  The Miami-Dade County Executive Leadership Program offers juniors, seniors and graduate students in our colleges and universities the opportunity to meet the County's leadership and get a first-hand look at County government.

  Through structured workshops and professional mentoring from senior management, students will learn County governance and participate in well-planned and organized practical projects that match their educational objectives.

  The program's ultimate goal is to prepare and develop a strong group of future leaders for our County's municipal governments, but it will also better position students for future job opportunities.

• Miami-Dade County Internship Program

  Miami-Dade County Internship Program

  The County's college internship program provides college students with the opportunity to work on special projects and/or assignments with teams of professionals in their chosen discipline.

  Internships generally last one semester coinciding with the college's school year. Work schedules are flexible to accommodate class schedules. The County will accommodate student and school requests for longer or shorter periods. The majority of college internships are non-paid. However, there are areas of specialized study where a paid internship may be available.

• Presidential Management Fellows Program

  Presidential Management Fellows Program

  Bearing the Presidential moniker, the PMF Program is a flagship leadership development program at the entry level for advanced degree candidates. It was created more than three decades ago by Executive Order and has gone through many changes over the years. 

  The Program attracts and selects the best candidates possible, but is really designed with a more narrow focus - developing a cadre of potential government leaders. It provides some sustenance during the first years of employment and encourages development of leadership capabilities. The PMF Program inculcates a lasting bond as well as a spirit of public service, ultimately encouraging and leading to a career in the government.

• White House Internship Program

  White House Internship Program

  The White House Internship Program is a public service leadership program that provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills. This hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate today’s young leaders, strengthen their understanding of the Executive Office, and prepare them for future public service opportunities.

It's never too early to focus on your professional development. Gaining work experience during college is crucial for your future career success! Take a look at the open internship & job opportunities listed below. These employers are looking to hire current students, students who are about to graduate, and/or recent alumni. For even more opportunities, log in to Handshake!

Not seeing what you're looking for? For thousands more openings, log in to Handshake today! 

What is Handshake?

Handshake is a career services platform created for students and alumni to use in their career development. It’s used by over 200,000 employers, including all Fortune 500 companies! Thousands of internship and job opportunities are posted on Handshake by employers specifically looking to hire students. 

All UM students have a Handshake account that is automatically created for them when they enroll at the U. All you have to do is log in to Handshake to activate your account. Handshake will then recommend certain positions to you based on your profile, allowing for easy searching. Completing and updating your profile will provide Handshake with a better idea of which job and internship listings you may be interested in.

Here are some of the awesome things you can do with Handshake:

• Apply for jobs & internships
• Register for career fairs, workshops, & info sessions
• Upload your resume for an online critique from the Toppel Career Center
• Research thousands of employers
• Network with recruiters and other students for career insights

Interested in learning more about a specific career path or occupation you found on Handshake? The Job Market Data tool allows you to explore potential careers by giving you access to employment trends, top employers, salary data, key skills and core competencies, sample job titles, core tasks, and more for any given occupation.

Need help with career planning?

Careers are jungle gyms, not ladders. In other words, there’s no such thing as a perfect, direct career path that’s free of challenges. And no single major leads to one and only one career. But all careers have to start somewhere, and the Toppel Career Center is here to help you navigate your professional development and career-related decisions.

There’s no appointment necessary to speak with a Toppel career advisor. Use this link to enter our virtual Drop-In advising Zoom room and get the advice you need anytime Monday – Friday, 8:30am-5pm.

Check out Toppel’s website for tons of career resources, events, mentors, and more!