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Internships and Service Learning
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
In This Page
Internships in the Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies
Student Perspectives - Quotes from PAUS Interns in 2002
“From this internship I have gained valuable knowledge about both state and local government that only comes from an inside view. [The internship] has convinced me that this is the area in which I want to work.”
“One major perk of my internship is that I am in front of a lot of Board members who get to know me and see my work. Also, I get some modicum of cache among co-workers in being connected to this project; it’s also helpful to me in getting to know more of them.”
As a student in the MPA nonprofit management career track, I felt it was important to expose myself to another type of institution that contributes to the public good. This internship provides me with valuable insight into the business of organizational consulting and private-public partnerships. I will learn how to establish relationships within the nonprofit and public sector.”
“My work is definitely varied and demands many of the skills I have learned and acquired over the years. I hope to continue working here after completing my internship so as to enhance and maximize my learning experience.”
“I have had the opportunity to see the many different functions that the Human Resources department is in charge of and how extremely busy and challenging the job can be. I absolutely love the idea of being a part of such a well established company and helping them make everything flow together. The best thing that I have gotten out of this experience is reassurance that this is the career for me.”
“[The internship] was a valuable experience for me, scholastically and personally. My country and [the airline] industry were under attack, and I was able to participate in a live crisis situation that people sometimes prepare for but do not experience in their entire careers.”
“I am learning how to analyze policy and understand in its impact on real life. I am also learning about the intricacies of agency operations, both functionally and substantively. Additionally, I am gaining a profound understanding of how politics works.”
“Working with the DOT is giving me the opportunity to see how the government works from the Executive Branch. Also, this internship has afforded me the opportunity to work with various transportation planners and local government officials throughout the state and has increased my desire to work with transportation planning at the local level in the future.”
“My goal [with the internship] is to prepare myself for an assistant city manager position and provide the practical knowledge of city operations. This is great preparation for the "real world" of local government management!”
“The internship program is very interesting and is an enriching experience for me, the more so since I am provided with opportunities to participate in several seminars, talks, or conferences organized by my organization. I have been able to attend the Board of Councilors meeting recently and have also volunteered for the Global Development Forum. This Forum was meant to provide an avenue for discussions on how to mitigate poverty in the developing world. The Forum was attended by key personalities, including the President of the World Bank, the President of the Republic of Mali, the President of Mozambique, and the President of Guyana.”
“In addition to learning to write grants, I have had the opportunity to represent the Mayor's Office of Grants Development, and on occasion, the Mayor herself. I have a new understanding of how the City attempts to fund itself and its programs, and how difficult this process is.”
[My internship has taught me] about funding and grants and the process involved, the strategic planning process of a small non-profit, and I have had the opportunity to become acquainted with numerous non-profit and government agencies in the state.”
“I am personally interested in working in developing and transitional economies and help them in the process of their economic development. This internship gives me the opportunity to learn about some economic and public policy issues in developing and transitional economies and the different approaches of solution. By the end of my internship, I hope to acquire some necessary skills in fiscal analysis and decentralization (one of the major issues in developing countries) that will enable me to assist those developing countries.”
“This internship is a perfect match for me. With my legal background this position affords me the opportunity to utilize my legal skills and experience while at the same time I am gaining valuable experience on various policy issues, drafting legislation, learning about the state's legislative process and learning the operations and functions of a non-profit organization. I will also have the privilege of interacting and working with prominent leaders of organizations, public officials, such as senators and members of the House of Representatives.”
“I feel fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with people of this caliber. I am confident that this experience combined with my educational goals will leave me a well-rounded candidate for future public employment.”
“I am really grateful for such a wonderful internship opportunity. I gained a lot of knowledge about the structure, attitude and diversity, professional and cultural behavior maintained in this International agency.”
Students tell us in their own words what an important part the internship experience plays in their education at the AYSPS. Those completing internships gain professional experience and added responsibility, as well as academic credit. Interns work in their chosen field with professionals who not only provide a valuable interning experience, but also serve as mentors and role models. Internships allow students to test concepts they have learned in the classroom with practical experience and to evaluate their career readiness. Being an intern or long-term volunteer also provides AYSPS students an inside look at their chosen field, from a practitioner's point of view, allowing them to hone important career building skills.
According to one recent intern, "I know I will leave this internship with the tools to pursue a position directly in my career path."
This year, 65 graduate and undergraduate students completed internships for academic credit. The graduate internship is one of several exit options for students in the M.P.A., M.P.A./J.D., and the M.S. in Urban Policy Studies degrees, and is required for students in the M.S. in Human Resource Development program who do not have significant prior work experience. The internship is also an optional capstone course for urban policy studies undergraduates in their senior year, or is available as a junior elective.
The internship program for students in public administration, urban policy studies, and human resource development is coordinated by Dr. Gregory Streib and Dr. Katherine Willoughby. Year-round online access to course materials, and a myriad of choices for communicating with the Internship Coordinators adds to the appeal of this course. According to interns, the internship program’s flexibility and online facilitation are extremely attractive. Couple these factors with students’ active work experience with public, nonprofit and private organizations and you can understand why our graduates leave our program pleased with the knowledge and skills gained that make them attractive to potential employers.
Student Internship Placements
Below are just some of the agencies and organizations in which our 2002 graduate and undergraduate students in the Department of Public Administration and Urban Policy Studies held internships:
Public Agencies and Organizations
- City of Atlanta, Bureau of Personnel and Human Resources
- City of Atlanta, Mayor’s Office, Grants Development
- City of Decatur, City Manager’s Office
- City of East Point, Office of Economic Development
- City of Fayetteville, Department of Planning and Zoning
- City of Holly Springs, Georgia
- City of Marietta, Office of Economic Development
- City of Santa Cruz, California, Mayor’s Office
- Georgia Department of Human Resources
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division
- Georgia Department of Transportation, Planning Division
- Georgia Lottery Corporation
- Georgia Perimeter College, Center for Teaching and Learning
- Georgia State University Human Resource Department
- Georgia State University, Hospitality Administration Department
- Georgia State University, International Studies Program
- Georgia State University, Research Atlanta, Inc.
- Governor’s Office, State of Georgia, Office of Constituent Services
- Gwinnett County, Magistrate Court
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Virginia Tech University, University Relations and Development
Nonprofit Organizations
- American Heart Association
- American Red Cross
- Association of County Commissioners of Georgia
- Capitol Area Mosaic funded by Families First Organization
- CARE-USA
- Carter Center
- Center for Pan Asian Community Services
- Chinese Culture Center
- Emory University, Human Resources Department
- Environmental Community Outreach-Action, Inc.
- Fayette County Ballet Company
- Georgia Municipal Association
- HOC, Inc.
- Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, Georgia Early Learning Initiative
- Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Public Policy Division
- Minority Health Professions Foundation
- Paideia School
- Research Atlanta, Inc.
- United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta
- VSA Arts of Georgia
Private Sector Organizations
- Atlantic Southeastern Airlines
- Capitol Impact, Inc.
- Ceridian Employer Services
- EMS Technologies
- InterCept, Inc.
- INVESCO, Inc.
- KnowledgeBase, Inc.
- Macy’s, Inc.
- Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, LLC
- Simmons Compan
- The Community Bank
Service Learning
The Office of Community Outreach and Partnerships (OCOP) coordinates a service-learning program offering GSU students the opportunity to participate in community service. Through this experiential learning process, students apply classroom studies in community settings, addressing genuine community needs. Participating students represent virtually all academic majors and course of study at the University, such as Art, Biology, CIS, International Business, Journalism, Marketing, Public Administration and Urban Studies, Political Science, Social Work, Sociology and Spanish. The Freshman Learning Community, Perspectives on Social Conditions, also offers a service-learning component. The list of Service-Learning community sites includes:
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