MPA students concentrating in Economic Policy explore ways in which public policy affects economic and financial decision making, and vice versa.
A Guide to Internships & Externships in the Cornell MPA Program
Learning by Doing: A Better Approach to Professional Education
It is one thing to learn important skills in a classroom; it’s quite another to experience them firsthand. Whether you want to learn how nonprofits work with government to implement policy, or how to address agricultural challenges in rural communities, practical application of skills will not only increase your understanding of your field, but will give you the knowledge and experience required to advance your career.
At Cornell University, we believe in the power of hands-on learning, which is why we offer a variety of ways to enhance your Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree through tangible, real-world experiences. Keep reading to discover the opportunities offered through the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, learn how hands-on learning can bolster your competitiveness on the job market, and hear stories from current MPA students who are preparing themselves for thriving careers through experiential learning.
The Internship & Externship Guide
In order to share this resource in a more digestible way, we've created a downloadable version of this resource page. We invite you to download and save it for future reference.
Understanding the Value of Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is the process of learning by doing, and, more specifically, learning through reflection on doing. This approach to learning moves beyond the classroom and strives to facilitate a more active and involved way of developing skills.
While the general concept of learning through experience is ancient, as an articulated educational approach, experiential learning is of much more recent. Beginning in the 1970s, David A. Kolb helped to develop the modern theory of experiential learning, drawing heavily on the work of John Dewey, Kurt Lewin, and Jean Piaget. Kolb defines learning as “the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience.” For Kolb, experience is the source from which all learning stems.
Kolb's experiential learning style theory is typically represented by a four-stage learning cycle:
- Concrete Experience: The learner encounters a new experience or situation.
- Reflective Observation: The learner reflects on the experience.
- Abstract Conceptualization: The reflective observation gives rise to a new idea or modification of an existing concept.
- Active Experimentation: The learner then applies their ideas to the world around them and observes the outcomes.
The learning cycle can begin at any one of the four points – and should really be approached as a continuous spiral. When the new ideas are put into action, they become the basis for a new cycle of experiential learning.
How the Cornell Brooks School MPA Promotes Experiential Learning
The MPA degree is a professional degree for students seeking a career in public management and public policy. MPA programs develop the skills and techniques used by managers to implement policies, projects, and programs that resolve important problems within their organization and in society.
The Cornell Brooks School MPA is a two-year graduate program through which we prepare individuals for management and leadership careers in public service. Our MPA offers a solid foundation of core coursework in management, economics and finance, and quantitative analysis.
Direct experience with professional work in public affairs is a key component of our MPA curriculum, serving as a practical complement to formal academic study. Hands-on learning gives students an accurate perception of the kind of work they’ll be involved in post-graduation and provides invaluable experience that students will take into careers that make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Our students often say that they’re drawn to the Cornell Brooks School MPA because of the emphasis we place on experiential learning, with hands-on opportunities offered both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to internship and externship opportunities, as well as numerous courses with experiential learning components, we offer two intensive consulting courses that are client-based. Graduates regularly cite their consulting engagements as key in helping them develop the skill set they need to be successful in their careers.
The ROI of a Master’s in Public Administration
Interested in learning about the true, measurable value of a Master’s in Public Administration from Cornell University? Download our digital resource: Uncovering the Real Value of Cornell University's MPA Degree to find out more!
Opportunities for Real-World Learning at Cornell
In the Cornell Brooks School MPA program, there are several options for fulfilling the Practical Experience requirement for the MPA. Real-world consulting opportunities, internships, off-campus study, and Capstone experiences help you develop the skill set you need to be successful in your future careers.
To fulfill the Practical Experience component of the MPA degree, most students choose to complete an internship in the summer between the first and second year of study, or an externship while enrolled in one of the off-campus semester programs.
Internships are available both in the United States and abroad in public, private, and nonprofit organizations across the field of public affairs.
Some of our recent Brooks MPA students have been placed in internships with the following representative organizations:
An Educational Guide for Future Leaders in Public Affairs
If you are looking for an opportunity to make valuable contributions to the world around you, check out our in-depth guide on the MPA program offered at Cornell University.
Come Visit Us!
By scheduling a visit to our campus, you'll have the opportunity to tour the campus, meet with faculty and staff members, attend a class, and connect with current students who share similar policy interests.
New York State Capital Semester
Through this program, students are placed in a paid internship with the New York State Legislature, while earning a full semester of credits. Capital Semester students are full-time Assembly or Senate Interns who spend the spring semester living, working, and studying in Albany, a vibrant and student-centered city. Students learn how the New York State Legislature functions through direct experience and formal instruction.
Wherever your policy interests lie — higher education, healthcare, environmental conservation, economic development, or elsewhere — Cornell offers the unique opportunity to help students begin careers in public service, public policy, politics and government.
For more information, please visit: New York State Capital Semester
Capstone Project
To fulfill the Professional Writing Requirement of the MPA degree, most students participate in the Capstone program, an in-depth, semester-long program designed for second-year MPA students. For each Capstone project, students form consultancy teams that propose relevant and actionable solutions to well-defined policy or management problems posed by client organizations. The experiential learning and teamwork required in each Capstone project will enhance students’ abilities as public affairs professionals and leaders.
Capstone projects are multidisciplinary and experiential in nature, and students have the opportunity to learn from each other and from faculty and staff resources across the University, as well as from Cornell Brooks School contacts in the field. Over the course of the program, students learn about managing projects and undertaking policy analysis within the constraints of various political environments and organizations. They also gain professional and public service experience and learn to manage a team project.
We take tremendous pride in the work that students accomplish through the Capstone program each semester. Our partnerships with government and nonprofit organizations result in new programs, strategies, policy assessments, business plans and more; these deliverables are valuable to our clients and improve people’s lives. The projects are also an indispensable component of the Cornell Brooks School MPA curriculum, providing students with important hands-on research and leadership experience.
The goal is for you to leave the Brooks School prepared to compete as one of the best-of-the best in your respective field, recognizing that in the course of your career, you may make several changes in focus and direction. Our curriculum is designed to balance general management skills with applications to specific areas of public affairs.
Further Augment Your MPA
If you’re interested in giving yourself a competitive edge, Cornell offers complementary and dual degree options along with graduate certificate programs that you can pursue in addition to your MPA.
Make a Difference in U.S. Domestic Policy-Making
Download our digital guide to learn more about how you can tailor your Master of Public Administration degree to specifically focus on the pressing policy issues in the United States.
“I was in charge of building the company structure from the ground up. Early on, for example, since California’s legislation on driverless trucks was so restrictive, we had to expand our footprint to another state to develop a driverless fleet facility. I was tasked with locating a new state with lenient legislation for autonomy. It was a rigorous process, but I was able to convince the board and the company to expand into Tucson, Arizona. We effectively doubled the team size over the course of a year. The experience and the lessons I gained from the collaborative Capstone project has certainly helped me a lot throughout the process.”
— Vivian Sun, Cornell Brooks School MPA Alumni
Subscribe to Policy in Action
Want to read success stories similar to Vivian’s? Subscribe to the Cornell University MPA blog, Public Policy in Action. We hope to cultivate a community of exceptional students who have the analytical, leadership, and communication skills necessary to succeed in serving others across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Career & Professional Development at Cornell
The Office of Career Management provides the tools you need to put your MPA degree to work in the competitive public affairs job market, whether you’re a current student or an alum. Our Career Services Staff will help you assemble an individualized career plan and then provide you with everything you require to succeed, from how to write your resume and cover letter to how to network and conduct yourself during a job interview. We’re committed to your professional development and the advancement of your career.
How are recent graduates faring in the job market? Take a look at our statistics. And for more information, contact the Office of Career Management.
Financing Your Ivy League MPA
Figuring out how to finance an Ivy League education may seem intimidating at first. You may be surprised to learn that Cornell University’s MPA program is actually more affordable than similar programs at other schools. Combined tuition, fees, and overall living expenses for Cornell’s two-year MPA range from $20,000 to $40,000 less than our competitors.
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Whether or not you receive one of these fellowships, there are other opportunities for funding that students can pursue to offset the cost of graduate school. These opportunities include part-time employment, external scholarships, and federal loan forgiveness. We understand the commitment our students make when choosing to further their education. At Cornell, we want to make getting your MPA as easy as possible.
Admissions to Cornell’s MPA Program
Our Admissions Committee evaluates applicants on the basis of potential for academic success at Cornell, as well as demonstrated commitment to a career in public service. Through our rigorous application process, we look for applicants who will serve as change-makers across the global public, private, and nonprofit sectors — highly capable professionals who think creatively and are passionate about confronting some of the world’s most challenging public policy issues.
Our MPA requires strong analytical abilities and quantitative skills. While a background in the social sciences is helpful, the breadth of public affairs as a field of study and practice invites interest from an expansive range of professional fields, including the arts, business, engineering, and the natural sciences.
ADMISSIONS
The Cornell Brooks School MPA program offers rolling admissions. To receive optimum consideration for funding opportunities, however, we encourage you to submit your application by the end of January.
