Internship Process - Secure an internship with a government or nonprofit agency
Finding an internship is similar to the process of securing employment. By applying to internships, students will practice job application skills needed to enter the job market post-graduation. You need to contact organizations of interest and apply for an internship in the same way that you would a job.
Students are responsible for finding internships with government or nonprofit agencies. Internships with private-sector employers or political campaigns are not eligible for internship credit. Please review the information below to familiarize yourself with the internship process.
Contact ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍøInternship Coordinator Laureana Jones with questions (laureanajones@arizona.edu).
Internship Options
±¬ÁϳԹÏÍøstudents will have two options for completing the internship requirement.
Option 1.
Complete three units PA 393 (Public Affairs Internship Section) or PA 493 (Criminal Justice Internship Section) 120 hours of internship & 15 hours coursework via D2L
Option 2.
Complete PA 393A (1-unit) and PA 393/493 (2-units) 80 hours of internship and 10 hours coursework via D2L
PA 393 Internship Readiness in the Public Sector aims to prepare students with competencies critical for securing and completing an internship, encouraging a successful professional career post-graduation. The course will feature guest speakers ranging from Criminal Court judges, law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations, and others.
Spring Course Information: Seven Week One Session January 15 - March 7
Monday and Wednesday from 12:00 - 12:50 pm.
Email ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍøInternship Coordinator Laureana Jones to be enrolled (laureanajones@arizona.edu)
Internship Timing
Summer Internships: Students should begin searching for internships from mid-January - March
Work Plans are due around May 30
Fall Internships: Students should begin searching for internships from February - June
Work Plans are due around August 20
Spring Internships: Students should begin searching for internships from September - November
Please note that winter break is not an ideal time to search for a Spring internship
Work Plans are due around January 8
Internship Steps
Step 1: Students should familiarize themselves with individual internship requirements before contacting organizations (see below).
Step 2: Find an internship related to your post-graduate career goals. Begin the internship search 3-6 months in advance.
Step 3: Draft excellent application materials and have them edited before applying to an internship. Refer to the "Find Internships" page for more details.
Step 4: Apply for internships, and undergo the internship organization's hiring process.
Step 5: When the organization formally offers an internship, Apply for Internship Credit by completing and submitting a work plan. Carefully review work plan deadlines.
Step 6. Confirm enrollment in UAccess
Step 7. Access the course D2L page and complete course assignments.
Students can contact ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍøInternship Coordinator Laureana Jones with questions (laureanajones@arizona.edu) or schedule career advising appointments via Trellis.
Requirements by Major
- Criminal Justice (CJS) majors are REQUIRED to complete a 3 unit internship course (PA 493). Up to 6 internship credits can count toward major elective credit. Students must intern for 40 hours per academic credit. In total, CJS majors must intern for 120 hours and complete 15 hours of coursework.
- Public Affairs (PAF) majors (formerly known as Public Management and Policy or PMPC) are REQUIRED to complete a 3 unit internship course (PA 393). Up to 6 internship credits can count toward major elective credit. Students must intern for 40 hours per academic credit. In total, PAF majors are required to intern for 120 hours and complete 15 hours of coursework.
- CJS & PA double majors must complete an internship for each major.
- Political Science majors & ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍøminors are encouraged to enroll in internships for upper-division elective credit (POL 393). Each credit requires interning for 40 hours and 5 hours of coursework.
- Law majors will enroll in internships through the . Contact Linus Kafka, Assistant Director, Careers and Outreach, to receive internship enrollment information
Please note that students take two or three semesters to complete the internship requirement. For example, a CJS or PAF major can enroll in two internship units in a Fall semester and one internship unit in a Spring semester. Internships are designed to help students complete degree requirements conveniently. Please plan ahead!
Internship Waiver
If you are a Veteran or ROTC student and completed the summer leadership training or have previous or current full-time professional experience with a government or nonprofit agency, you may be eligible to apply for an internship waiver. For more information, see below.
Deadline
Spring 2025 - Submit Work Plans on the Apply page starting in mid-October 2024. Students can earn internship credit from January 15 - May 5. Work plans are due on January 8, 2025, by 11:59 pm.
Summer 2025 - Submit Work Plans on the Apply page starting in late March 2024. Students can earn internship credit from June 9 - August 11. Work plans are due on June 3 , 2025, by 11:59 pm.
Law majors - please check with Linus Kafka, in the BA in Law office, about .
Eligibility Requirements
To receive academic credit for an internship, you must:
- Be an ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍømajor or minor
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Completed at least one semester at UA
- Have earned 30 or more credits (freshman not eligible for internship credit.)
How to Receive Academic Internship Credit
- Review the Internship Eligibility and Major Requirements below, and determine your eligibility for internship credit.
- Find Internships related to career interests on the ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍøwebsite, , , , or use a search engine to research internships in your preferred area.
- Select 3-5 internships to apply for and prepare your application materials, such as a resume or cover letter. Submit error-free applications to make your application competitive. Refer to the resume and cover letter resources for assistance.
- Interview and secure your internship. If you are selected for an interview, review the agency's website and familiarize yourself with the agency's Mission, Vision, and Purpose.
- Apply for internship credit and carefully follow the directions.
±¬ÁϳԹÏÍøInternship Credit
±¬ÁϳԹÏÍøinternship course credit is only given for approved internships with 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or government agencies. Credit can be earned for participation in both paid and unpaid internships.
- One unit of academic credit is awarded for 40 hours of internship work
- For a 3 credit internship, students will be required to intern 120 hours on-site and 15 units of course work
- Internship hours must be completed within the designated dates of your course enrollment.
- No retroactive internship credit will be granted.
International Students
International students must apply for and receive Curricular Practical Training approval from International Student Services before participating. More information can be found on the International Student Services website under .
Internship Waiver
Criminal Justice Studies and Public Affairs (formerly titled Public Management & Policy) majors may request to waive their 3 credit internship requirement and replace it with a 3 credit upper division class in their major if the following criteria apply:
- The student is currently working 30 + hours/week in a professional capacity at a public sector organization. The job is ongoing and permanent (not a summer job), and the student has worked at least six months at the job.
- The student can provide proof of working previously in a full-time professional position at a public sector organization clearly related to the student’s major for at least six months.
- The student is active duty military and works in a role related to their major.
- The student is a veteran and served four years active duty in a role related to their major.
- The student is a ROTC student and recently completed leadership training.
- The job description shows clear relevance to the student’s major.
Contact Laureana Jones, laureanajones@arizona.edu, the ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍøInternship Coordinator for more information.
Questions
Contact ±¬ÁϳԹÏÍøCoordinator Laureana Jones for guidance and assistance (laureanajones@arizona.edu)