Internships. You’re probably very familiar with what they are. But, have you heard of an externship — and do you know why they’re valuable?
While many Master of Public Administration programs offer experiential learning opportunities, not all of them provide an externship option. Externships are unique learning experiences that provide you with insight into a variety of job options. And choosing an MPA program that offers an externship semester can benefit you in a variety of ways.
In this blog, we’ll explore what an externship is and some of the reasons why pursuing one during your MPA program can benefit you now and in the future.
Externship vs. Internship: Here’s the Difference
While an externship sounds a lot like an internship, and both offer valuable hands-on learning experiences where you can apply skills in real-world settings, they’re different.
The duration of externships is typically shorter (think a day to a few weeks), and they prioritize job shadowing over direct hands-on work. So, a student would likely follow a professional around as they go through their day-to-day responsibilities. This approach allows you to get insight into a variety of careers, industries, or organizations, because you’re able to observe a number of working professionals in their day-to-day roles.
Internships can last a few weeks to several months, and students are expected to take on tasks similar to those that a full-time employee would. Through an internship, you gain practical experience by doing the job yourself. However, you’re typically immersed in one role for the duration of the internship.
Basically, the interns join an organization as an employee, while externs are guests.
Connect MPA Degree Coursework to Real-Life Situations
One of the major benefits of an externship is that it connects the dots between what you’re learning in the classroom and what happens in the workplace. You have a chance to see how the concepts and theories you learn in your degree program translate into collaborating with coworkers and clients, project development, creating policy, and more. Most importantly, you gain this perspective while you’re still a student.
Hands-on learning can also help you improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In an externship, you’ll engage in decision-making processes, analyze complex issues, and propose solutions. For example, an MPA student focusing on emergency management might find themselves faced with response and recovery efforts after a natural disaster. By participating in the planning, coordination, and execution of emergency operations, they see the real-life complexities that occur during a disaster. And they’re better equipped to do an effective job when they begin their career.
Explore a Variety of Public Administration Jobs
As an MPA student, the door will be open to a variety of jobs in a variety of industries. The same is true for externships. Here are some places you might choose for your experience(s):
- Government Agencies. Examples include the Department of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, congressional offices, and city or county manager offices.
- Nonprofit Organizations. Examples include American Civil Liberties Union, Habitat for Humanity, and Feeding America.
- Think Tanks. Examples include the Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, and the Urban Institute.
- International Organizations. Examples include the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund.
- Health Care and Social Services Organizations. Examples include community health centers, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Red Cross.
- Environmental and Sustainability Organizations. Examples include the Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Environmental Defense Fund.
Completing an externship provides you with an up-close look at what day-to-day job duties are like, and what you might like or dislike about particular jobs — information that will come in handy when you’ve graduated and are looking for a job.
For example, an externship with an environmental nonprofit organization could expose you to the role policy advocacy plays in shaping regulations, which could inspire you to pursue a career in environmental policy. Or, an externship with a government agency focused on transportation planning might expose you to the complexities of urban development, which could lead to a career in transportation management.
Build Your Network While Building Your Skill Set
Completing an externship also provides an opportunity to build your professional network. The people who supervise you and others you meet might become mentors who can offer you guidance in your career. Or, they might recommend you for job openings or introduce you to other professionals in the field.
Here are some tips to ensure that you make the most of your networking time during an externship:
- Be Proactive. Introduce yourself to professionals at the organization. Express your goals, interests, and willingness to learn from their experiences.
- Seek Mentorship. Identify individuals whose career paths align with your interests, and seek opportunities to learn from them.
- Ask for Informational Interviews. Request informational interviews with professionals in roles or organizations of interest. This allows you to gain insight into their career paths and find out more about the ins and outs of their job.
- Stay Connected. After your externship ends, maintain contact with the professionals you connected with. Follow up with a thank you email and connect on professional networking platforms like LinkedIn.
Consider the Experiential Learning Options Offered by the Cornell Brooks School
If you’re looking for an MPA program that offers an externship semester, the program at the Cornell Brooks School could be just right for you. The Brooks School offers an interdisciplinary, Ivy League MPA degree that can launch or accelerate your mission-driven career across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
In our program, we believe that hands-on, professional work experience in public affairs is a key component of earning an MPA. So, all students are expected to complete a practical experience requirement through an internship, an off-campus study/externship program, or a graduate certificate program.
For example, our students can participate in the Cornell in Washington Program, which provides the opportunity to live and learn in Washington, D.C., during either the fall or spring semesters. During the program, students enroll in a full semester of study and complete a rigorous public affairs externship at organizations that have included District of Columbia Public Schools, the World Bank, the U.S. Department of State, and the World Food Program.
Additionally, MPA students can participate in the Capital Semester Program in Albany. This externship option provides students with the opportunity to work for a public, private, or nonprofit public affairs organization in the Albany, New York, area (the state’s capital), while taking coursework in public policy analysis that applies toward the MPA degree.
As part of this experience, students attend hearings and legislative sessions, meet with lobbyists and constituents, and draft substantial policy deliverables. Paid opportunities are available for students seeking placements in the New York State Legislature.
Ready to learn more about these two programs and the other off-campus study options available to Cornell MPA students?
