Internship Waiver Guidelines
All MPA students are required to fulfill the internship requirement to graduate. However, the internship requirement may be waived if a student meets one of the following criteria:
- At least one year of experience in a supervisory or managerial role in a public, healthcare, or nonprofit organization.
- At least one year of experience as a specialist whose work is important to the public sector (example: consultant to a city department).
- At least one year of experience in a supervisory or managerial role in the private sector. The student should show clearly how public administration education enabled him/her to become a better professional.
How to Request a Waiver
- Email a letter to request the internship waiver:
Address the letter to
Dr. Martinez
MPA Program Director
Department of Public Policy & Administration
California State University, Bakersfield - The letter should include the following information:
Request a waiver and briefly explain why you are qualified for the waiver (including number of years of professional experience and types of organizations where you gained such experience).- Describe recent positions, duties, projects, and tasks to show that:
- You have managed people, budgets, or projects
- You have worked in teams that required the exercise of your professional knowledge.
- Describe recent positions, duties, projects, and tasks to show that:
- Attach a current resume to you email:
Your resume should include at least the following sections: your contact information, education, work experience, skills summary, and at least three references with their detailed contact information (including name, title, affiliation, street address, phone, fax, and email).- Email the letter and your resume to Dr. Thomas Martinez at tmartinez@csub.edu
The Maddy Institute
Each year, the Maddy Institute selects 40 students from regional universities as Legislative Scholar Interns, who are placed on assignment in government offices throughout the Valley, as well as in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
Visit the Maddy Institute website for more information.