Washington Externship Semester

Greetings from Washington, DC!

While Washington, DC serves as the heart of the United States federal government, the city is also host to a staggering array of inter-governmental organizations, consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations. As part of your graduate studies at the MPA Program, you have the opportunity to spend a semester living, studying, and working in the nation’s capital.

Through the MPA Program Externship Semester, you may undertake an externship for up to forty hours per week while completing professional development exercises through an intensive externship course. You also enroll in a colloquium course featuring alumni speakers (parallel to the MPA Program Colloquium series offered each semester in Ithaca) and enroll in elective coursework at the Graduate School, a professional education program established for federal managers.

Unlike other off-campus study programs, there is no residential opportunity through this program—Brooks MPA Students are responsible for securing their own accommodations. Cornell staff members remain in constant communication with you through written assignments, and periodically travel to Washington, DC during the semester to monitor your progress. The Center for Nonprofit Advancement, a public-service NGO in Washington, provides facilities for Brooks MPA Student meetings and activities. There is no additional tuition charge for participating in this program, and you retain insurance coverage under the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for the duration of the semester.

Whether your interest is climate change, development finance, education or healthcare, Washington is the city for you!