The Public Policy Program leads a trip to our nation’s capitol every year, giving students the opportunity to experience policy-making in Washington D.C. Students are able to gain first-hand experience through interviews and meetings with policy makers, lobbyists, staff, organizations and elected and appointed officials.

Whether networking with leaders in the area of policy reform, being inspired by change agents in microfinance or simply catching up on the latest qualitative research findings, annual events and conferences sponsored by the department of Leadership, Policy and Administration offer a variety of networking and professional development opportunities. Most events include continuing education units for a variety of professions.  

The internship program gives the student an opportunity to gain experience in a policy arena to develop expertise in analyzing contemporary policy dilemmas within a specific organizational context. This involves exploration of a previously identified problem, data collection, analysis, and generation of a specific set of strategies for addressing the situation. The internship allows for collaboration with an organization supervisor and University of St. Thomas advisor, in which feedback and guidance are provided in the form of dialogues, seminars or individual meetings. Internships can include state or local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and education organizations. Examples of past internships: Metropolitan Council, City of Minneapolis, Office of Secretary of State, Catholic Charities.