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Practica are designed to give second-year master's students real-world experiences in project management and consulting while preparing them for post-graduate careers. Students spend one semester working in teams with clients, including US and international government agencies, non-profit organizations, and businesses, to conduct policy and program analyses. Students draw on their substantial research, as well as qualitative and quantitative skills, to prepare final oral and written analyses and recommendations. Some students may choose to use the Practicum as an opportunity to gain experience abroad, while others may choose to remain local.

The Practica are led by faculty mentors who hold class sessions weekly. The Practica teaches students skills that enhance their project management, client relations, oral presentation, and writing abilities.

Application Periods

Summer Practica
Opens in late January
Closes in early February
Fall Practica
Opens in early February
Closes in late February
Spring Practica
Opens in late September
Closes in early October

Practica clients have included the US Department of State, Alliance for Peacebuilding, Rural Coalition and National Family Farm Coalition, and many more!

On average 24

Practica are offered each year, many of which occur in the spring.

3-credit courses that can fulfill graduate students' capstone requirement

Training future intelligence agents

Aki Peritz

Faculty, Intelligence Analysis Practicum

In my Practicum, I provide truth in what actually awaits students.

What I strive to do is make sure there is a lot of interaction between the client’s analysts and our students so that our students can see if this is something they really want to do in the future. I also want every student to know how to approach the topic, backwards and forwards. They work with a no-joke client who has extremely high expectations. I hope to hold all my students to a very high standard.