Earn course credit – plus essential, in-demand employable skills and experience in our field. You’ll get an unpaid part-time position within an organization where you will focus on a clearly defined project. This opportunity allows you to network within your chosen field and develop valuable work experience while also putting theory into practice.
The School of Public Policy & Administration has four unique experiential courses to choose from. Do not miss out on these opportunities to enhance your CV! These courses have a proven track-record of translating into jobs. Honours standing recommended.
Quick Links
- Course Waitlist Request Form
- Paid Internships
- Professional Development Workshops
- Cross Campus Capstone Course (C4)
- Career Centre
Looking to collaborate with our students on projects?
We welcome all government and non-profit organizations to contact us and submit student projects.
Experiential Education Partner Testimonial from the 2021-22 Academic Year
We were impressed with how the students engaged and listened to us in order to ideate, and make recommendations for TACoE. We were equally impressed with the resiliency of the team, when they were faced with real life organizational experiences, such as changing deadlines, modifications of proposals by the clients, or restrictions to data they wanted due to security or privacy concerns. With each new challenge the team pivoted to provide us with an appropriate response. Ultimately the student team developed three different recommendations for TACoE, all of which were informative and useful. This was an experiential learning opportunity for TACoE, which challenged my team to think creatively and laterally about the work we do.
— Ruth Bankey
Principal Policy Analyst for the Research and Innovation Lab Directorate and the Head of the Text Analysis-Analytics Center of Expertise (TACoE), Canada Revenue Agency
FAQ
What is a placement?
You will apply for a position within an organization, where you’ll practise and develop the skills learned in your course.
Will I be paid?
No. You’ll receive course credit because each placement experience is tied to a particular course.
Will I be graded?
Yes. You’ll be assigned a supervisor who will guide you through the experience and evaluate your performance.
How long is the placement?
You will work part-time so you can continue your studies. The length varies by course.
How do I apply?
You’ll get a job description that outlines the application process, which usually involves a resumé and cover letter, interview and references.
Will I be insured while on placement?
Students who are on an unpaid placement are fully insured by York University.
In my placement, I worked alongside the Safety Policy and Education Branch at Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation to develop safer transportation policy. Through coursework, I have also delivered team projects with the City of Vaughan and the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme. These opportunities to translate classroom experience into practical environments were paramount to polishing my skills and served as key examples when it came time to interview.
— Gurkamal Dhahan
BPA, Class of 2020
Learn more from current students and alumni.
