Prerequisites & Requirements
Internship Sites
Capstone Pathways
Internship Matching Process
Roles & Responsibilities
Luskin Leadership Certificate

Prerequisites & Requirements

Public Affairs Experiential Learning Capstone Preparation Requirements

To be eligible to enroll in the Public Affairs experiential learning capstone seminar series (PUB AFF 187A/B/C), students must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a declared Public Affairs major
  • Have completed the Public Affairs major preparation courses
  • Recommended completion of the Public Affairs upper division methods courses (PUB AFF 115 and PUB AFF 116)
  • Be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.0 term and cumulative GPA
  • Have senior standing (completion of 135+ units)
  • Complete the Capstone Interest Form
  • Attend 1 Capstone Information Session
  • Attend 1 Community Impact Training
  • Attend 2 Career Skills Workshops

The list of approved capstone workshops is available here.

Students are required to complete all capstone prerequisites prior to enrollment in the capstone Public Affairs 187 series. Students are expected to meet all program deadlines to ensure they are prepared for their experiential learning capstone requirement.  Failure to do so may impact their eligibility for the major.

Public Affairs Experiential Learning Capstone Requirements

The following are requirements of the B.A. in Public Affairs experiential learning capstone:

  • Students will be at their approved capstone internship a minimum of 220 internship hours during their senior year.
  • Simultaneously, students must enroll in and actively participate in the 3-quarter capstone series Public Affairs 187A/B/C, which will use readings, writing assignments, and other coursework to introduce students to concepts and methods relevant to their internship projects. This seminar will enable students to reflect on and share their engagement experience with classmates, apply what they have learned in their coursework to their community or public engagement, and analyze what they have learned in the field.
  • Students will complete a capstone project that integrates the internship experience. Students will present their capstone project in their final quarter of the capstone.

Capstone Workshop Requirement

To be eligible to enroll in the Public Affairs experiential learning capstone seminar series (PUB AFF 187A/B/C) and start the capstone internship placement, students must complete the following capstone workshops prior to enrolling in Public Affairs 187A:

  • Capstone Information Session; and
  • 1 Community Impact Training; and
  • 2 Career Skills Workshops.

Failure to complete the workshops will result in the student being ineligible for the capstone series, and therefore the major.

The list of approved capstone workshops is available here.

Students are expected to arrive on time and remain for the duration of the workshop. There is a 15-minute grace period at the beginning and the end of the workshop. If a student arrives after or leaves before the 15-minute grace period, their attendance for that workshop will not count towards the prerequisites for the experiential learning capstone, nor towards the Luskin Leadership Development Series Certificate of Completion.

Career Paths Workshops

These workshops highlight professionals from the field of public affairs to discuss their career journey, provide insight into their field of expertise, and offer guidance and best practices.  Topics and communities will vary to represent the diverse field of public affairs.

 Career Skills Workshops

These workshops are meant to provide students with the necessary skills to prepare them for their internship placements and post-Luskin careers. Topics range from managing your digital brand to managing up; from understanding and critiquing professionalism to developing your story and interviewing with confidence.

Community Impact Trainings

These trainings go deeper into supporting specific identity-based communities and working with diverse populations. Trainings range from LGBTQ Allyship trainings to Suicide Prevention; from UndocuAlly Training to sexual harassment prevention training.

Volunteer Activity (formerly called Field Trip)

These field trips are meant to expose students to a community-based experience beyond their internship as well as to encourage volunteerism and civic engagement. This can be completed by participating in UCLA Volunteer Day or other opportunities posted on the UCLA Volunteer Center. Students can also volunteer at an organization of their choice for a minimum of 4 hours. These hours can be completed in one day or spread across multiple days. Students must submit documentation from the volunteer site supervisor confirming the number of hours completed.

Find an Approved Capstone Workshop Here!

The list of approved capstone workshops is available here!

This workshop list features approved Public Affairs capstone workshops for Spring 2024. Click the workshop titles to register for the events. Additional workshops may be added to this list. Make sure to check our weekly newsletter for additional events and resources!

Information about the Public Affairs capstone workshop requirement can be found here.

Information about the workshop requirement for students interested in completing the “Luskin Leadership Development Certificate of Completion” can be found here.

CAPSTONE WORKSHOP ASSIGNMENT

To be eligible to enroll in the Public Affairs experiential learning capstone seminar series (PUB AFF 187AX/BX/CX) and start the capstone internship, students must complete the following capstone workshops prior to enrolling in Public Affairs 187AX:

  • Capstone Information Session
  • 2 Career Skills workshops
  • 1 Community Impact Training

Required Assignment: In order to earn credit toward the Capstone Workshop Requirement, you are required to submit a brief summary of the event/workshop and reflect on how the workshop applies to your professional development as a Public Affairs major. Please submit your reflection through this MyUCLA Form no later than one week after the event/workshop. Reflections submitted after one week of the event will not be accepted to be used toward the workshop requirements.

Workshop offerings are subject to change. Additional workshops may be added throughout the quarter. Please check our website for the most up to date information.

2023-2024 Capstone Cohort pursuing the Luskin Leadership Certificate of Completion: Submit your reflection through this MyUCLA Form. 

APPROVED SPRING 2024 WORKSHOPS

Career Skills

  • Students may use the Cornerstone Research Workshops or the Research Methods Workshops hosted by the Undergraduate Research Center – Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences toward Career Skills workshops. Find a full list of their workshop offerings on their website here: https://hass.ugresearch.ucla.edu/getting-started/workshops/
    • Students may attend either the in-person, Zoom, or online module version of the
      workshop.

      • Note: students cannot repeat the same workshop twice to earn credit for Career Skills workshops.

Community Impact

Career Paths

WORKSHOP GUIDELINES

Students are expected to arrive on time and remain for the duration of the workshop. There is a 15-minute grace period at the beginning and the end of the workshop. If a student arrives after or leaves before the 15-minute grace period, their attendance for that workshop will not count toward the prerequisites for the experiential learning capstone, nor toward the Luskin Leadership Development Certificate of Completion.

Students who plan to graduate early must request approval from the Luskin School of Public Affairs
Undergraduate Program. To be eligible to graduate early, the student’s proposed degree plan for early graduation must account for all degree requirements and accommodate the Public Affairs three-quarter capstone preparation process and the three-quarter sequential capstone requirement. Requests to graduate early may be denied if a student’s proposed early graduation plan does not accommodate the B.A. in Public Affairs experiential learning capstone requirement.

One Quarter Early: Winter of Fourth [Senior] Year
If a student wishes to graduate one quarter early (Winter), they must meet with the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator to discuss how this will impact their capstone experience. There are two options for students:

Option 1 – Preferred: A student wishing to graduate in the Winter quarter of their senior year will complete the Experiential Learning Capstone Requirement during their third (junior) year. This requires the student to notify the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator at the latest during the Fall quarter of their second year. The student will work toward the eligibility requirements throughout the rest of their second year to be able to enroll and complete the Capstone during their third year.

Option 2 – Off Cycle: If the student notifies the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator during their third year wishing to graduate early, they must go through the formal petition process to request approval to complete an off cycle capstone. Approval is not guaranteed. To petition to graduate one quarter early and complete an off-cycle capstone, the student must submit the following:

  • Degree Plan Contract detailing out their remaining degree requirements and (if necessary) signed by their departmental counselors.
    • Work closely with the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator to discuss how your program plan will be affected by completing the off-cycle capstone.
  • Written statement addressing the following questions:
    • Why are you requesting this exception?
    • What difficulties would you face if your request was denied?
    • What types of internships or capstone project do you have in mind?

The deadline to submit this petition is Friday of Week 8 of Winter quarter the year before they plan to complete the capstone. Students who have any questions about the process for graduating early must contact the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator via MyUCLA Message Center.

Two Quarters Early: Fall of Fourth [Senior] Year
If a student wishes to graduate two quarters early (Fall), they must meet with the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator to discuss how this will impact their capstone experience. There are two options for students:

Option 1 – Preferred: A student wishing to graduate in the Fall quarter of their fourth (senior) year will complete the Experiential Learning Capstone Requirement during their third (junior) year. This requires the student to notify the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator at the latest during the Fall quarter of their second year. The student will work toward the eligibility requirements throughout the rest of their second year to be able to enroll and complete the Capstone during their third year.

Option 2 – Off Cycle: If the student notifies the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator during their third (junior) year wishing to graduate early, they must go through the formal petition process to request approval to complete for an off cycle capstone. Approval is not guaranteed. To petition to graduate two quarters early and complete an off-cycle capstone, the student must submit the following:

  • Degree Plan Contract detailing out their remaining degree requirements and (if necessary) signed by their departmental counselors.
    • Work closely with the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator to discuss how your program plan will be affected by completing the off-cycle capstone.
  • Written statement addressing the following questions:
    • Why are you requesting this exception?
    • What difficulties would you face if your request was denied?
    • What types of internships or capstone project do you have in mind

The deadline to submit this petition is Friday of Week 8 of Fall quarter the year before they plan to complete the capstone. If you have any questions, contact the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator via MyUCLA Message Center.

Internship Sites

A key component of the experiential learning capstone includes students completing a public affairs internship at a Los Angeles-based internship site.

The Public Affairs Undergraduate Program will provide a list of approved internship sites that are interested in hosting Public Affairs students. Internship interviews and matching will happen during Winter and Spring quarter of the student’s junior year. Internships include a wide range of organizations, from community-based organizations and non-profits to social enterprise businesses to regional or local governments. Students will be at their internships a minimum of 8 hours per week during Fall quarter, 8 hours per week during Winter quarter, and 6 hours per week during Spring quarter. Altogether, students will complete a minimum of 220 internship hours during their senior year.

Students may petition to use approved course work completed through UC Center Sacramento, Quarter in Washington, or Global Internship Program to count towards the first quarter of the PUB AFF 187 series (PUB AFF 187A) and one upper division elective for the Public Affairs major.

Students who find their own internship site and who do not want to participate in the matching process must petition to propose their own internship site. The petition is due no later than Winter quarter of the year prior to beginning your capstone series – this is usually Winter quarter of their junior year. Students interested in this option must work closely with the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator to review the process and petition deadlines for proposing their own internship site.

Capstone Pathways

Students have many options and pathways for them to complete the Experiential Learning Capstone requirement. While most students will pursue the traditional capstone pathway, alternatively, some students may opt to use UC Center Sacramento, Quarter in Washington, or the Global Internship Program to count towards the first quarter of the PUB AFF 187 series. These students will begin their Los Angeles-based internship in Winter quarter of their senior year and will need to complete 140+ internship hours. See below for details for each of the pathways.

Note: if students choose to pursue any of the alternative capstone pathways, they must submit a petition by Friday of Week 2 of Winter quarter of their junior year to the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator regarding which program they plan on pursuing.

Students have a few different pathways they can select to complete their Experiential Learning Capstone Requirement. See the chart below for details:

Option 1: Traditional Capstone PathwayOption 2: UCCS/QIW/GIP Capstone Option
DescriptionComplete 3-quarter internship at an approved LA-based internshipCombination of academic intensive internship and LA-based internship
Capstone Quarter 1LA-based internship + PUB AFF 187AXParticipate in UCCS, QIW, or Global Internship Program (satisfies PUB AFF 187AX)
Capstone Quarter 2LA-based internship + PUB AFF 187BXLA-based internship + PUB AFF 187BX
Capstone Quarter 3LA-based internship + PUB AFF 187CXLA-based internship + PUB AFF 187CX

OVERVIEW

Students pursuing a traditional capstone pathway will complete the following:

  • 220+ hours (80-100 hours Fall, 80-100 hours Winter, 60-80 hours Spring) at a Los Angeles-based internship
  • Enrollment in PUB AFF 187 AX/BX/CX in Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters, respectively

OVERVIEW

For more information regarding UC Center Sacramento, visit their website.

Students who apply and are accepted into UC Center Sacramento will complete the following:

  • One quarter in Sacramento + two quarters at a Los Angeles-based internship (PUB AFF 187BX
    and PUB AFF 187CX)

    • 80-100 hours in Winter quarter, 60-80 hours in Spring at a Los Angeles-based internship
    • Enrollment in PUB AFF 187BX and 187CX in Winter and Spring quarters of senior year,
      respectively
  • UCCS Courses: Visit the UCCS website for information about the required program courses
  • Petition to satisfy PUB AFF 187AX with UCCS courses:
    • POL SCI 192A (5 units) + POL SCI 193 (2 units), or
    • POL SCI 192A (5 units) + POL SCI 196E (4 units)
  • Students may petition other courses (including POL SCI 195) to satisfy one Public Affairs upper
    division major elective

CAPSTONE PETITION FOR THE 2024-2025 COHORT

If you plan to attend the UC Center Sacramento Program and plan on utilizing this experience to satisfy Public Affairs major requirements, you are required to fill out this petition. The deadline to submit this petition is Friday of Week 5 of Winter Quarter, February 9, 2024.

OVERVIEW

For more information regarding the UCLA Quarter in Washington Program, visit their website.

Students who apply and are accepted into UCLA Quarter in Washington Program must complete the following:

  • One quarter in D.C. + two quarters at a Los Angeles—based internship (PUB AFF 187BX and PUB AFF 187CX)
    • 80-100 hours in Winter quarter, 60-80 hours in Spring at a Los Angeles-based internship
    • Enrollment in PUB AFF 187BX and 187CX in Winter and Spring quarters of senior year, respectively
  • QIW Courses: Visit the Quarter in Washington website for information about the required program courses
  • Petition to satisfy PUB AFF 187AX with QIW course POL SCI 195CE or CESC 195CE
  • Students may petition POL SCI M194DC to satisfy one Public Affairs upper division major elective

CAPSTONE PETITION FOR THE 2024-2025 COHORT

If you plan to attend UCLA’s Quarter in Washington Program and plan on utilizing this experience to satisfy Public Affairs major requirements, you are required to fill out this petition. The deadline to submit this petition is Friday of Week 5, February 9, 2024. 

OVERVIEW

For more information regarding the D.C. Fellows Summer in Washington Program, visit their website.

Students who apply and are accepted into the D.C. Fellows Summer in Washington Program must complete the following:

  • One quarter in D.C. + two quarters at a Los Angeles-based internship (PUB AFF 187BX and PUB AFF 187CX)
    • 80-100 hours in Winter quarter, 60-80 hours in Spring at a Los Angeles-based internship
    • Enrollment in PUB AFF 187BX and 187CX in Winter and Spring quarters of senior year, respectively
  • Petition to satisfy PUB AFF 187AX with UCDC course PUB AFF 195CE* (4 or 8 units). Please contact the Capstone Advisor to determine which is a better fit.
    • *PUB AFF 195CE is subject to change. Please consult the Capstone Advisor for updated information.
  • Students may petition to have other program courses satisfy Public Affairs upper division major electives.

OVERVIEW

For more information regarding the Global Internship Program, visit their website.

Students who apply and are accepted into the Global Internship Program must complete the following:

  • One quarter abroad + two quarters at a Los Angeles—based internship (PUB AFF 187BX and PUB AFF 187CX)
    • 80-100 hours in Winter quarter, 60-80 hours in Spring at a Los Angeles-based internship
    • Enrollment in PUB AFF 187BX and 187CX in Winter and Spring quarters of senior year
  • Petition to satisfy PUB AFF 187AX with the course PUB AFF 195CE
  • Students may petition CESC 130 to satisfy one Public Affairs major upper division elective.

CAPSTONE PETITION FOR THE 2024-2025 COHORT

If you plan to attend UCLA’s Global Internship Program and plan on utilizing this experience to satisfy Public Affairs major requirements, you are required to fill out this petition. The deadline to submit this petition is Friday of Week 5  of Winter Quarter, February 9, 2024. 

OVERVIEW

Students are able to petition their own internship site should the student have already secured an internship outside of the Luskin sponsored Internship Matching Process. If you do not notify Luskin of your plans to propose your own internship site by the start of Round 1 of the Internship Matching Process, Luskin will operate under the assumption that you are participating in the Internship Matching Process.

The minimum requirements for a student to petition their own internship are:

  1. The internship must be within the realm of Public Affairs and/or be related to the student’s future educational/career goals
  2. The internship must have a supervisor to supervise the student intern’s work and provide guidance throughout the internship for the student intern’s capstone project
  3. The internship must be secured for the full academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring)

The priority deadline for students to propose their own internship site is Friday of Week 2 of Spring Quarter of their third (junior) year. Students who find an opportunity after this deadline, must submit their petition by Friday of Week 5 of Summer Session C.

If the student has already been matched at an internship site through the Luskin sponsored Matching Process and wants to propose a new site, it is the student’s responsibility to contact their site supervisor to formally withdraw from the organization. Contact the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator to discuss this process.

Students who have any questions about this process must contact the Capstone Advisor and Coordinator via MyUCLA Message Center.

CAPSTONE PETITION FOR THE 2024-2025 COHORT

If you already have an internship that can support your capstone project and is within the realm of Public Affairs, you are welcome to petition to use that internship site for your capstone internship site. Here is the link to the petition. The priority deadline to submit this petition is Friday of Week 2 of Spring quarter, April 12, 2024.

Internship Matching Process

To facilitate the Public Affairs Capstone internship matching process, the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program will provide students a list of approved internship sites that are interested in hosting Public Affair students.

Upon receipt of the list of approved internship sites, students must complete and submit the Interview Choice Form to select two internship sites with which they are interested in interviewing. Students are responsible for coordinating the interviews with the sites. 

Upon completion of the interview process, both the student and internship sites will be required to submit the Matching Sheet. By the end of the Spring quarter, the Public Affairs Capstone Advisor and Coordinator will notify students of the internship sites with which they have been matched. If students are selected by multiple sites, the student will need to select one site for their capstone internship. Students and internship sites will be asked to sign a learning agreement outlining the expectations for a meaningful experience for all parties.

Students will begin their approved capstone internship at the start of the Fall quarter of their final year or Winter quarter if they participated in an alternative capstone pathway. 

Students who successfully petition to use their proposed internship site for the capstone internship will not participate in the Interview and Matching steps of the internship matching process. 

General Internship Matching Timeline*

Winter Quarter 2024

Week 5 Approved site list sent to students for Round 1
Friday of Week 5       Interview Choice Form Due:

Undergraduate Public Affairs Majors select which 2 organizations they wish to interview with.
Week 6-8 Round 1 of Interviews:

Students go on interviews with the two organizations they selected

*Students who successfully petition to use their proposed internship site for the Capstone internship do not participate in this step
Week 9-10 Round 1 of Matching is confirmed
Spring Break Approved site list for Round 2 sent to students

Spring Quarter 2024

Spring Break

Week 2

 Round 2 of Interviews:

Students go on interviews with the two organizations they selected

*Students who were matched after Round 1 do not participate in this step
Week 3-4 Round 2 of Matching is confirmed
Week 5 Approved site list for Round 3 sent to students
Week 5-7 Round 3 of Interviews:

Students go on interviews with the two organizations they selected

*Students who were matched after Round 1 and Round 2 do not participate in this step
Week 8-9 Round 3 of Matching is confirmed

*Dates are subject to change at the discretion of the Undergraduate Program. Please check the Public Affairs Experiential Learning Capstone website for the most up to date information.

Internship Dates**

Fall Quarter 2024 September 26 – December 6
8-10 hours per week
Winter Quarter 2025 January 6 – March 14
8-10 hours per week
Spring Quarter 2025 March 31 – June 6
6-8 hours per week

**Students are not expected to come in or make up hours if their usual shift falls on a University or agency
holiday

Roles & Responsibilities

  • Prepare student for internship experience through coursework, professional development series, and capstone seminar
  • Advise students on their internship placements
  • Establish and maintain channels of communication between the department and the agency
  • Co-plan the internship and capstone requirement with the Supervisor
  • Share with Supervisor the expectations of the internship and capstone requirement
  • Arrange meetings with Supervisors for site visits to confirm an Internship Placement site and to check-in with the Supervisor on the student’s progress
  • Plan and hold events for the Department, Student, and Supervisor to meet one another, understand the requirements of the internship placement, and present the capstone projects
  • Reconsider placement assignment of any student if problems relevant to that student cannot be resolved in the agency
  • Complete the minimum number of hours (220+for the academic year)
  • Provide appropriate notice to Supervisor if the student will miss a shift (minimum one business day in advance) and immediately reschedule those hours
  • Adhere to all agency regulations, policies, and procedures
  • Conduct the business of the agency in an appropriate way
  • Be engaged, inquisitive, and ready to learn and contribute
  • Approach this learning in an open manner which includes dialoging across difference
  • Share with the Supervisor and/or UCLA Department any issues or impediments to experiential learning
  • Structure the internship to provide an intentional and meaningful learning opportunity
  • Develop and assign responsibilities to the student
  • Clearly communicate expectations and responsibilities to students
  • Schedule hours during the academic quarter so that student can complete the hours required
  • Adhere to program requirements and deadlines
  • Provide the space and equipment needed by students
  • Provide training, supervision and feedback to each student (recommended .5-1 hour per week)
  • Provide a verbal and written evaluation to the student and certify the number of hours the student completed
  • Contact UCLA staff if there are any problems or issues that cannot be resolved with the student
  • Assume responsibility for liability incurred in connection with agency assignment

Learn more about what it means to be an internship site in our Community Partners section.

Luskin Leadership Certificate of Completion

Students interested in going above and beyond the minimum Public Affairs capstone preparation workshop requirement may choose to pursue the Luskin Leadership Development Series Certificate of Completion. Students who complete the Luskin Leadership Development Certificate of Completion will have their names included in the Awards Booklet handed out during commencement and will receive a physical certificate. In order to obtain the certificate of completion, students must complete the following:

  • 3 Career Paths Workshops
  • 3 Career Skills Workshops → You satisfy two of the three workshops by completing the Capstone Workshop Requirement.
  • 1 Community Impact Training → You satisfy this requirement by completing the Capstone Workshop Requirement. 
  • 1 Volunteer Activity (formerly, Field Trip)

In order to obtain the certificate, all workshop requirements must be completed before Friday of Week 8 of the student’s graduating quarter.

You can view the workshop descriptions here. 

The list of approved Luskin Leadership Development Certificate of Completion workshops is available here.