What is IPSS?

International: Gain practical experience working at and evaluating intergovernmental or international non-governmental organizations and programs.

Professional: Experience an opportunity to apply the professional skills taught at the Monterey Institute in a global, regional or cross-cultural policy environment, while representing the Monterey Institute in a professional context and launching a career in public policy.

Service: Work as a junior staff member for a public policy organization by contributing toward the accomplishment of the mission of the assigned organization.

Semester: Benefit from a semester long on-the-job learning opportunity worth 12 academic credits.

What Is Our Mission?

To provide professional career development through opportunities at international governmental and non-governmental organizations to highly motivated, academically prepared, and well qualified students in the Graduate School of International Policy Studies.

IPSS provides unique opportunities for GSIPS students:

• Gain invaluable professional experience in a public policy organization working on transnational issues in a global or regional environment such as the United Nations, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or Save the Children. Over 90 international organizations are part of the IPSS network, while students continually pursue new and exciting opportunities

• Contribute toward the accomplishment of the mission and ongoing work of organizations to which IPSS students are assigned

• Represent the Monterey Institute while gaining practical experience in observing and evaluating organizations and programs

• Apply professional skills taught at GSIPS

• Obtain a total of 12 academic credits through three distinct academic assignments, including a major "on-site" research project

• Launch careers in public policy

Following an extensive preparation program, culminating in an intensive two weekend workshops the semester prior to departure for assignment, students spend six months working at their assigned organizations. Due to their unique role in these international organizations, students have access to resources otherwise unavailable during a regular semester at the Monterey Institute, or during a self-initiated internship.

Upon return, students attend a final two-week capstone seminar, where they reflect on their experiences and collectively produce a substantive report on their experiences and the performance of participating organizations.

Using this program as a bridge from academic to professional work has proven to be invaluable to IPSS participants. As they embark on their careers, many alumni are able to utilize the network of contacts gained during their International Professional Service Semester.

For additional information about the IPSS program, please contact:
Sabrina Atwater, Career and Special Programs Director
Carolyn Taylor, Special Programs Manager
Dave Moorer and Bridget Nuxoll, Program Coordinators
ipssinfo@miis.edu
(831) 647-6417