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International Professional Service Semester

Gain hands-on experience working in a public policy or social change organization.

Two women standing by a table taking notes behind an IOM poster
Kimani DeShields ( right) delivering a financial literacy training in Ranong, Thailand for migrant workers from Myanmar. (Credit: Kimani DeShields )

The International Professional Service Semester (IPSS) helps students secure graduate-level internships, jobs, or consultancies in international organizations in the U.S. and abroad. The program is designed for graduate students in the International Policy and Development, International Environmental Policy, Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies, and Master of Public Administration programs. 

Students can earn up to 4 units of workshop credits in January and 6 units for the field course during the regular spring or fall semesters. Students should consult their academic advisor regarding additional credits if needed. 

IPSS Pre-Registration Deadlines: Students should pre-register three months in advance of the start of their practicum. 

Estimated registration form completion time: 60 minutes (students are asked to indicate some of the places they would like to work)

Get a Head Start on Your International Career

For many students, the IPSS experience acts as a stepping stone to a future career. The program’s networking possibilities and international exposure are just a few of the benefits students receive through their participation. An IPSS assignment complements a student’s degree focus by providing an applied learning environment for students to develop skills and knowledge not covered in traditional classes.

For more information and help planning for your IPSS, visit the Center for Advising and Career Services and meet with the Director of Immersive Professional Learning. 

Past Participants and Participating Organizations

View a complete list of past IPSS participants and where they served from 2002–2023.

Since 2002, more than 300 IPSS Fellows have served in more than 200 international organizations. Because of our continued partnerships with these organizations, many IPSS students are offered exceptional opportunities that are unavailable to anyone else. Recent opportunities include the following organizations:

United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
Conventional Arms Branch (New York City)
Food and Agriculture Organization (Rome, Italy)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Romania)
Marine Conservation Institute (Washington, D.C.)
International Atomic Energy Agency (Vienna, Austria)
U.S. Dept. of Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (Washington, D.C.)
Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development (Calca, Peru)
International Organization for Migration (Bangkok, Thailand)
California Coastal Commission (various CA locations)

Where IPSS Alumni Find Careers

U.S. State Department
State of California
Teach for America
American Red Cross
Catholic Relief Services
United Nations
International Organization for Migration
International Labor Organization
The World Bank
International Atomic Energy Agency
Inter-American Development Bank

Eligibility

IPSS is open to all IEP, IPD, MPA, and NPTS students in their third or fourth semester. Students should complete the IPSS application (estimated 1 hour to complete) and secure a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to be eligible to participate in the program. 

January Workshops

IPSS fellows and other students can take up to 4 units in applied professional workshops during the January term. Other January courses are also available. Workshops will be announced in October. 

Contact

Carolyn Taylor Meyer, PhD

Director of Immersive Professional Learning

cmeyer@middlebury.edu/831-647-6417