Professional Development

Course Description

This required year-long professional development course empowers first-year MPA students to lead purposeful, values-driven careers in public service and social change. Through personalized career coaching, intensive skills-building workshops, community events and structured reflection, students sharpen their ability to communicate across diverse audiences, navigate complex professional environments, and lead with integrity and impact. This professional development course provides practical tools that support a sustainable career pathway in public service and social change. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the mindset, tools, and networks needed to advance a high impact career in the public and social sectors. 

Key Learning Objectives 

• Build a clear and adaptable professional identity through reflection, career coaching, and intentional goal setting.

• Practice core professional skills, including: developing a “professional portfolio”, interviewing, relationship management, and effective communication with diverse stakeholders.

• Analyze career pathways, organizational landscapes, and social networks to strategically navigate and advance within your field.

• Lead your personal and professional growth by building habits of continuous learning, managing across differences, and practicing values-driven leadership.

Course Expectations 

This is a 0 credit-course. All students are expected to attend the following during their first year in the program: 

• 6 workshops for 15 hours total;

• At least one networking event (either in the fall or spring semester); 

• 1 coaching session per semester; 

• 4 work experience sessions including the orientation. 

Attendance will be taken at each class/ event/ session. A certificate of completion will be delivered to students who have completed the professional development series.

Components 

• Skill-building Workshops

• 1-1 Professional Coaching

• Career Portfolio Creation 

• Work Experience Program 

🔎 Skill-building Workshops 

Skill-building workshops are offered in the fall and spring semesters during your first year in the MPA Program. Various topics are covered including adaptive leadership, introduction to constructive dialogue, build trust and more. 

🔎 1-1 Professional Coaching

The Career Coach supports the career development and professional goal setting of MPA students through one-on-one coaching sessions, offering support in creating and reviewing their professional documents, and connecting them to people/resources that expand and enrich their networks. The career coaching sessions align with the overarching professional development curriculum providing a clear application of the tools and strategies taught and emphasizing the importance of community effort and the inclusion of essentials skills. 

Each student is required to attend one-on-one professional coaching sessions during their first year, consisting of:

• a 45-minute introductory session at the beginning of each semester, and

• a 30-minute follow-up session at the end of each semester.

This totals 1 hour and 15 minutes of coaching per semester.

🔎 Career Portfolio Creation

Creating a career portfolio is a powerful step toward showcasing your skills, achievements, and professional journey. It goes beyond a resume, it's your personal brand in action. A strong personal brand helps you stand out in a competitive job market, and key tools like an updated resume and a well-crafted LinkedIn profile are essential parts of that brand. Investing time in building and maintaining your portfolio ensures you're always ready for the next opportunity. During our workshop and sessions with the career coach, students will be able to create and/or update their career portfolios. 

🔎 Work Experience Program

The professional Work Experience (WE) requirement is designed to engage students in the process of learning by doing. To satisfy the WE requirement, students must work for a minimum of 300 hours over the course of one summer in a job or internship in a public service or social justice organization. 

Where can I complete my WE requirement?

Students currently working in a public service or social justice organization may use their current role for their work experience requirement. Students who choose to seek a new job or internship must take the lead in their search for a position; the MPA Program is available to provide guidance but does not place students in jobs or internships. If you don't currently work in public service, please contact the MPA Program Team. 

Develop the ongoing habit of self-driven growth. No matter when you plan to do your WE, it’s important to regularly reflect about the key ways you want to grow professionally, and identify projects (either ones you currently work on or new ones) that would help you push beyond your comfort zone and achieve your growth goals.

When can I complete my WE requirement?

Students may complete their work experience requirement during the summer after completing their first year in the program. 

What does work-based learning consist of?

During their WE module, students complete a series of self-directed exercises to apply skills and theories learned in the classroom to professional scenarios in their actual workplace. These exercises help students set goals, give and receive feedback, and strategically connect with others in their field. We firmly believe that the combination of ongoing reflection and personal growth combined with the necessary tools and knowledge to approach the job market will ensure that each student will be able to move towards achieving  their goals of creating social change.

Coaching and mentoring are key components of professional growth. MPA students have access to a dedicated career coach to receive personalized guidance tailored to their goals, challenges, and career path. In addition, ongoing support from peers and experienced mentors creates a collaborative environment where students can exchange insights, stay motivated, and continue growing throughout their journey. 

• Resources from "Crafting your career story" workshop (September 19, 2025): 

  • Workshop presentation 

  • LinkedIn one pager 

  • Resume action verb the link 

  • Via Character Strengths Survey

• Schedule your first 45-minute coaching session with Lenny (MPA career coach) if you haven’t done so yet! Coaching meetings are required for first-year students and optional for everyone else. 

You are free to browse and use these tools at your discretion as you advance in your career and professional development.

Career Handbook

CPS-OSS Career Handbook. This handbook from the Colin Powell School's Office of Student Success provides a basic primer on all aspects of career development for students.

Building Self Awareness

Career Reflection Questions. A comprehensive, wide-ranging set of questions about your career development to journal about or discuss with your classmates. 

Elevator Pitch Template. How can I succinctly communicate my purpose, values, and goals? See this useful elevator pitch template.  

Building Field Awareness

Ecosystem Mapping Workshop Slides. What is my field of work? How does my role fit into it? See these slides by LDSJ's Sasha Graham in collaboration with the MPA Team.

Deepa Iyer's Social Change Ecosystem Map. One of the most popular mapping tools used by social movement organizations. Also see her Ecosystem Mapping Worksheet. 

Book: Jobs that Matter. A helpful introduction to public service careers in government, nonprofits, and the private sector.

Planning Your Next Steps

SMART Goals Worksheet. A step-by-step guide to creating goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Actionable, Relevant, and Timebound.  

Career Planning Chart. Put your goals into three categories (skills/knowledge, experience, and engagement) and place them on a 2-year, semester-by-semester timeline.

Finding Opportunities

Job Search Engines. List of major job search engines in government, nonprofits, philanthropy, social enterprise, and the private sector. 

Fellowships. List of major fellowships in a range of public service agencies and social change organizations.

CPS-OSS Colin Powell Graduate Fellowship. A full-year, $12,000 fellowship to support a project that applies your graduate studies to social change.

Profellow. Open a free account and access a vast, searchable database of opportunities as well as a blog and online workshops. 

Diplomat-in-Residence. This state department official has an office on campus dedicated to recruiting students for a career in the US Foreign Service.

Applying for Opportunities

CPS-OSS Personal Statement Guide. Brainstorm ideas and compose an effective  statement that conveys why you are doing what you are doing. (Credit: Maya Gutierrez)

Resume and Cover Letter Workshop Slides. Every resume and cover letter is different and should be tailored to the opportunity, but here are some universal norms.

Sam B. Sample Resume. Looking for a sample resume in a simple, traditional format? Here you go. (You may also like fancier templates available for free on Canva.)

Interview Preparation Workshop Slides. Prepare for your interview by researching the organization, identifying how your qualifications align with their needs, and practicing a core set of questions. 

Alumni Connections and Career Outcomes

MPA Alumni employment. Find out where our 200+ alumni are working, and reach out if you'd like to be connected. 

CUNY Wage Dashboard. Filter this database and see how much CUNY graduates are earning.

Joining the MPA Program means becoming part of the MPA Community, a vibrant network of peers, faculty, alumni, and CCNY staff. Throughout the academic year, students have access to a variety of networking opportunities designed to foster connection, learning, and professional growth. In addition to these events, students are invited to join the MPA LinkedIn group, a dynamic online space for sharing opportunities, connecting with current students and alumni, and staying engaged with program updates. Students can also follow the MPA LinkedIn page for news, highlights, and community achievements. To further support career exploration, the program provides access to a curated alumni employment list, showcasing the diverse and impactful roles MPA graduates hold across sectors. 

• Fall 2025 Networking Event – December 3, 2025

• Spring 2026 Networking Event – May (exact date to be announced)

• Join our MPA LinkedIn private group and follow our MPA LinkedIn page

• MPA Alumni employment - Find out where our 200+ alumni are working, and reach out to us if you'd like to be connected. 

Stay tuned for more details, and get ready to build meaningful relationships that will support you throughout your MPA journey and beyond.

The Public Service Partners (PSP) Fellowship pairs MPA students with partner organizations for a year-long professional development experience. Students develop transferable skills and knowledge, while deepening their understanding of the structure of government, nonprofit, and private sector organizations related to their field of work. 

Components

The fellowship experience includes the following core components: 

• Professional mentorship meetings throughout your fellowship

• 300 hours of experiential learning through a summer internship at a partner organization

• Co-organize and support a workshop for the CCNY and Colin Powell School community

• Presentation to the MPA community once your internship concludes

• Scholarship award of $6,000 (these funds go to your tuition first)

Timeline

The fellowship follows a yearly cycle:

• Spring: professional mentorship and workshop at CCNY

• Summer: 300-hour paid internship on-site

• Fall: presentation of final deliverable

Partners

The MPA Program is collaborating with the following partner organizations: 

NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) promotes quality and affordability in the city's housing, and diversity and strength in the city’s neighborhoods because every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to live in a neighborhood they love. The Office of Policy & Strategy (OPS) leverages its expertise to guide and support HPD and its many Offices in their efforts to deepen their impact, optimize their efficiency, and become more data-driven, compliance-attentive, climate-adaptive, and mission-focused. The Division of Housing Policy (DHP) within OPS conducts rigorous policy analysis, data analysis, research, and evaluation to advance sound and equitable housing policy to advance HPD’s mission and in service of all New Yorkers.

Partnership for After School Education (PASE)

The Partnership for After School Education (PASE) is a child-focused organization that promotes and supports quality afterschool programs, particularly those serving young people from underserved communities. PASE exists to improve the quality of afterschool programs for children and teens living in poverty. PASE recognizes the crucial role afterschool programs play in fostering young people's intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual growth. PASE believes that all kids deserve a safe, nurturing space during out-of-school time where they have opportunities to explore their passions while connecting with and learning from caring adults. All young people deserve the right to thrive. PASE is determined to ensure we do everything possible to make a bright future possible for New York City's kids.

Eligibility and How to Apply

To be eligible, applicants must be in good academic standing with the MPA Program and must have enough room in their schedule over the coming year to participate fully in all fellowship activities, which include co-organizing a spring workshop, meeting regularly with a mentor, completing a 300-hour paid summer internship, and giving a final presentation in the fall.

Applications for the fellowship open each year around December. To apply, submit your resume and cover letter using this form by the deadline mentioned in the email. Both documents must be error-free and carefully tailored to demonstrate how this fellowship aligns with your career and professional development goals.

FAQs

If I currently have a job, do I have to leave it in order to be a fellow?

You must be able to make arrangements with your employer so that you are available to complete all fellowship activities including the paid internship over the summer. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the program to discuss your commitments as they relate to the fellowship requirements. 

Do you have advice for my application?

Make sure your resume is polished, up-to-date, and targeted to the qualifications listed in the Fellowship description. Write a thoughtful, targeted, and thoroughly edited cover letter that explains clearly and persuasively how this fellowship will align with your career goals.

What makes a strong candidate for this program?

The admissions committee favors thoughtful applications that demonstrate a growth mindset. That means candidates show they are highly motivated to invest time and energy in their personal growth, to align their career choices with their values, and to take the reins and be the drivers of their own development.