The students' six-month internships are intended to provide extensive hands-on experience and opportunities with civil society organizations. Interviews with potential employers are scheduled during the last term of the program. International internships, career counseling and workshops, and job placement are provided by the program’s Career Counseling and Placement Office. Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who will serve as a mentor. A portfolio review at the end of the first year provides the student with constructive feedback and additional guidance.

A number of specialized short-term courses and workshops are also available at UCSB that can contribute to the skills of MA students. These include training in survey research through the Social Science Survey Center, UCSB Career Services, proposal writing, web and graphic design, and geographic information systems (map-making and visualization).