Internships & Other Opportunities
At Washington College students have multiple opportunities to become engaged in experiences designed to enhance their learning outside the classroom. Our proximity to the major cities of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia as well as the Delmarva Peninsula makes it possible for students to gain experience as members of premier governmental, commercial, scientific, and artistic organizations while undertaking internships, research, and participation in a variety of model programs. These experiences enhance and expand theoretical knowledge obtained through traditional coursework. While providing unique and special opportunities for our students is the responsibility of many faculty and staff on our campus, active learning is monitored and approved through the office of the Provost and Dean. Internships provide experience that students may apply to their degree by earning credit for up to four courses.
Students pursue internships for a variety of reasons. Working under the close supervision of seasoned professionals provides a unique opportunity to learn about the challenges and opportunities of a particular field. Potential experiences are reviewed according to rigorous criteria involving engagement in a substantive experience, availability of an on-site mentor or supervisor, and relationship of the experience to the student's academic program of study. Although credit for internship experiences may vary, the majority of students may earn between 4 and 16 hours of academic credit upon successful completion of approximately 140 to 500 hours of applied experience. Learning goals are established prior to the beginning of each internship and evaluated by the faculty mentor upon completion. Internships are open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good academic standing with the approval of their academic departments. Examples of internship opportunities that provide academic credit to participants are listed below. In addition students may develop internship experiences on their own and petition the department for credit prior to the start of the experience.
Internship Opportunities by Major
Anthropology
Rock Hall Museum is a new museum displaying the history of watermen of Maryland's Eastern Shore. Students interested in Anthropology have participated in a series of ethnographic interviews with descendents of families of watermen and been instrumental in cataloging the growing collection of artifacts and memorabilia.
Art
Art internships allow art history students to work one day a week at either The Baltimore Museum of Art or The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Students work under the supervision of museum professional staff and gain firsthand experience in a wide variety of museum activities. Seniors who are pursuing a concentration in art history are eligible. To earn academic credit, participants must submit to the Art Department a paper that summarizes their experience. Advisor: McColl
Biology
Biology students have the opportunity to conduct summer research and to engage in academic internships. Recent student experiences have included the National Institute on Aging, Baltimore City Police Department Crime Lab (CSI), Kent County EMS, local health departments, and various medical practice specialties. Advisors: Ford, Verville
Business
Business students participate in many local and national internship programs according to their field of interest. Internships are available with major financial providers such as Merrill Lynch as well as local, regional, and national banks. Chester River Hospital Center offers internships in human resources and finance. Benchworks, Inc., a marketing firm, offers an accounting internship. Dixon Valve, a multi-national corporation with headquarters and manufacturing in Chestertown, provides internship opportunities in human resources, international business, and accounting.
Prerequisite: Junior standing, appropriate course work to benefit from such an experience, and prior written approval of a faculty internship advisor and the department chair. Advisors: Harvey, Senecal
Education and Writing Center Internship
The Department of Education and the Writing Center offer a one-semester internship in writing pedagogy. The internship gives students the opportunity to learn what research reveals about writing, to reflect on their own experience as writers, and to identify and practice strategies for responding effectively to the writing of others. Interns will observe and practice the interpersonal skills necessary to the writing conference. To be selected, students from all disciplines—sophomores through seniors—may submit a faculty recommendation and a writing sample, then be interviewed by the Writing Center instructors. Advisors: OConnor, Fisher
English
The Department of English offers a journalism internship on campus each year. Students work with a professional journalist in conjunction with the publication of the Elm and the Collegian. Each week students conduct a critical evaluation of the previous week's publication. Sessions on what constitutes effective work in various areas of news writing, such as feature articles, editorials, sports, and campus announcements, as well as how to lay out an interesting and communicative page, occur on a regular basis. The internship is open to all students interested in working on the Elm or the Collegian. Advisor: Lang
Environmental Studies
Internships in environmental science education, wildlife management, and non-profit management and marketing are available at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Wildfowl Trust of North America, to students with a background in ecology, biology, or environmental studies. Advisor: Munson
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Students utilize their Spanish language skills while working with local Hispanic families who participate in programming provided through the local Kent Family Center. Students provide translation, support, and Spanish to English communication skills. They may also provide language and translation assistance with cases attached to the District Court of Kent County.
History
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Saint Michaels, Maryland, offers occasional internships in organization and documentation of collections. Advisor: Black
Washington College's C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience offers students internships in program organization and documentation. Student interns have opportunities at the Historical Society of Kent County to organize archival resources, participate in preparing displays, and do research in government records and family papers. Advisor: Black
The Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore offers various internships involving research and administrative opportunities, including assistance with publication and publicity projects. Advisor: Black
Political Science and International Studies
Political Science and International Studies Internships are available for qualified juniors and seniors in Washington, D.C. and abroad through the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Hansard Society for Parliamentary Government.
Most federal government internships are in Washington, D.C., but some opportunities occur each year for interns to serve abroad as Junior Foreign Service Officers. Depending on the needs of the agency, interns are assigned junior-level professional duties, which may include research, report writing, correspondence, analysis of international issues, and assistance in cases related to domestic and international law. The department and program advisors help students prepare applications and find internships with government agencies. Students from Washington College have served in Bangladesh, Barbados, Bolivia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Switzerland, Venezuela, and Washington, D.C. Advisor: Shad The Department of Political Science administers the Maryland General Assembly Internship Program, open to majors and nonmajors. These internships offer a firsthand glimpse into the world of Maryland politics. Interns work for a state legislator in Annapolis for two days each week throughout the spring legislative session, which stretches from January through mid-April. Interns also meet on campus for a weekly seminar, which includes reading assignments and written work. Two course credits are awarded for successful completion of the internship. Juniors and seniors who have a GPA of 3.0 are eligible. (Political Science 311 or 391 is recommended.) Legislators provide interns with a stipend to cover expenses; however, students must arrange their own transportation to and from Annapolis. The faculty program director evaluates each intern's work in consultation with the legislator to whom the student has been assigned and the Assembly's intern coordinator in Annapolis. Advisor: Deckman
The Psychology Practicum
The Psychology Practicum enables students to take courses at the College and work part-time at the nearby Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center, or at some other local community agency that provides psychological services. Student interns work closely with a therapy team comprised of a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric social worker, occupational therapist, members of the nursing staff, and ward personnel, and participate in all aspects of treatment, both within the hospital and in an outpatient clinic. In addition to the clinical work, participants undertake a supervised study of the literature on mental disorders. Those who have completed the practicum have found it a valuable step toward a career in clinical psychology or allied health and medical sciences.
Students in either semester of their junior or senior year are eligible. Both a member of the mental health agency's staff and a faculty member in the Psychology Department supervise all work. Students complete a lengthy written evaluation of their experience and submit it to the Psychology Department, which awards a final grade. Academic credit earned through the practicum counts toward the major and graduation. Advisor: Siemen
Social Work
This program offers students the opportunity to work directly with clients in a variety of community settings and under the supervision of agency professionals. After a one-semester introduction to the field of social welfare, students are placed in a community agency. The internship lasts for two semesters, and participants earn credit for one course each semester. In addition to the field work, students attend a weekly seminar.
Students who have completed courses in introductory sociology and psychology may enroll in Introduction to Social Welfare, the prerequisite for the field experience. The fieldwork usually takes place in the senior year. Advisor: Barrell
Theater
Internships in professional theater allow drama majors to work full-time as resident interns for professional theater companies. In past years students have interned for Arena Stage in Washington, DC, Center Stage in Baltimore, Philadelphia Theatre and the Play Penn in Philadelphia, and the Hartford Stage Company in Connecticut. Locally, they also work in the Church Hill Theatre. Drama majors in either semester of their junior or senior year who have been accepted by a theater company, and who have received approval from the drama department, are eligible. Interns are supervised by the department faculty and by a designated member of the theater company. All credits earned in the internship count toward the Washington College degree. Advisors: Daigle, Volansky
Internships Open to Various Disciplines
U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence, Suitland, MD
The U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence offers internships for students interested in intelligence gathering, historical research, document organization, and interpretive work. Interns work with regular Naval officers. Security clearance is required. Majors or students with substantive coursework in History, Computer Science, Business, and Mathematics may apply.
National Security Agency Internship, Odenton, MD
Internships within NSA and the national security community are available to students who are awarded the National Security Scholarship through a competitive application process. Students must have an interest in a career in a national security field, a minimum GPA of 3.0, U.S. citizenship, completed a minimum of 30 semester hours toward the baccalaureate degree, and pass rigorous security clearance. Students with majors in political science, computer science, mathematics, physics, history, business management, and languages and linguistics may apply. Advisor: Sack
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
Full-time, semester-long internships with a federal government, political, business, or non-profit agency in Washington, DC, are available for qualified students through the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. In addition to working 35 hours per week as an intern, students participate in an academic seminar of their choosing and a forum designed to help them understand the connection between their academic and professional goals and the special educational opportunities available through living and working in Washington, DC. Students earn a full semester of academic credit in this domestic off-campus experience. Sophomore status and a 2.8 minimum cumulative G.P.A. is required. U.S. citizenship and a security clearance are required for appointments at certain government agencies. Advisors: Chairs of departments of art, business, economics, and political science. Campus Liaison: Sack
Additional Internship Programs
Other internships include opportunities at sites such as Lombardi Cancer Research Center and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Washington College students also intern with the Maryland Governor's Internship Program, Maryland Department of Transportation, Kent County United Way, Kent County Chamber of Commerce, Easter Seals of MD and DE, Naval Research Labs, Chestertown Bank of Maryland, the Delmarva Foundation, Space Telescope Institute in Baltimore, and Public Interest Video Network in Bethesda, Maryland.
Students interested in additional academic internships may consult Dr. Kathy Sack, Assistant Dean for Academic Resources, about the process necessary to receive academic credit. Additional information can also be found at http://internships.washcoll.edu/.
The staff of the Center for Career Development and the career library have information on the wide range of internships available nationwide. The Center also maintains a file of competitive internships such as those offered by the State Department.
Collaborative Research Opportunities
Student/faculty collaborative research projects supported by research grants are available for academic credit during the summer months in most departments in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. At the conclusion of the summer, student researchers present their findings at a Summer Research Day and in the fall at the Student Academic Showcase.
Model Programs and Student Conferences
Model Organization of American States
Site: OAS Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Each year the Department of Political Science and the International Studies Program send a delegation to the Model OAS in Washington, D.C. Students represent a member state of the OAS at the national model. Students gain valuable insight into the workings of the OAS and learn about key economic, political, and security issues facing the Americas. Advisor: Wade
Model African Union
Site: Howard University, Washington, D.C. Students interested in Africa can participate in the national Model African Union. By participating in the Model, students represent an African country; are briefed at the country's embassy in Washington; gain an increasing awareness of the role, organization, and performance of the OAU; and learn about key economic, political, and social issues facing the African continent. Advisor: Daniels
National Model United Nations
Site: McGill University, Montreal, Canada Students interested in learning about the UN have the opportunity to participate in the National Model UN. Participating increases the students' awareness of the role, organization, and performance of the UN. Student delegates participate in the various committees of the UN and represent a member state. Advisors: Oros, Shad
Center for the Study of the Presidency
Site: Varies Each year the Department of Political Science and the International Studies Program nominate one or two students to attend the annual Student Symposium sponsored by the Center for the Study of the Presidency. Students and professors from the nation's major colleges and universities attend panel discussions and keynote addresses on major foreign policy, economic, security, and social issues by members of academe and government. Advisor: Taylor
Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN)
Site: Washington, DC Each year the Department of Political Science and the International Studies Program nominate one or more women to attend the Women & Congress Seminar and the Women and Public Policy Seminar, organized by PLEN. Participants meet with women in government relations, observe sessions of the House and Senate or the Supreme Court, visit executive agencies, meet with representatives of the media and interest groups, and discuss public issues. Advisor: Deckman
Air Force Academy Assembly
Site: Washington, DC Each fall the Department of Political Science and the International Studies Program nominate two of their majors to attend the Air Force Academy Assembly. The conference brings together undergraduates with leaders from business, government, and academe over four days to discuss an issue of domestic or international significance. Advisors: Shad, Taylor
Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference
Site: U.S. Air Force Academy, Boulder, CO Each spring the Department of Political Science and the International Studies Program nominate one of their majors to attend the annual Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference. The conference plenary sessions feature speakers of international repute. Delegates attend roundtable discussions on a special topic area, and are expected to prepare, with the guidance of a designated faculty advisor, a 2,500-word paper on some aspect of the year's conference topic. Advisors: Shad, Taylor
West Point Conference on United States Affairs
Site: U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY Each fall the Director of the International Studies Program nominates one student to attend the annual Student Conference on United States Affairs (SCUSA). The conference brings together undergraduates over three days of roundtables, plenary discussions, and addresses to debate major issues of American foreign policy. Advisors: Shad, Taylor
Security Council Simulation at Yale
Site: Yale University, Stanford, CT Each October a small delegation attends the Security Council Simulation. Representing a member state and sitting on committees of the Security Council, students discuss foreign policy issues in terms of international law and crisis resolution. The four-day simulation, grounded in parliamentary procedure and committee structure, is solid preparation for the Model UN Conference in January. Advisor: Shad