Applications and supervisor agreements to receive credit for Summer 2017 internships are due Monday, May 15.
Fall 2017 applications and agreements are due Monday, August 21.
Undergraduate internships are coordinated through the S-CAR Office of Field Experience (Northeast Module II, Room 107). Students can take advantage of GMU's proximity to Washington, DC by interning at one of the many national and international government agencies or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have offices in the National Capital Area.
Philosophy and Rationale
Internships provide an opportunity for students to gain practical experience, reflect on those experiences, and apply academic theories outside of the normal classroom environment. It is S-CAR’s goal to prepare students for complex circumstances in the real world. Students benefit greatly when they have the opportunity to apply academic theories being learned in the classroom to actual situations that arise in the work environment. Not only does the student have the opportunity to make insightful reflection on what is being learned in the classroom, but he/she also gains critical work experience that helps develop additional workplace skills for which employers are looking.
Internship Components
Internships have both a work and academic component and may take many forms such as a paid or unpaid internship, or service to the community. Whatever the form, an internship must have the following components in order to be approved:
- Hands-on experience that gives the student practical, out of the classroom experience with conflict resolution, peace-building, restorative justice, or some such initiative within the field.
- Personal reflection by the student about the experience they are gaining and how this experience relates to academic theory, their classroom experience, and the career for which they are preparing.
- Planned assessment and accountability agreed upon by the student and the S-CAR Director of Field Experience prior to the start of the internship. Assessment will track progress toward meeting the stated learning objectives set forth by the student in the internship plan.
Eligibility:
- Internships may not be approved for credit until the student has earned at least 30 credits. Additionally, it is strongly recommended that students complete at least 9 credits of conflict coursework before applying for internship credit.
- Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA and no outstanding incompletes in order to be approved for an internship.
- An internship may be completed at the student’s current workplace ONLY if a student is completing different work under a different supervisor and the work has been approved by the S-CAR Director of Field Experience.
- Credit will not be given for past internships.
Receiving Credit:
- You may register for an internship during the fall, spring, or summer term.
- Students may earn from 3-9 credit hours in a semester. S-CAR requires a minimum of 45 hours of internship work per credit hour earned. (3 credits = 135 hours; 4 credits = 180 hours; etc.)
- To receive credit for internships, students must also complete several graded assignments during their internships. All internships are graded.
Learning Objectives:
- Internships generally are new experiences. The purpose of an internship is to gain new experience. Students should identify specific academic goals related to the field of conflict that they hope to accomplish through an internship. They should then seek opportunities and employers that can help meet those academic and experiential goals.
- You must write learning objectives that you expect to accomplish through the work experience. These learning objectives should be tied to you professional and career goals and rooted in the field of Conflict Analysis and Resolution. The number of objectives you write should equal the number of credit hours you plan to earn through the internship.
- Learning objectives and strategies, assessment methods, and writing assignments must be agreed upon by the student and internship coordinator before the internship begins.
For an internship to be considered for credit the Internship Proposal Application and Internship Supervisor Agreement must be submitted by the due date found at the top of this page. No exceptions will be made for late submissions.
To apply to receive credit for an internship, please visit our Application Process page. To learn more about internships and where to find one, please visit our Getting Started page. Both of these links can be foundon the right-hand side of this webpage under the Co-Curricular Programs Menu.
Internship Proposal Application Link: www.surveymonkey.com/s/icarundergradinternship
Intern Supervisor Agreement Link: www.surveymonkey.com/s/ugradinternsupervisoragreement
For Internship Request for Academic Credit Forms and advising appointments regarding internships, please contact:
Lisa Shaw
Director of Student Services and Field Experience
Northeast Module II, Rm 107
703-993-7130
[email protected]
Sarah Kincaid
Academic Advisor
Northeast Module II, Rm 102
703-993-9803
[email protected]
Leslie Durham
Academic Advisor
Northeast Module II, Rm 101
703-993-1295
[email protected]
Jane Walker
Assistant Director of Student Services
Northeast Module II, Rm 105
703-993-7134
[email protected]