Internships
Why should you intern?
Why not?! An internship helps you gain valuable experience to increase your marketability after graduation, helps you narrow down major and career choices, helps you command a higher starting salary, looks impressive to graduate schools, and assures you have meaningful experiences to discuss during job and graduate school interviews.
Because it's this important, the Nunn School retains a full-time academic and career advisor to aggressively promote our students for internship programs worldwide. Additionally, to assist students with securing internships, the School recently launched an online internship database, listing hundreds of domestic and international internships. The School expects students to complete two internships while in the program. Students are advised to meet with the INTA advisor to create an internship strategy.
Getting an Internship
Students should start strategizing internships early and plan to apply for several internships for the same semester, to assure at least one internship will be secured. Below are several tips for earning internships.
Start researching internships approximately six months before the desired internship semester.
Remember that applications for CIA and State Department internships are due at least 9 months in advance due to security clearance requirements. Keep up with the INTA listserve mailings, which announce internships periodically.
Search the IAC online internship database, THE IVAN.
Consider interning during fall or spring semesters when there is less competition for internships.
Meet with Kirstin Young, the INTA career counselor, to clarify career interests and to help narrow down career areas.
Keep a file of interesting internships for future semesters.
Follow the Tech's career center's strategies for getting an internship.
International Internships
Students should meet with Stephanie Jackson, academic advisor, to clarify interests and create a strategy to find appropriate international internships.
The Work Abroad Program, started in the fall of 2005 as a component of the International Plan, is another resource for learning more about international internships. If you find an international internship on your own, you must make an appointment with the Work Abroad staff in order to be enrolled in the international internship audit course, to receive information on health insurance and safety practices while you are abroad, and to gain assistance with your work permit or visa.
Academic Credit for Internships
Although the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs does not typically offer credit towards graduation for internships, there are some situations in which students can get credit for internships.
Professional Internship Program
INTA and IAML students participating in full-time internships are eligible for up to 12 credits of audit credit. See the Office of Professional Practice for details about enrolling in the Professional Internship Program and getting credit for an internship.
Independent Study
INTA, IAML and EIA students may also earn 3 credits for their internship experience provided they a) find an INTA faculty member who will sponsor the 3 credits; and b) complete an academic project that is related to the internship topic but that is in addition to the regular internship requirements. Students must approach INTA faculty members directly to discuss the possibility of this arrangement. To receive the 3 credits, the student must complete a project that is academic in nature, usually a series of research papers related to the internship focus. For example, a student whose internship at the Carter Center is focusing on the electoral process in Venezuela may ask a faculty member to oversee an independent study project on the electoral processes of a certain country. The independent study is supposed to be as academically rigorous as a normal three-credit class. Once a faculty sponsor is secured, the faculty member and the student must complete the "Special Problem Application" form and select "in conjunction with an internship" on the form. Follow the directions on the form to set up the internship credit. This credit, that is listed as either INTA 4901 (undergraduate) or INTA 8901 (graduate), can count as INTA elective or free elective.
