To gain practical experience, test career possibilities, network, and/or to increase their fluency in a second language and culture, PORTfolio students engage in an off-campus learning experience during their junior or senior year. Students may choose to study abroad, participate in a student-faculty research project, participate in service learning, or intern in a particular career field with a local organization or business.
What is an Internship?
An internship is learning by doing. By integrating classroom theory (knowledge) into the world of work, students acquire first-hand experience (know-how) in a work environment related to their career interests.
An internship involves active participation in the functioning of a business, governmental organization, non-profit organization, etc., for which the student receives academic credit. It may be either a semester long (12 semester hours of credit) experience or 100 hours of internship experience for 3 semester hours credit. Credits gained through a PORTfolio internship count towards meeting graduation requirements.
A PORTfolio academic internship allows students to:
- Expand their awareness of the world beyond the classroom;
- Explore career ideas in professional settings;
- Experience the connection between their liberal arts education and the world through its application at a work site;
- Gain valuable career-related experience;
- Improve their self-confidence, develop new skills and work habits essential for a responsible and productive professional; and
- Network with future employers.
Student Responsibilities
As a participant in the PORTfolio internship program, the student will:
- Prepare an internship contract with their PORTfolio advisor which defines their learning objectives for the experience;
- Perform internship responsibilities in a professional manner;
- Maintain a daily journal that documents their internship experience;
- Complete the academic work requirements of the internship; and
- Submit a self-evaluation about the internship which integrates academic and career interests.
Faculty Responsibilities
The PORTfolio internship coordinator will:
- Assist students with developing the academic component of the internship by outlining academic work to be completed;
- Contact the intern during the internship to strengthen the link between academic and work components of the internship experience; and
- Evaluate the internship experience and assign a grade.
PORTfolio Partner's Responsibilities
As an internship sponsor, the PORTfolio Partner will:
- Provide an internship job description to the PORTfolio Program;
- Designate an internship supervisor at the work site;
- Orient the intern to the organization and his or her work assignment;
- Challenge the intern with work assignments of a professional nature; and
- Complete an intern evaluation form at the end of the internship.
What is Study Abroad?
For more information about studying abroad, see the Office of International and Intercultural Programs Study Abroad site.