1. Breaking the
Barrier:
International
Internships
1: SHORT-TERM
• Intern during breaks
• Less expensive
• Scholarships available
• Reduces fear of leaving
support networks
• Immersive
2: CUSTOMIZABLE
• Set group dates or create
custom dates and length
• Tailored to professional
goals
• Individualized tasks/
projects
• Signature programs
for departments and
universities
• Optional academic credit
3: FLEXIBLE REQUIREMENTS
• Degree relevant
• Freshman to post/recent
graduates
• Hands-on, high quality
• No foreign language
required
Real and
Perceived Barriers
CURRICULUM
• Certifications requirements
• Relation to profession
• Postponing graduation
FINANCES
• Expensive
• Sacrificing employment
• Funding
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL
• Fear of leaving
• Change in relationship/
social status
• Obligations to family
FACULTY SUPPORT/
DEGREE INTEGRATION
• Limited resources
• Credit transfer
• Disconnected staff
LANGUAGE
• No background
• Limited abilities
Addressing the Needs of Underrepresented Majors
through Experiential Learning Programs
In addition to student perceptions, rigid requirements in certain academic fields make semester or year abroad programs
unrealistic. Short-term international internships allow students to earn academic credit and participate in an education abroad
program while gaining hands-on professional experience.
EDUCATION
Escuela Kinder
SPAIN , SU M M ER 2015
“While there is no denying that classes offer
valuable tools and information to prepare
students to enter the workforce, nothing I
have experienced thus far in a classroom
quite compares to the knowledge I have
gainedfromthisexperienceabroad.Livingand
learning about another culture while working
in a job that is relevant to my area of study
has given me such perspective on the role
I will play in the future. The concrete, hands
on practice I received helped to cement the
theories I have been learning about in the
classroom into my brain. My ability to search
for a solution within myself has given me the
confidence to overcome many other difficult
situations. Furthermore, I believe that the
internship has helped give me a more global
perspective of life.”
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Fundación Nuestros Hijos
CHILE, SU M M ER 2015
“Having worked with a team in a culturally
different environment, I have learned
that providing a sense of normalcy for the
patients and being available to listen are
both extremely powerful tools in the field
of healthcare. This internship provided me
with an immense amount of work-related
experience,includingopportunitiestointeract
withthepatientsandevendirectinvolvement
with occupational therapy. I was incredibly
humbled by this opportunity because it
was the first hands-on experience with
occupational therapy I have had. I witnessed
my supervisor’s creativeness with using his
knowledge of the young patients to get them
to productively accomplish tasks and cope
with bad days. In a low-income environment
especially, his creative approach seemed
especially resourceful.”
LAW/LEGAL
Dacheng Law Offices
CHINA , SPRING 201 6
“With this international experience in China,
my self-confidence has grown tremendously
and I think this is very important especially in
my line of career. My exposure to the Chinese
culture and potential ethical issues gave
me a more open-mindedness to approach a
problem and finding a solution. I understand
that an internship experience is temporary
but I decided to integrate these skills into my
lifelong academic learning and professional
development. It would be appropriate to
say that my 6 weeks internship in China has
enhanced my overall employability to my
future employees.”
TOP 6
UNDER-
REPRESENTED
MAJORS1
1.3%
Agriculture
1.4%
Legal Studies
and Law
Enforcement
1.8%
Education
1.8%
Humanities
2.1%
Communications
and Journalism
3.4%
Health
Professions
Student Testimonials
1 *Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange, 2015 studiesabroad.com/internships