The Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences will host an information session for students to learn how to secure an internship through The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars on Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. in Room 3050 in the Carl DeSantis Building.
The Washington Center is an independent, nonprofit organization that selects students to work in professional development programs and take classes on professional development for academic credit in Washington, D.C. Students will work with an organization on a civic engagement project, where they volunteer at events that relate to a particular issue of their interest.
Assistant Professor George Bass said, “The Washington Center Program has a good reputation for getting students the internships that actually have substance. It is a really helpful real world experience and for a lot of students it confirms their passion.”
Students accepted into the program will work about four days a week at a governmental, for-profit, nonprofit or international organization that is assigned to them based on their individual interests and fields of study. The positions assigned cover an array of subjects, including advocacy, service, the arts, international affairs, law and criminal justice, media and communication, science, political leadership and policy.
“From my past experience, it’s been a great vehicle for students,” Bass said. “Everyone has come back and said they had an amazing time and they learned a lot.”
Students will have the chance to take workshops focused on professional development and network with professionals in various field. At the end of the internship, they are required to turn in a portfolio of what they learned throughout the program.
Bass said that The Washington Center program is unlike traditional internships where students do busy work and that, if students apply themselves to the tasks assigned, they open up the possibilities of a better grasp on their field.
“You want to pick an internship that has something to do with what you want to do with your life and it’s a good idea to get in [that field] and see if it’s something you really like,” he said.
Some of the organizations and companies that will have positions available for students include the American Psychological Association, American Red Cross, Amnesty International, Chemical Manufacturers Association, CNN, Peace Corps, United States Congress, the State Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the White House and the World Bank.
Recent NSU graduate Desiree Kennedy was offered a full-time position at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. following her nine-week summer internship this past summer.
“She had goals of going on to grad school and law school, but this really made it a possibility for her to move to Washington, D.C.,” Bass said.
To be eligible to apply, students must be 18 or older, at least a sophomore at an accredited college or university and have a minimum grade point average of 2.75. Additional requirements may apply for first-semester sophomores and postgraduate students.
For more information, visit twc.edu.
