Internship and Research Experiences
Internships are experiential learning opportunities that allow you to observe and participate in professional work environments and explore how your interests relate to possible careers.
We distinguish internships from other work experiences because internships directly relate to your program of study and have clearly defined learning objectives. Through internships, you get to work in a career-related position, network with professionals in your field and increase your marketability upon graduation. Internships include paid and unpaid positions. They may also include academic credit.
Internship Funding
Encouraging lifelong careers of public service, this program combines experiential learning and exploration of vocation with service to humanity. Students with a demonstrated commitment to public service propose internships (either self-designed or existing) that serve those in need, whether it's of food, shelter, education, medical attention social justice or spiritual sustenance. Internships include at least 200 contact hours and take place in the United States or abroad.
The Advantage Award program is a signature program of the college that provides you with the opportunity to pursue immersive experiences linking the classroom to a wider world: internships and undergraduate research. The Advantage Award leads to learning opportunities in domestic and global settings that enable you to develop a compelling individual portfolio of knowledge, skills and experiences critical to career and post-graduate success.
Agnes Scott students can apply for a Bevier Summer Public Health Internship, which provides funding for full-time summer (eight-week) research and internship opportunities, including work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations.
Mentored by a specialist in the field, interns assist with lab research, develop health communication materials, work with community health organizations or study disease prevalence and transmission. Interns often develop their own independent research projects, too.
Since 2006, 48 students have received support from the program, made possible through the generosity of Pamela J. Bevier '61, who dedicated much of her career to work in public health. Bevier now serves on the college's Board of Trustees. The Bevier Summer Public Health Internship Program selects approximately six high-achieving students to participate in paid summer internships in a variety of public health organizations.
Academic Credit for Internships
You can obtain academic credit for completing an internship in one of two ways:
- Through participation in a for-credit internship course
- Through an independent internship
An internship course is led by an instructor and meets on a regular basis — once or twice a week — for discussion and sharing about the internship. The instructor will require readings and a final project, presentation or paper. The instructor teaches the course, grades assignments and may conduct site visits. Internship courses earn four credit hours.
For-credit internships require students to work at least 10 hours per week for 13 weeks or 130 hours total for a four-credit internship.
To register for the course, students should contact Tomeka Stephens in the Office of Internship and Career Development.
An independent internship or 450 is an individual experience with a faculty sponsor. This type of for-credit internship consists of regular one-on-one meetings with a faculty sponsor who will design, facilitate and grade the academic component of the internship. The academic component varies, but typically consists of a reading list and reflective paper throughout the internship and/or a final project, presentation or paper.
Students may customize an independent internship for one to four credit hours. Registration requires a 450 application form approved by the faculty sponsor, the internship site and the Office of Internship and Career Development.
Research Experiences
Research Experiences for Undergraduates are called “REU”s for short. These are summer programs that offer college students the opportunity to conduct full-time research, under the mentorship of faculty and sometimes graduate students and postdocs in larger research teams. For Scotties interested in participating in REU, the Science Center for Women is the best place to start searching! The Science Center for Women coordinates programs that support students and faculty in the sciences. Learn more about Mentored Research and REU's and the Science Center for Women.
