The Internship Experience

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Endicott is a pioneer in offering comprehensive internship experiences in every program of study. The founders of the College believed that students working in their intended career areas could gain practical experience, sharpen their insights, and increase their skills. In many cases students are employed after graduation at their internship sites.

Internship education at Endicott involves varied experiential learning activities which include student teaching and clinical education experiences for nursing and athletic training students. A philosophy of “learning by doing” permeates the College curriculum in which students are encouraged to integrate theory and practice in all of their studies.

The Traditional Model for Field Based Learning at Endicott

Bachelor degree candidates complete a sequence of internship courses: two 120-hour internships, each worth two credits; and one full-semester, twelve-credit internship. Bachelor degree students entering Endicott College with 30 or more credits are exempt from one 120- hour internship.

The 120-hour internships are completed in January during the freshman and sophomore years of study. The student arranges to do each internship either in his or her home locale or in another area. Prior to the internship itself, a College Internship Coordinator assists the student in developing an appropriate site. Goals for the experience and the responsibilities of the employer/supervisor, the student intern, and the College are defined and a letter of confirmation is sent to the employer.

The internship is meant to be a learning experience and not a paid position. However, certain organizations may wish or may be required to compensate students for their services. At the conclusion of the 120-hour internship, the supervisor completes an evaluation. Upon return to the College all students attend group conferences in which leaders and students discuss experiences and field-related trends. Additionally, students are required to keep a journal and write a paper. Individual faculty conferences are held in February, and at that time students have an opportunity to reassess or confirm career expectations. This process allows for maximum personal and professional growth.

The semester-long internship within the major highlights the senior year for most Endicott students. It is a minimum 14-week full-time field based professional experience which is individually planned and closely supervised by qualified faculty members. As part of the semester-long internship, faculty make on-site visits and students participate in biweekly on-campus seminars designed to support experience in the field. To participate in a full-semester internship, students must have a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. The College will assess the preparedness of each student before he or she begins the semester-long internship.

Distance Internship

Students interested in completing the semester-long internship at a distance, and who cannot return to the College for bi-weekly meetings, must plan their programs of study by the fall of the junior year. A student who wants to complete a fall internship at a distance should take Senior Thesis I in the spring semester of the junior year. Alternatively, a student may complete the semester-long internship during the spring of the junior year and take Senior Thesis I in the fall of the senior year. A 2.5 cumulative grade point average is required. Internet access during the semester-long internship is required of all distance internship students. Students planning a distance internship should see their internship coordinator as early as possible to request an application.

Community Service Projects

As an alternative to the 120-hour internship, students may elect to participate in one of the community service projects coordinated by the Office of International Studies and Programs during the month of January.

Other Models for Internship

The structure of internship education at Endicott is shaped by program and individual student learning objectives. Nursing and Athletic Training internship credits are earned in clinical education experiences over the course of the four-year program. Education students devote internship hours to student teaching. International Hospitality students participate in internships designed to meet their unique program needs.

Goals of Endicott College Internship Education

Through their experiences in internships students will be prepared to:

• Apply, integrate, and evaluate knowledge within a particular academic discipline.
• Develop competencies for careers and community service.
• Explore career options and gain field experience.
• Foster personal growth through increased self-confidence, interpersonal skills, an understanding of self and diverse others, and a heightened sense of ethical standards.
• Improve the ability to learn in a self-directed manner.

The College coordinates an Internship program in London during the month of January. Students in all majors have secured internships in work settings related to their major fields of study. Students live together in apartments and are accompanied by a faculty member.

The Career Center offers services, resources and educational opportunities that support students and alumni in their career planning, exploration, and job search efforts. The Career Center offers a comprehensive program to help students to understand themselves, to understand the relationship between academic experiences, internship opportunities, and career choices, to discover and develop alternatives, and, finally, to assist in the transition from college to professional life. Job fairs, graduate school information sessions, credential files, career counseling, workshops, multi-media resource materials, position announcements, an interactive web page, professional mentor network and job search assistance are just some of the services available to all students.