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• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Internships

Students in the IGS program participate in an experiential learning opportunity by studying abroad or completing an international internship. Through this experience, students gain professional insight into an area of international interest while learning about another culture.

The international experience requirement may be satisfied by studying abroad, or by completing an internship. Answers to specific questions relating to internships are available in the FAQ. For specific questions not answered in the FAQ page, please contact the IGS Internship Coordinator.  Please note that new regulations and procedures went into effect in Spring 2007; students who entered before that date should consult the relevant Bulletin – or the Internship Coordinator.

Students wishing to meet the IGS International Experience requirement by completing an internship must meet three different requirements: time, content, and credit.

• The internship must involve at least 100 hours of work over at least six weeks.
  

• The internship must be at an organization – whether private sector, governmental, or non-profit – centrally concerned with the wide range of issues covered in the IGS major.  Students should meet with the IGS Internship Coordinator before their internship begins to discuss the internship arrangements and its suitability for the IGS International Experience requirement.
  

• Finally, students must take the IGS internship course, IGS 89b, either during or immediately after completing an internship.  The course will normally be offered in the fall semester.  Students interested in spring semester internships should contact the Internship Coordinator about possible credit arrangements for that semester.
  

Students will need to find internships on their own; IGS will maintain a list of prior internship placements but is not able to place students in internships.  For assistance in locating an appropriate internship, please visit the Hiatt Career Center or click on the Academic Internships website.

Students may also choose to enroll in a study abroad/internship program; the Brandeis Study Abroad Office will be able to provide a list of approved study abroad/internship programs, which exist in many European countries and elsewhere.  Under normal circumstances, students enrolling in these programs, whether over the summer or during the academic year, will automatically see their internships count towards the International Experience requirement.

IGS students who believe that extended international residency – for either study abroad or an internship – would present a significant hardship should contact the Internship Coordinator.  Under certain circumstances, students may be permitted to complete an “international internship” based in the United States, provided that the organization is centrally involved with international issues, and the student’s work is fundamentally international in nature.

IGS students can fulfill the IGS internship through the many already established, individually-tailored internships available through the Environmental Internship course,ENVS89a. Many of these far-ranging internships have international implications or involve working with immigrant populations. Requires approval of IGS coordinator, Chandler Rosenberger, crosen@brandeis.edu. Contact Prof Laura Goldin goldin@brandeis.edu for placement. For a sampling of ENVS89a internships see Environmental Studies website.

International students, by virtue of studying at Brandeis, have already met the IGS “International Experience” requirement and do not need to complete either an internship or study abroad.  International students seeking to enroll in a for-credit IGS internship should contact the Internship Coordinator to see if a for-credit internship can be arranged.

For more information, please visit the Internships section of the FAQ.