Washington Center Internship

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Students attending Fairmont State University can take advantage of a unique opportunity to serve an internship in Washington D.C. through the institution's affiliation with The Washington Center Internship and Academic Seminars program. The program gives students the opportunity to live and work in one of the most important cities in the world and to experience the professional arena of the nation's Capitol as well as the cultural diversity.

 U.S. Capitol Building
Photo: FSU student Akiko Nobe
A
Washington
Center
Internship
allows students to:		 •Develop Professional Skills
•Clarify Personal Goals
•Improve research and communication skills
•Meet people from across the country and the world
•Prepare for life after college
•Give perspective on their studies
•Investigate a profession of interest
•Apply academic learning to the work world
"The internship was one of the best educational opportunities I have experienced. It has increased my understanding of world issues and has provided me with a unique opportunity to take part in advancing U.S. and Asian relations.” — FSU student Akiko Nobe served as a Program Assistant Intern at The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation in Washington DC.
The Internship —
Students can secure a substantial internship at any of the thousands of organizations-private, business, nonprofits, international organizations or government agencies-with which the Washington Center maintains ties. Regardless of your academic major, you will be placed in a substantial, 4 to 4 1/2 days - a -week professional work experience tailored to your interests. The Washington Center provides the placement, supervision, and housing - all at a reasonable cost. In addition, students are enrolled in an academic course of their choice and participate in the Leadership Forum.		 The Leadership Forum —
In addition to the internship and coursework, special programming within areas of interest are scheduled to provide interns with learning experiences that showcase all that Washington has to offer. Opportunities include Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill, Small Group Activities, Civic Engagement Projects, and Portfolio building, among other planned activities.
General Requirements —
  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Attend Fairmont State University and have status as a sophomore or above during the term of your internship. Rising and first-semester sophomores must participate in a phone interview as part of the admissions process.
  • Maintain a grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. You may be considered with a third letter of recommendation if your GPA is below 2.75, but please apply early. GPAs above 3.0 may be required for some internship sites.
  • Receive academic credit from your college or university for participating in the program. The Washington Center does not grant academic credit. If policies on your campus prevent students from earning academic credit for this type of experience, please be in touch with TWC at enrollment@twc.edu to receive further direction.
  • Receive the approval of your campus liaison.
 Academic Coursework —
A major component of the Internship program is that students take a course selected from among forty courses offered each term by highly qualified faculty. Academic credit is awarded to students who then transfer credit back to Fairmont State University. Students can earn up to 12-15 hours of academic credit for a fall or spring internship and 6-12 hours for a summer internship. All students are required to enroll in an academic course.

Postgraduate Professional Development Program Requirements—

  • Have received their undergraduate degree within 18 months of the start of the program or be currently enrolled in graduate school.
  • Maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Those who have lower GPAs may be considered but should apply as early as possible and submit a third letter of recommendation from a faculty member.

A nonrefundable deposit of $250 is required at the time of application to the Postgraduate Program. The deposit will be put towards the applicant’s program fee. It is refunded if the applicant is not accepted into the program.

 Costs —
The cost to participate in The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars program is very reasonable, and is comparable to tuition and housing for a semester at FSU. In addition to financial aid, scholarships are available through The Washington Center.
How to Apply —
Every student needs to complete a Washington Center application form available online. The signature of the campus liaison is required on the application form.

 

For additional information visit:
The Washington Center web site at
http://www.twc.edu

or contact

Ms. Sally Fry
Director, Offic of Career Services
Suite 300 Colebank Hall
304-367-4406
careers@fairmontstate.edu