MSU is rolling out the red carpet, all the way to the nation’s capital.
The Semester Study Program in Washington, D.C. is a comprehensive internship program that offers 12 to 15 credits per semester and professional internship experience for juniors and seniors of all majors.
Irene Shim, the Washington, D.C. program coordinator, said the program provides substantial experience to students.
“We make connections and introductions for MSU students to the alumni, then they act as mentors,” Shim said. “The alumni teach them how to network and often refer them to people in related fields.”
Internship program administrators hold informational meetings on campus for the next two weeks starting today at 6 p.m. in 154 Case Hall.
The program is designed with four components: a public policy seminar, a professional policy seminar, the internship and directed study.
Students take two classes a week, which account for the first two components, and work 32 hours a week for the internship.
At the end of the semesterlong program, during the directed study, students write a final thesis paper incorporating the materials from the classes and their internship.
Anthony Daunt, a political science senior, said his experience in Washington was extremely rewarding.
“I was in the program for two months, and then I became a paid employee in Senator (Spence) Abraham’s office as a staff assistant,” Daunt said. “I was in the right place at the right time.
“You have to take a couple of classes a week, but compared to the daily grind of normal classes it was fantastic,” he said. “I wouldn’t be able to stress it enough how beneficial the program was to my career.”
Students who are selected meet with the internship coordinator, who comes to MSU from Washington, and through an interview process, the two narrow down what kinds of organizations would be best for the specific student.
Elizabeth Carter, a family community services senior, said the program was a great introduction to real life.
“I think the program helped a lot of people in many different ways because it caters to a vast array of majors,” Carter said. “The program can offer anyone valuable tools to further their career.”
Melissa Bailey, a social work and community relations senior, thought her internship was amazing.
“I got to meet a lot of people and got to do a lot of networking,” Bailey said. “I’m confident that if I go back to D.C. I could get a job if I wanted one.”
