Academic Competitions

According to American Public Media’s Marketplace, internships have become the new job requirement (Marketplace segment).  This conclusion was based on a study conducted by Marketplace and the Chronicle of Higher Education in late-2012, which revealed that while employers value higher education, they also want students to have critical thinking skills, oral and written communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.  Students can acquire and fine-tune these skills both in the classroom and the workplace, and participation in the Washington Internship Experience will enhance that process.

Who should apply for WIE?

Students who…

• are degree-seeking University of Mississippi students interested in expanding their marketability upon graduation.
• have a strong resume highlighting academic excellence and work experience.
• are knowledgeable and articulate about their major, internship goals, and career interests.
• have volunteer experience, leadership skills, and self-motivation.
• are mature, reliable, and have a strong work ethic.
• want to experience a professional environment and begin to build a professional network.
• want to serve as an ambassador for the University and the State of Mississippi.
• have a sense of adventure and don’t mind getting outside of their comfort zone.
• can succeed in the competitive internship environment in Washington, DC.

Internships

Students work to secure their own internships in Washington, with assistance from WIE’s program director, the UM Career Center, and UM alumni contacts in DC.

Additionally, students should make use of online internship search engines.  Below are some that students have found useful:

• www.internships.com
• www.indeed.com
• www.idealist.org
• www.internshipmatch.com
• www.journalismjobs.com
• www.mediabistro.com
• www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads

Academic Component

WIE participants must receive academic credit for their internship.

Spring: Students participating during the spring semester are required to carry 12 hours to maintain full-time status. These 12 hours will include 3 to 6 hours of work connected with an internship, and 6 hours of Ole Miss Online or iStudy courses.

Summer: Students participating during the summer term can earn between 3 and 9 credits, which includes 3 hours of internship credit and 3 to 6 hours of Ole Miss Online or iStudy courses, if they wish to complete additional course work.

• Ole Miss Online        
• iStudy

Below is a list of internship courses from the University of Mississippi academic catalog.* If an internship for your major is not on the list below, you may be able to receive academic credit via an independent or self-directed study course in your department. Some internship courses have pre-requisites or other requirements that might impact whether you can earn credit for the Washington Internship Experience. Contact your academic advisor to find out about your department’s internship credit policies.

ISS 490	Internship in Intelligence & Security Studies
AH 308	Art History Internship
ART 410	Art Internship
CHEM 459	Forensic Science Internship
CINE 397	Internship in Cinema
CSCI 495	Undergraduate Computer Science Internship
CSCI 595	Graduate Computer Science Internship
ECON 389	Internship (Economics)
ENGL 300	Internship in English
ENVS 385	Environmental Studies Internship
FIN 445	Internship in Insurance & Risk Management
G ST 497	Internship in Gender Studies
HP 627	Internship in Health Promotion
ES 493	Internship (Exercise Science)
ES 610	Internship in Exercise Science
IMC 395	IMC Internship I
IMC 495	IMC Internship II
INST 385	Internship in International Studies
JOUR 395	Journalism Internship
JOUR 495	Journalism Practicum
CJ 490	Criminal Justice Internship
LA 495	Internship (Legal Studies)
NHM 481	Merchandising Internship
NHM  484	Internship in Hospitality
POL 389	Internship In Government
PSY 401	Undergraduate Internship in Psychology
PPL 499	Internship (Public Policy Leadership)
RA 401	Internship in Recreation Management
RA 627	Internship (Recreation Management)
REL 380	Community-Based Internship
S ST 603	Internship (Southern Studies)
TC 330	Internship in Telecommunications
WWIRR 499	Internship (William Winter Institute on Racial Reconciliation)

*Inclusion on this list does not guarantee that the course can be used for academic credit in the Washington Internship Experience program.  Confirm all requirements with your academic advisor.

Housing

Students live in apartments at The Congressional at 215 Constitution Avenue, NE, which is located across from the U.S. Supreme Court and other historic buildings on the Senate side of Capitol Hill. The Congressional is intern housing affiliated with Washington Internship Student Housing (WISH).

Dates

WIE Program Dates:
Spring (January 2 - April 29)
Summer (May 27 - August 12)

Application Deadline: November 11, 2016

Scholarship Application Deadline: November 11, 2016

Participation Packet Deadline (if accepted):
Spring, December 1, 2016
Summer, January 25, 2017

Cost

Application fee:
The WIE application fee is $50 and will be charged to your bursar account.  This fee is not refundable. 

	WIE Fee	+	Tuition
Spring 2017	$4,895.00	+	$3,822.00 for Mississippi residents (full-time enrollment)
		+	$10,956.00 for non-residents (full-time enrollment)
Summer 2017	$4,695.00	+	$955.50 for Mississippi residents (3 credits)
		+	$1,911.00 for non-residents (3 credits)

The WIE Fee covers pre-departure activities, orientation furnished housing in DC, WIE group activities during “welcome week,” farewell dinner, and WIE administrative fee.  Not included in the WIE fee are tuition, travel to/from DC, daily meals, ground transportation, textbooks, and personal spending money.  If students elect to take additional coursework through Ole Miss Online or iStudy, they are responsible for additional tuition costs.

Students with a FAFSA on file can apply for a limited number of WIE scholarships.

Financial aid questions?

Contact:
Dana Requet
Financial Aid Office
(662) 915-5546
dana@olemiss.edu