Internship Experience

According to a 2017 National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) study, today’s employers expect students to be “employment ready” upon college graduation. Typically, students learn hard skills in the classroom, but soft “people" skills such as the ability to communicate, work as part of a team, solve problems, plan, organize, prioritize, and process information are learned through interpersonal collaboration with others.  The NACE study concluded that the immersion experience of internships allows students to connect classroom and workplace by requiring students to integrate and refine both hard and soft skills. Participation in the Atlanta Internship Experience provides such an immersion experience.

Who should apply for the Washington Internship Experience?

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.olemiss.joinhandshake.com
  • Handshake Student Guide
  • Helpful Handshake Tips
• www.internships.com
• www.indeed.com
• www.idealist.org
• www.internshipmatch.com
• www.journalismjobs.com
• www.linkedin.com
• www.mediabistro.com
• www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads
• www.ziprecruiter.com

Academic Components

Pre-Internship:
Students accepted into the summer cohort of the Washington Internship Experience are required to take an internship preparation course offered by the Division of Outreach and Continuing Education. This course offers Internship Experience participants opportunities to effectively and efficiently research internships; to improve critical internship application materials; to discuss diversity and intercultural competence; to navigate networking, social media, and professional etiquette; to clarify professional and personal career goals; and to foster skills of problem-solving and interpersonal communication.

During the Internship:
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
BUS 300	Business 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)
SRA 401	Internship in Recreation Management
SRA 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

Spring 2019 (January 2 - April 6)
Summer 2019 (May 12-August 10)

Rolling Application for Spring

Summer Priority Deadline: November 9, 2018

Scholarship Application Deadline: November 9, 2018

Participation Packet Deadline (if accepted): 
Spring, December 1, 2018
Summer, January 22, 2019

Cost

	WIE Fee	+	Tuition (3 credits)
Spring 2019	$4,895.00	+	$1,023.75
Summer 2019	$4,695	+	Summer tuition fees TBD

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