GENERAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

1. Participation in the program is open to all international studies majors who are in good academic standing with USF.
2. Students are responsible for arranging their own internship with an appropriate international organization/business.
3. The internship must be relevant to the field of International Affairs.
4. Students must have an internship site supervisor who agrees to provide a job description for the internship position and complete an evaluation of intern at the completion of internship.

Some examples of appropriate internship opportunities are:                

• An immigration attorney
• An international business
• An international non-profit
• The United Nations
• The State Department
• An embassy or consulate office 

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS 

 An application for admission must be submitted and approved prior to the initiation of an internship to earn academic credits. To ensure timely submission of your application, please adhere to the deadlines provided. 

Students are required to submit the following materials with their application form:

• An offer letter from the organization where you will be interning. The letter should outline your duties and expected hours per week you would work at the site.
• Personal Statement (typed and a minimum of 300 words) which should include the following:
  • The mission statement of the organization you are interning.
  • How the internship will relate to your academic program and areas of interest.
• Signed Site Supervisor Agreement Form

DEADLINES FOR APPLICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED FOR INTERNSHIPS

Last day of Summer classes (August 2nd, 2024) for an internship in the Fall 2024 term

Last day of Fall classes (December 6th, 2024) for an internship in the Spring 2025 term

Last day of Spring classes (May 2nd, 2025) for an internship in the Summer 2025 term

INTERNSHIP HOURS

Students pursuing an approved internship are eligible for three (3) INT credits for 15 - 24 hours of work per week for the duration of the semester (a total of 225 hours over the course of the term are required).

Students with 25+ hours of work per week are eligible for six (6) INT credits (375 hours over the course of the term are required).

The same total hours apply in the summer, except the total hours are divided by 6 or 10 weeks, depending on the session.

For more information or if you have questions about the suitability of an internship site idea, please contact your Academic Advisor.

In an effort to ensure consistency and fairness to all students, we have established general academic requirements that students must fulfill to receive course credit for the internship. The length of the assignments is dependent upon the academic credit you are seeking for the internship. 

• Letter from Internship Supervisor – The Internship Supervisor from the organization or business must provide the Internship Coordinator with a letter on the organization letterhead or send an email from an official organization email account detailing the student’s job duties and expected number of hours per week the student will work at the site (this should be included with your application submission).
• Reflective Journal - The student will be responsible for keeping a weekly journal of the internship experience. The journal entries should be no more than and no less than one page in length. 
• Reflective Paper – The final paper should incorporate your experiences from the internship during the semester. The page requirement will be determined by the Internship Coordinator.

GRADING & EVALUATIONS

INR 4943 is for academic credit only. Students will receive a grade of S/U upon completion of the internship. To receive a satisfactory grade the following items must be submitted to the Internship Coordinator by the 3rd to last week of the semester: 

1. Student Site Evaulation Form
2. Site Supervisor Evaluation Form
3. Submission of all Journal Entries
4. Final Reflection Paper

Pre-Internship Forms

Students interesting in participating in the International Studies Internship Program must fill out the International Studies Internship Application Form. After submitting this form, you will receive a reponse from the department within a few business days. 

• International Studies Site Supervisor Agreement

Post- Internship Forms

• International Studies Site Supervisor Evaluation
• International Studies Student Site Evaluation

• Metro Tampa Bay International Board of Trade & Commerce Council
• An International Business
• The United Nations Association
• Consulate of Panama—Tampa
• Consulate of Peru - Tampa
• Immigration Law Firm
• Women for Women International
• Selected Non-Profit Organizations

U.S. Department of State

The U.S. Department of State is looking for diverse, culturally aware, adaptable, well-rounded and strategic problem-solvers who are seeking a substantive internship. This is your chance to support and gain insight into U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy, explore lifelong skills, as you represent America to the world. 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Career and Border Patrol
The Student Volunteer Program offers unpaid training opportunities to high school and college students. These opportunities provide work experience related to the student’s academic goals and provides them an opportunity to explore career options, develop their personal and professional skills all while earning school academic credit for their internship. 

Student Volunteer service enriches the student’s future by:

• Allowing career exploration early in their academic studies,
• Exposing them to new and emerging occupations,
• Giving them academic credit for the work they perform (determined by their school.), and
• Giving them experience which will enhance their ability to obtain paying jobs in the future.
   

U.S. Secret Service

Student Volunteer Service (Internships)
The Student Intern Program provides unpaid academic study-related work assignments that allow students to explore career options in addition to developing personal and professional skills. Working in Washington, D.C., or in various field offices located throughout the United States, can prepare students for a career with the United States Secret Service. 

The program offers many advantages, including career exploration early in a student's academic studies, exposure to new and emerging occupations/technologies, academic credit for the work performed (this is determined by the academic institution), and work experience that may be considered relevant if the student later applies for permanent employment. The program, however, is not intended to provide the intern with investigative or protective experience.

Central Intelligence Agency

Interested in foreign affairs? Looking for a career where you can make a difference? This unique program is designed to give promising undergraduate students, particularly minorities and people with disabilities, the opportunity to gain practical work experience that complements their academic studies.

Defense Intelligence Agency

Are you curious about foreign cultures and the hidden forces that affect the world globally? Do you excel in areas such as problem solving, critical writing, or learning new languages? Are you passionate about serving your country and supporting the men and women who defend our great nation around the world? If so, we invite you to learn more about DIA's student internship opportunities. DIA offers programs for high school graduates, undergraduate, and graduate students. To apply for any of DIA's special programs, please apply online.