Q: How does a student usually go about securing a practicum? Is it, more or less, just like getting a job?
A: Yes, the process is similar to getting a job, especially with the paid practicums. However, you do have the advantage of a network of professors, students, and alumni who can give ideas and recommendations, and the fact that SIT students are respected all over the world for their high level of ability. The other difference is that the career center has lots of resources for people to find practicum placements- both through a network of organizations and through specific assistance with career development and job-seeking skills, resources and materials (business cards, resumes, etc.)
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Q: What is the minimum length in months this practice phase can be? How many hours a week?
A: The practicum must be 6 months of full-time work (40 hrs/week). You can do one 6 month practicum or 2 practicums of 3 months. Alternatively, you can do a year of part-time work.
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Q: During and after the practicum do the students write about what they learned in what is called the ‘capstone‘ paper? Or what actual work do they do towards the degree, other than working the practicum, during those six months?
A: The capstone is a research paper which is usually but not always linked to your practicum, depending on how you choose to do it in consultation with your advisor. During the practicum time, you focus on learning goals established with your advisor.
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Q: Do students find paid practicum placements after they finish their on-campus studies?
A: Finding a paid practicum position is important to most students, and for the most part, those who want one are able to find it. For some students this is in the form of a permanent job that they keep indefinitely. For others, it is a paid practicum or internship or short-term contact. So much of it depends on what you want to do and where you want to go and your flexibility about the work you do. In some cases, especially for International Education positions, there will be a stipend and room and board provided for those working in a college, university or study abroad setting.
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Q: Who pays for accommodation and food during practicum out of campus, the student or the organization where it is taking place?
A: All travel and living costs during the practicum phase are the responsibility of the student. However, many students choose to look for a paid-practicum position which may include a modest salary and/or living stipend. Others students rely on their own finances and/or financial aid for travel and living expenses during their practicums. Each practicum is different for each student.
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Q: Is there assistance with getting a practicum?
A: It is ultimately up to the student to find the internship, but there is a strong SIT network that can be taken advantage of, as there a SIT alums currently all over the world in all kinds of positions. There is also a Career Center on campus that has the resources available for you to use to look for jobs. Many employers specifically seeking SIT students advertise over SIT listservs. The Career Center helps with resume writing, interviewing skills, career focusing and other topics that are useful to finding a job.
For more information about recent grads and their current work, see this link: http://pimadmissions.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/reflective-practice-phase-and-recent-positions/
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Q: When is the practicum tuition charged? Why is there a tuition charge for the practicum- are we taking classes through SIT while we are in are practice phase? What exactly does this charge cover?
A: Tuition is charged when you register for your practicum. The tuition that is charged covers your advisors’ time, as well as other resources such as the library, and the coordination of your off-campus phase. Your advisor works with you through the practicum and the capstone, giving feedback on your assignments and your Capstone paper, and makes the final decision on your paper and whether or not it is approved to present at the capstone seminar. The advisor also oversees the cohort of students you are assigned to, which is a virtual group of students who are doing work similar to yours (but in other parts of the world), and this cohort supports each other, and has discussions which are facilitated by the advisor.
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Q: How many graduates go on to work internationally, and in what capacity?
A: Our estimate is about half of the students go on to work outside the U.S. The types of work that they do varies depending on their degree area and interests. In the International Education degree, for example, there are people who work overseas on Study Abroad Program or with service learning programs or international students around the world. In the Sustainable Development degree there are people who go and work on field project with international development organizations such as CARE or Heifer International, etc. Some students will sign up with Peace Corps and go overseas that way. Students in all the degree areas are found in all corners of the world, working with education organizations, non-profit organizations, for profit companies, and small grassroots organizations. You name it, and most likely there are alumni and current students doing it!
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Q: I’m very interested in SIT, however I’m a little unsure about my career goals. Having a solid amount of international and cross-cultural experience (mostly English teaching abroad), I am certain that I want an international career that involves directly helping others (but not necessarily teaching in the classroom). Can you offer any advice on how to narrow down or more clearly pinpoint one’s career goals in order to ensure that SIT would be a good fit? Thank you!
A: It sounds like you have a lot in common with many SIT students across all our degrees. Many students in our Programs in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management (PIM – there are 6 degrees under this ‘umbrella’ program) have had prior teaching experience abroad and are looking for a career change that will still offer them the opportunity to live/work abroad. In fact, a recent study of our PIM class revealed that a full 40% of the students had taught English overseas prior to beginning their graduate studies!
Many former teachers become interested in international education, for example, and SIT offers one of the oldest and best known MA programs in International Education anywhere. Students can concentrate in International Education Advising (and become Directors of International Student and Scholar Services, working with international students on college campuses, or Directors of Study Abroad offices/programs), Educational Exchange Management (leading study abroad programs for college students, high school students, etc.), or Youth Program Leadership.
Students who know they’re ready for a career change but need to take time while pursuing their graduate degrees to further refine their career goals are often drawn to our MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management. This option allows students to customize their graduate curriculum by taking courses across SIT’s 6 degree areas (International Education, Conflict Transformation, Sustainable Development, Social Justice in Intercultural Relations, and the MS in Management).
Internships are required for all these degrees, so students gain meaningful professional experience (and, often, full-time employment) in their chosen fields while completing their SIT degrees. Students work closely both with their SIT Academic Advisors (who are all current/former professionals in their fields of expertise) and our Career Center while enrolled in their degree programs for help honing in on their career objectives.
I hope this is helpful, and encourage you to stay in touch with us as you finalize your educational and career goals!
