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International Programs
Mission
The Office of International Programs (OIP) connects students with study abroad, internship, research, and service learning programs all over the world. These high impact experiential learning experiences facilitate intercultural dialogue and expand international awareness, challenging students to take authorship of their personal and intellectual growth within a global context. Through intentional mentorship, students learn to apply their academic pursuits, co-curricular interests, and career goals to their international experience, inspiring a commitment to lifelong global learning. The OIP’s guided programming supports students before, during, and after an abroad experience, empowering each student to become an agent of social change and inspiring them to mindfully contribute and provide leadership within an increasingly interdependent and complex multinational society.
Stonehill College Abroad Programs
The OIP maintains an approved list of over 120 programs in over 40 countries. Students participating in an approved international program will remain fully enrolled at Stonehill, paying the equivalent of Stonehill tuition and fees, while also maintaining their financial aid. An abroad fee of $375 will be charged to the students’ accounts for each semester spent abroad. The fee is waived during the second semester for students studying for a full academic year in the same location.
Application Process
To be considered for any international program, a student must attend a Getting Started session, meet with an OIP adviser, and submit an online application through myHill. The minimum cumulative GPA requirement is 2.75, however, consideration will be given to students whose GPA fall below 2.75 on a case by case basis. Final acceptance is contingent on the student meeting the established requirements of the specific international program to which they have applied.
Students with a current cumulative GPA below 2.75 are required to submit to the OIP Director a letter stating the reasons why an exception should be made on his/her behalf and two letters of support from full-time faculty, one of which must be from his/her major department.
Typically students will study or intern abroad during their junior year, although exceptions are made for some second semester sophomores and first semester seniors. Ordinarily, students are not encouraged to enroll in courses abroad during the second semester of their senior year.
For more information concerning any of the programs listed below, contact the Office of International Programs directly.
International Internship Program
Stonehill College sponsors full-time internships for academic credit in Dublin, London, Madrid, and Paris. These internships provide students with the opportunity to develop skills and competencies through professional experience in their prospective fields of employment and develop increased cultural sensitivity through living and working in another culture. The College offers internships in a variety of fields, including advertising, business, education, health administration, law, medical research. sociology, art theatre, and politics. Additional part-time internships in other countries may be available as part of a study abroad program through some of our partner organizations.
Students participating in a Stonehill sponsored internship work between 12-14 weeks, during either semester of their junior year or the fall semester of their senior year. Upon successful completion, students earn fifteen academic credits. Interns in London enroll in three, 3-credit course with CAPA: International Education and earn an additional six credits for a 20-hour per week internship, which includes participation in a series of workshops throughout the semester. Students in Dublin earn twelve credits for a combination of their internship, research paper, professional journal and three credits for a seminar on Irish history. In additional to their internship, research paper and professional journal, Madrid and Paris students participate in a language seminar at the start of the program and also earn a total of fifteen credits.
Study Abroad Program
Recognizing the benefits of immersion in another culture and study outside ones home country, Stonehill College encourages every student to consider spending a summer, semester, or year studying or interning overseas. Students are able to spend a maximum of three semesters away on approved programs of study at foreign institutions while maintaining current status as a Stonehill student. The College is affiliated with over 120 institutions in over 40 countries.
All courses taken abroad must be pre-approved by the OIP and the appropriate Department Chair. With prior approval, courses may transfer towards a student’s degree program and may fulfill a combination of credit towards the major and/or minor, cornerstone requirements, or general electives. Upon return, courses passed with a grade equivalent to or higher than the Stonehill grade of “C” are accepted as transfer credit and recorded on the students’ academic transcript; grades earned are not factored in the students’ cumulative grade-point average. Courses whose grade corresponds to or is lower than a Stonehill grade of “C-“, will not be accepted as transfer credit.
Non-Approved Programs
Students who study abroad without Stonehill pre-approval or in non-approved programs must withdraw from the College during their time abroad and apply for readmission. Housing upon readmission is on a space-available basis and eligibility for financial aid will be subject to regulations at the time of readmission.
Experiential and Independent Learning Programs
Internships
Academic internships provide valuable educational experiences, as they facilitate student learning outside of the classroom. A faculty moderator may approve qualified students to complete a professional internship in which they are able to gain first-hand knowledge in a specific field. Students can intern part-time or full-time locally for 3-9 credits or may participate in one of three full-time domestic internship programs. Note that internship qualifications and requirements vary and student should speak with the Internship Moderator for their academic department for more information.
Local Internship Credit Structure
| Credits |
Requirements |
Note |
| 3 |
8 hours/week for a minimum of 112 hours (14-week average) |
All Majors (excluding Business Majors) |
| |
12 hours/week for a minimum of 168 hours (14-week average) |
Internships for Business Majors |
| 6 |
16 hours/week for a minimum of 224 hours (14-week average) |
All Majors (excluding Business Majors) |
| |
24 hours/week for a minimum of 336 hours (14-week average) |
Internships for Business Majors |
| 9 |
32+ hours/week for a minimum of 448 hours (14-week average) |
All Internships |
Summer Internships
Students interested in completing a summer internship must seek approval from the appropriate Department Internship Moderator or Department Chairperson. Academic departments are not required to offer summer internships. Academic departments that offer summer internships will allow students to complete a credit-bearing internship during the summer in one of two ways, but may limit which option is available to students. Summer internships can be taken for a maximum of 3-credits (except for 4-credit Capstone Internships in Criminology, Sociology and Health Science).
Summer/Fall Split Option
Students may divide the “on-site work” and “academic work” portions of an internship between the summer and the fall semester under the following conditions:
- A student interested in completing an internship during the summer months must fill out the on-line internship application and register for the internship by June 1st. Students adding an internship after the summer Add/Drop period may be charged a $50 late registration fee.
- Students are required to have the on-line Internship Application approved by a Faculty Moderator in the Department of the internship.
- Students must also register for the Internship course offered by the credit-granting department in the Fall semester. The internship will count as one of the student’s fall semester courses. However, students may apply to the Registrar’s Office to have the internship count as an overload course - provided that they meet the eligibility criteria.
- On-site internship hours will be completed during the summer; academic work will be completed in the fall semester under the supervision of a faculty moderator. Students should clarify academic requirements with the department’s faculty moderator prior to starting their summer internship. The bulk of the academic work should be completed during the fall semester, but a portion of the academic work may be required to be completed concurrently with the internship (i.e. weekly journals and supervisor evaluations).
- At the end of the summer session, the summer portion of the internship will be graded with an “I” Incomplete. Faculty moderators will issue a final letter grade and the credit will be assigned at the end of the fall semester. At that point, the summer “I” incomplete grade will be converted to a Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) grade.
- Regardless of the total number of hours worked at the internship site, summer internships may count for a maximum of one course or three credits.
- To help defray the administrative costs of conducting summer internships, the student will be charged a reduced registration fee for a summer internship.
This option might be desirable if you would like to spread out the work, reduce your summer costs, or because you are required to be registered by your internship site. Please Note: Students who register for the Summer/Fall Split Option, but who actually complete all of the internship requirements during the summer as required by Full Summer Option are subject to being charged the full summer rate.
Full Summer Option
Students may take the internship for summer credit, complete all work during the summer, and pay the full price for a summer course.
- In this case, students must get a Faculty Moderator to agree to supervise their academic work during the summer and they must sign the on-line Internship Application.
- Students must register by June 1st and pay the summer tuition rate for a 3-credit course at the time of registration. Students adding an internship after the summer Add/Drop period may be charged a $50 late reg. fee.
- Regardless of the total number of hours worked at the internship site, summer internships may count for a maximum of one course or three credits.
- Students will be graded and earn the credit at the end of the Summer session.
This option might be desirable if you are trying to complete your graduation requirements and take the internship course in your final summer.
Students wishing to live on campus during their internship and those students who are required to take an internship as part of their degree program are also required to be registered for the internship under one of the options above.
Non-Credit Internships
Students who are doing non-credit internships on their own are strongly encouraged to fill out the myHill Internship Application if students want the internship to appear on their Achievement Record. No registration is required through the Registrar’s Office in this case. At the end of the semester, students should have their intern supervisor email the Career Development Center to confirm that they have completed the experience.This form will also be required by the Office of Residence Life for students who wish to live on campus during the summer while completing a non-credit internship.
Full-Time Internship Programs
Stonehill students may have the opportunity to participate in full-time, local internships during the fall or spring semester with the approval of their major or minor department. The credit breakdown is typically as follows:
Typical Full-Time Internship Structure
| Credits |
Requirements |
| 9 |
Complete 32+ hours/week internship (14 weeks average) |
| 3 |
Complete academic work assigned by your major or minor department* |
| 3-4 |
Take one course at Stonehill College (typically and elective or major/minor requirement) |
*Each department’s requirements may vary. Students should make sure to check with their faculty moderator before moving forward.
Semester Long Internships
Stonehill offers 15-credit internship programs in New York City, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles that provide students with a combination of real-life work experience and academic coursework. Interns have the opportunity to appreciate more fully the connections between theory and practice, to adapt to a culture outside the college environment, to network with professionals at different levels in an organization, and to gain exposure to potential career paths. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in a full-time internship program other than those currently offered by Stonehill. Participation in outside programs requires the approval of a student’s major or minor department. Please visit the Career Development Center website for more information.
Stonehill in Los Angeles
Students accepted into this program will intern four days a week for a full semester in Los Angeles. All students, regardless of semester of participation, will take a designated communication course on campus during winter break. With guidance from the Career Development Center, students are expected to secure their own internships based on their career interests. Housing is provided in Burbank, CA, close to major studios and Hollywood. This program is administered through the Communication Department and the Career Development Center and is open to all majors.
Los Angeles Internship Credit Structure
| Credits |
Requirements |
| 3 |
Elective Communication course taken at Stonehill during Wintersession |
| 3 |
Journal/field notes and final paper/presentation determined by faculty moderator |
| 9 |
Intern 32-40 hours/week for a minimum of 448 hours (14-week average) |
Stonehill in New York
Students intern for a full semester, four days a week, while taking one class at Fordham University. This opportunity allows students to gain practical experience in a large urban setting. With guidance from the Career Development Center, students are expected to secure their own internships based on their career interests. Students will live in housing provided by Educational Housing Services. This program is administered through the Career Development Center and is open to all majors.
New York Internship Credit Structure
| Credits |
Requirements |
| 3-4 |
One course taken at Fordham University |
| 3 |
Journal/field notes and final paper/presentation determined by faculty moderator |
| 9 |
Intern 32-40 hours/week for a minimum of 448 hours (14-week average) |
Stonehill in Washington, D.C.
Students intern four to five days a week and take a Political Parties and Interest Groups course taught by a Stonehill adjunct faculty member in Washington, D.C. The program will allow students to hear from distinguished speakers and participate in site visits and networking opportunities throughout the DC area. With guidance from the Career Development Center, students are expected to secure their own internships based on their career interests. Students will live on Capitol Hill in housing provided by WISH (Washington Intern Student Housing). This Program is open to all majors and administered through the Career Development Center and The Martin Institute.
Washington, DC Internship Credit Structure
| Credits |
Requirements |
| 3 |
POL 382 - Parties and Interest Groups in American Politics (taken in Washington D.C.) |
| 3 |
Journal/field notes and final paper/presentation determined by faculty moderator |
| 9 |
Intern 32-40 hours/week for a minimum of 448 hours (14-week average) |
Conflict Analysis Program: Learning Inside Out
The Conflict Analysis Program (CAP) is an 18-credit program of integrated learning. It combines a semester-long academic course (POL 347 - Conflict Analysis and Resolution ) taken at Stonehill College in the Fall Semester (2015) with a semester-long international internship experience in the Spring semester (2016). Upon completing POL 347 , participants will travel to Armenia, Georgia or Serbia to work with a non-governmental organization (NGO), media organization, research think tank, or governmental office that is engaged in a specific aspect of conflict management and peace-building. Concurrent with their internship, and with assistance from their CAP academic advisor, students will be expected to author a research paper based on a feature of the conflict region in which they are working.
Upon completion of the internship semester, all students enrolled in the program will convene in Armenia for a two-week long integrative seminar with Professor Anna Ohanyan. This seminar will allow students to develop their research papers and craft their presentations for an undergraduate conference titled “New Voices: Junior Scholars’ Conference on Regional Security” that will be held in Yerevan, Armenia in June, co-sponsored by Stonehill College and Eurasia Partnership Foundation. EPF is a local Armenian foundation supported by a range of donor agencies and governments including the U.S. Agency for International Development, European Commission, Government of the Netherlands, and Government of the Great Britain. Proceedings of the conference will be published by EPF.
POL 347 is an introduction to the field of conflict analysis and resolution. It begins with a general study of the type of international conflicts, tracking trends and patterns throughout the 20th century to the present day. It then explores existing literature on common conditions of conflict and peace, from the social and economic to the political. Students subsequently examine methods of international conflict management used by international organizations, NGOs, and third-party state actors. This examination includes, but is not limited to, the study of peace processes and mediation regimes. The course also covers long-term approaches to conflict management, such as the role of transnational and local business, international development, regional governance, and democratization. Some of the conflict areas to be included are the Western Balkans, the Middle East, the South Caucasus, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Sub-Sahara Africa and Southeast Asia.
Schedule and Credits
- Fall 2015/POL 347 - Conflict Analysis and Resolution (3 credits)
- POL 475 - Conflict Analysis Program (CAP)
- Internship in Armenia, Georgia or Serbia (9 credits, P/F),
- Research Paper (3 credits, graded),
- POL 357 - Special Topics/Integrative Seminar in Armenia “Regional Orders and Disorders” (3 credits, graded)
- “New Voices: Junior Scholars’ Conference on Regional Security”, Armenia.
Student Outcomes
- International experience and professional development
- A publication and a conference presentation
- Fulfills a study abroad and internship requirement for POL majors
Eligibility and Application Guidelines
The program is open to all majors who maintain a GPA of 3.00 and above and have strong writing skills. Prior research experience is desirable and a course in research methods is strongly recommended. Please submit a cover letter, resume and transcripts to Prof. Anna Ohanyan at Martin 224. The applications are due by September. Information sessions on the program will be offered throughout March and April. For additional information, please contact Prof. Anna Ohanyan or the Office of International Programs.
Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)
The Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program is an opportunity for students who have completed at least their first year at Stonehill to perform significant, publishable full-time research under the guidance of and in collaboration with an experienced faculty researcher. The experience, available to all disciplines, helps to solidify and define students’ career choices, both through graduate school decisions and in post-college employment. All SURE Scholars receive a stipend for an eight- or ten-week full-time summer session. Applications are submitted in early December preceding the summer of participation. For further information, contact the Office of Academic Development, or log onto the SURE website.
Directed Study
A Directed Study allows a student to investigate in-depth a subject that is not offered in the regular curriculum. Such a project is ordinarily in an area of concentration or in some field for which the student is well-prepared. A student who desires to pursue a Directed Study should first seek the cooperation of a faculty member in the appropriate discipline who will agree to supervise the work in the subsequent semester. The student then completes the application available under the myAcademics tab on myHill.
A student may not take more than one Directed Study in a semester without permission of the Office of Academic Services and Advising.
Independent Research
With the approval of a supervising faculty member and Department Chairperson, a student may carry out an independent research project, for academic credit, on a topic currently being studied by the faculty member or on an original project developed collaboratively by the student and faculty member. The student must complete an on-line application, which requires approval by the faculty member and department chair prior to registration. The form is available under the myAcademics tab on myHill.
Senior Thesis
Students complete an independent scholarly work, resulting in a substantial written document, under the guidance of a faculty member and with the approval of the Department Chairperson. An on-line application is available under the myAcademics tab on myHill and must be completed prior to registration.
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