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International Programs
Mission
The International Programs Office provides opportunities for experiential learning through study abroad programs and international internships. The program recognizes that the understanding of other peoples’ cultures not only enables students to better comprehend and provide leadership to an increasingly interdependent and complex global society, but also allows students to achieve a deeper level of self-reliance and personal understanding.
Stonehill College Abroad Programs
Stonehill College offers a wide choice of programs which allow students to remain fully enrolled at Stonehill, paying a program fee equivalent to Stonehill tuition and fees, while maintaining their Stonehill financial aid. An abroad fee will be charged to students who choose to study away in most programs during the Spring semester.
Application Process
Acceptance into any Stonehill College International Program requires that a student possess solid academic ability as demonstrated by at least a 2.80 cumulative GPA (some programs require a higher minimum GPA), a level of maturity demonstrated by responsible behavior at the College and a serious intention to learn and grow in a different cultural environment. All applicants sign a release enabling collaboration with Student Affairs personnel concerning the student’s disciplinary record. Students seeking admission into any international program begin the application process by completing the on-line application which is accessible on the web.
Individual programs may stipulate additional requirements. Second semester seniors generally are not allowed to enroll in courses elsewhere during their last semester and may do so only with the permission from the Registrar’s Office.
For more information concerning any of the programs listed below, contact the Office of International Programs.
International Internship Program
Stonehill College sponsors a program of full-time internships in Dublin, London, Madrid and Paris. These internships provide students with the opportunity to develop competence through application of learned concepts to professional practice, and to strengthen personal development 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.
Students approved for the program intern between 12-14 weeks, during either semester of the junior year or the Fall semester of the 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 two-day-a-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. Acceptance into the International Internship Programs requires students to have earned a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.00.
Study Abroad Program
Recognizing the advantages obtained from immersion into other cultures and the benefits of travel and study outside one’s own country, Stonehill College allows students to spend a maximum of three semesters in an approved program of study at a foreign institution without withdrawing from the College. Stonehill affiliates with over 100 institutions in more than 35 countries.
A student’s program of study, and transfer credit equivalencies, must receive approval, before departure, by the student’s major Department Chairperson and the Office of International Programs. Upon return, only courses passed with a grade equivalent to or higher than the Stonehill grade of “C” are accepted in transfer and recorded on the student’s academic transcript; grades earned are not included in the student’s cumulative grade-point average. (A course whose grade corresponds at Stonehill to a “C-” will not transfer).
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. Qualified students may be approved by a faculty moderator to work in public and/or private organizations, where 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.
Local Internship Credit Structure
| Credits |
Requirements |
Note |
| 3 |
8 hours/week for a minimum of 112 hours (14 week average) |
All Internships (excluding Business majors) |
| |
12 hours/week for a minimum of 168 hours (14 week average) |
Business major Internships |
| 6 |
16 hours/week for a minimum of 224 hours (14 week average) |
All Internships (excluding Business majors) |
| |
24 hours/week for a minimum of 336 hours (14 week average) |
Business major Internships |
| 9 |
33+ 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/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:
o 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.
o Students are required to have the on-line Internship Application approved by a Faculty Moderator in the Department of the internship.
o 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.
o 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).
o 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.
o 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.
o To help defray the administrative costs of conducting summer internships, the student will be charged a registration fee of $100.00 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.
o 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.
o 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.
o 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.
o 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, but who wish to live on campus during their internship, must fill out the on-line Internship Application, have it signed by Career Services, and then must submit the Internship Application to Residence Life in order to apply for housing. No registration is required through the Registrar’s Office in this case.
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 choices. Please visit the Career Services 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 will take a designated communication course on campus during winter break. Internship placements will be based on students’ interests, as well as availability. This program is administered through the Communication Department and the Office of Career Services.
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 |
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. Placements are provided based on students’ interests and housing is also available. This program is administered through the Office of Career Services and 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 |
32-40 hours/week for a minimum of 448 hours (14 week average) |
Stonehill in Washington, D.C.
Stonehill College endorses two program options for students who want to intern for a full semester in the nation’s capital.
The Washington Center
Through the Center, students intern four to four-and-a-half days a week, take an elective course taught by The Washington Center’s faculty in the student’s chosen program, and participate in a Leadership Forum which includes distinguished speakers and site visits throughout the D.C. area. The Center provides housing and placements to students accepted into the program.
Washington Center Internship Credit Structure
| Credits |
Requirements |
| 3 |
One course taken through The Washington Center |
| 3 |
Journal/field notes and final paper/presentation determined by faculty moderator |
| 9 |
32-40 hours/week for a minimum of 448 hours (14 week average) |
American University’s Washington Semester
This program consists of a two-day per week internship, a weekly seminar where students meet with experts and decision-makers in their field, and a research project or elective class that can be chosen from a variety of courses. American University provides housing and access to their internship database for students accepted into the program.
American University Internship Credit Structure
| Credits |
Requirements |
| 8 |
Two American University seminars depending on chosen program |
| 3-4 |
3 credits for an elective course or 4 credits for a research paper/project |
| 4 |
Interning 2 days/week (14 week average) |
These Washington D.C. Programs are open to all majors and administered through the Office of Career Services and The Martin Institute.
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. |
