Types of career-related experience  >  Opportunities in Career & Professional Development  >  Graduate practica and internships

Graduate Practica and Internship opportunities in Career & Professional Development are unpaid opportunities for the purpose of assisting graduate students in meeting the requirements of their graduate programs for experience in a professional work environment.

Nature of the graduate practicum or internship experience:

  • Exposure to all aspects of Career & Professional Development.
  • Advising students through walk-in advising and advising appointments on many career-related issues addressed by our department.
  • Presenting workshops and seminars.
  • Project-related work which varies by interest of the graduate student and current needs of our department.
  • Opportunity to work with a wide variety of staff in our department.

Number of graduate practica positions available per year:

  • Varies; typically one to three. 

Work term and hours per week:

  • Single semester commitment, fall, spring or summer. 
  • More than one semester possible. 
  • Less opportunity for student contact during summer.
  • May involve training prior to the start of your work semester.
  • Hours per week determined by requirements of your graduate program. 
  • Schedule established for you to accomodate your class schedule.

Eligibility:

  • First- or second-year master's level graduate students in the  Higher Education (HED) program or Counselor Education program.
  • Graduate students in other programs and other institutions are also considered and have done practica or internships in our office; students typically are in student affairs, counseling, or related graduate programs.

Benefits:

  • Exposure to and experience in a professional career and professional development office environment; opportunity to network.
  • Gain knowledge about and experience with career and professional development
     resources and programs.
  • Schedule flexibility.

Application process and timeline:

  • Ideally, contact us by mid-semester prior to your desired practicum or internship semester to discuss your interests and available projects.

Contact for questions:

Ms. Amy McPherson
Senior Associate Director for Student Services
amy.mcpherson@vt.edu
540-231-6241