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