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Internship and Directed Study Programs

Internship Application | Directed Study Application

Internships and Directed Studies are powerful mechanisms for facilitating outside-of-classroom learning. 

Internships:  In an internship, a student obtains a professional position with an organization where the student is able to apply on the job the knowledge and skills she or he acquired in the classroom.  For Stonehill credit to be earned through professional placement, the student must complete an on-line internship application, obtain the appropriate signatures as specified on the form, and complete the registration process for the course.  Part of this enrollment process entails obtaining the concurrence of the work supervisor so that the duties assigned by the organization enable the learning targeted by the internship.   A faculty member is also identified (typically with the guidance of the department chairperson) who will oversee the internship and assess the student's learning at the conclusion of the term.

Internships may be obtained in profit-oriented, not-for-profit or service organizations, research laboratories, governmental agencies, or religious volunteer organizations.  In most cases, students enroll in internships during their senior year, although some majors allow juniors to enroll.  To determine requirements for a particular discipline, check the Catalog for specifics (most internships use the 475 course number).  Positions may be paid or not paid.  

Stonehill College offers students the choice of: combining an internship with courses taken on campus during fall or spring semesters; a summer internship through enrollment in Stonehill's summer program; or a full-time internship in Washington, D.C., New York City, or overseas in Brussels, Dublin, London, Paris or Zaragoza, Spain.  For information on full-time internships, click here.

Credit is given for learning, not for work.  Each application requires that learning objectives be specified as outcomes of the internship experience.  The faculty member will state how these objectives will be assessed.  Typically, the student is required to prepare for the work experience through readings, maintain a journal, keep in periodic contact with the faculty member, and write an academic paper documenting the learning outcomes.

Directed Studies:  This course allows a student to investigate in depth some subject matter that is not treated in one of the ordinary courses offered by the College.  Such a project is ordinarily in the area of concentration or in some field that the student is especially prepared.  A student who desires to pursue a directed study must present plans in advance of the pre-registration period to a faculty member who agrees to direct and evaluate the project.  If a student is unsure of which faculty member to approach for a directed study, the department chairperson in the appropriate area should be contacted.  To apply, use the on-line directed studies application and obtain the signatures specified in the form provided.

A student may not take more than one directed study, for three credits, in a semester without the permission of the Dean's Office.  Directed study courses are listed on the student's transcript under the number 490 preceded by the department identification in which the project is being pursued.