Student Internship Opportunities
Internships provide MDiv, MTS, MRPL and MRL students with an opportunity to enrich their studies through a student-initiated practical experience for which academic credit is given. Internships provide students with an opportunity to tailor their course of study to meet specific learning goals, to enrich and/or complement their courses, to gain more experience in a particular aspect of ministry, or to obtain greater exposure to a broader range of vocational pathways and professional opportunities. Students are encouraged to select contexts of ministry that will enable them to explore interests, relevant vocational issues and/or develop skills (e.g., teaching, preaching, administration, etc.). Students may intern with a church, an agency or an existing internship program.
An internship will enable students to:
- Sharpen reflective practices of leadership and ministry
- Further discern and clarify vocational identity and calling
- Gain understanding and proficiency in an area of ministry or interest
Program Features
- Choose a setting that relates to a vocational interest and/or direction
- Earn up to six credit hours while gaining practical experience
- Explore relevant vocational issues
- Practice skills
- Mentorship from initial meeting with Dr. Thomas Elliott, Director of Internships, regular meetings with internship supervisors and internship cohort to evaluate progress and provide guidance on the presentation
- Develop a final integrative presentation that fosters student learning goals and outcomes
Information for Internship Supervisors
The internship supervisor is responsible for:
- Meeting with the students in the first week of the semester for the purpose of reviewing and confirming the plan of work, and developing a weekly schedule for meetings.
- Meeting weekly with the student for reflection and supervision. Normally, these meetings require a minimum of one hour.
- Evaluating the student’s work at the end of the internship. The link to complete the evaluation will be emailed to the supervisor from the Contextual Education Office. The evaulation will be shared with the student, Director of Internships, and GDR supervisor.
- Providing recommendations to the GDR supervisor and Director of Internships concerning what grade (S/U) the student shall be given for the internship.
The GDR Supervisor is responsible for overseeing the work of the student intern by completing the following:
- Sign student contract
- Conduct four cohort meetings. The cohort will meet four times during the semester for the following reasons: the first meeting for setup and orientation; the second and third meetings for monitoring learning outcomes, reflection, and supervision; and the fourth meeting for the final integrative presentation seminar and evaluation
- Coach students in the development of a final integrative presentation.
- In general, this presentation should demonstrate that the student has made progress in realizing their learning outcomes. Specifically, the final project should be the product of the student’s integration of any readings, reflection, and the practice in the student’s setting.
- The final presentation may take a variety of forms; a standard academic paper, an audio-visual presentation, the development of a curriculum for a church program, the planning and leading of a retreat or seminar, etc. The presentation will be delivered at the last meeting of the cohort.
- Consult with the student and monitoring progress in the internship (site supervision and mentoring, hours, site work, etc.) learning outcomes, and the final integrative presentation, and providing guidance as needed
- Complete a final evaluation of the student
- Conferring with the Director of Internships on the final grade (S/U)
If you have additional questions about fulfilling either of these roles supporting Candler Student Internships, please contact the Office of Contextual Education, at candlerconed@emory.edu, or (404) 727-4178.