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Oglethorpe University strives to provide valuable learning
experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting.
Experiential Education, under the support of Career Services, offers
three primary programs: Exploration Atlanta, Exploration Week, and
Internships. A variety of additional services, including volunteer
opportunities, service learning, and career-related programs are
also available.
Exploration Atlanta utilizes local resources to enhance Oglethorpe’s
traditional academic courses. Students select topics from a series
of one-day programs providing in-depth examination of various career
fields and industries. This non-credit program occurs each year
during spring semester. In small seminars, students discuss topics
of interest, meet industry professionals and visit related
organizations. Exploration Atlanta allows students to work closely
with faculty and colleagues and provides an outlet for continued
research in a particular discipline. Students can choose one or
several topics of interest from the mini-courses which change each
year.
Exploration Week provides students with a concentrated look at an
individual area of study that is enriched by first-hand experience.
This week involves chaperoned travel to locations
outside Atlanta to visit sites, meet professionals, learn about
careers and take part in educational activities. Activities may be
enhanced by assignments, readings and pre-trip preparations for
students designed by the educator leading the group.
Internships provide practical experience to complement the academic
program, as well as give students the opportunity to solidify career
decisions, gain work experience, and provide a service to the
community in their fields of interest. More than half of college
students nationwide complete internships, making the experience an
essential credential for competition in the current job market.
Internships are available in a large variety of local businesses and
organizations representing most academic majors and potential career
fields. Oglethorpe students have recently completed internships at
The Carter Center, CNN, Georgia Pacific, Atlanta Magazine, Zoo
Atlanta, the Atlanta History Center, and the Georgia State
Legislature, to name only a few. In addition to these Atlanta-based
internships, Oglethorpe maintains resources and affiliations for
nationwide opportunities, such as the Washington Center in D.C.
Internships are available in most majors for students who:
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of goals they wish to accomplish
in the experience
- Possess the necessary academic and personal
background to accomplish these goals.
Sophomores, juniors, and
seniors with a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 qualify to apply
for internships. Transfer students must complete one semester at
Oglethorpe prior to participation. Every internship requires a
statement of objectives and academic requirements, in addition to
related academic assignments, developed in consultation with the
student’s internship faculty supervisor. Upon successful completion
of the internship, the student is awarded academic credit (graded on
a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis) in recognition of the learning
value of the experience. Students may apply for 1-16 semester hours
of internship credit toward their degree, with approval from their
academic advisor and the Experiential Education Committee. Students
seeking more than four semester hours must submit an appeal form to
the Career Services Office indicating why the internship exceeds the
normal number of hours and outlining additional projects in which
the student will participate. Students desiring academic credit must
register for the internship before the end of the Drop/Add period of
the semester in question. Students who wish to engage in internships
on a voluntary basis do not need to apply for academic credit;
however, they should follow the same basic internship guidelines.
Students who are interested in an internship should first consult
with their faculty advisor and then visit
Career Services.
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