FAQs—Global Practicum and Internship Program
Q: Who figures out where I will go and what I will do on my internship/practicum?
A. You do, unless you want us to. Some students have some well-formed independent ideas about where they want to go and what they want to do. Others have a sense of interests or a place they might want to go, but want help turning that into a concrete plan. If you want us to help you come up with interesting new opportunities or ideas based on the current work/collaborations that our faculty are engaged in around the world, the program assistant can let you know about the latest opportunities. Still other students are participating in field activities or projects run by other schools or organizations but would like to find a way to get ASU credit for the experience. The activities students can focus on include any combination of service learning, internships, participation in ongoing faculty collaborations or research, independent research, creative projects or any other type of activity that makes pedagogical sense.
Q. How does the
A: You can work with the school’s study abroad program assistant to find a faculty mentor to help you design or finalize your plans. You will work with this mentor to set learning goals and develop a basic plan for where, what and how. You can then also work with the program assistant on logistics that you need help with, such as accommodations; travel; budgets and financial aid; or health/safety issues.
Q: What credit do I get for the internship/practicum?
A: Students enroll in 3–12 credit hours of courses, which could be in any of the following (or others by arrangement). The faculty mentor will normally be the instructor of record for the courses.
Internship or Individualized Instruction:
ASB 484 Internship and/or ASB 499 Individualized Instruction
ASM 484 Internship and/or ASM 499 Individualized Instruction
SSH 484 Internship and/or SSH 499 Individualized Instruction
AML 484 Internship and/or AML 499 Individualized Instruction
Practicum Courses:
ASB 452 Community Partnerships for Global Health
SSH 402 Community Partnerships for Global Health
Q: What is the minimum and maximum amount of credit hours I can sign up for?
A: The minimum is 3, and the maximum is 12 for summer (6 for winter); credit hours are negotiable and reflect the planned activities and effort.
Q: How do I apply for the program?
A: In order to apply for the program you must:
- Identify a practicum, an internship abroad or similar experience you want to do in coordination with our study abroad program assistant (see below).
- Apply to the Study Abroad Office and pay your $120 deposit. The deposit is non-refundable and will be applied to your student health insurance while abroad.
- Fill out the contract located in the
- Once admitted, you will need to sign up for your credit and pay tuition.
Q: What are the basic requirements to be accepted?
A: Students must be at least 18 years of age, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) and be in good standing with their home institution. Non-ASU students must provide a recent transcript with their applications. Students with a GPA below 2.5 or in poor standing for any other reason, or who are not currently registered as majors in a School of Human Evolution and Social Change-administered degree program are required to submit two letters of recommendation (preferably from current professors) with their application, in support of their suitability for independent international experiences. The letters are waived if the proposed faculty mentor is in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and agrees.
A: We welcome non-ASU students into our programs. However, if you are not from ASU, you must first apply to be admitted as a non-degree ASU student (cost $25–50). That means while you are on the program you will be an admitted ASU student. Once you have been admitted to ASU (this usually takes less than 24 hours), you will receive an ‘ASURITE’ login that will allow you to apply to the global internship program. You will be responsible for making arrangements if you wish to transfer that credit to your home institution. Contact the study abroad program assistant at shesc.global@asu.edu if you need help being placed into a global internship/practicum or completing the application.
Q: When can I start my internship/practicum?
A: For the summer, students can start any time after they finish the spring semester; for the winter, students can start any time after they finish the fall semester. Summer internships/practica must be finished before the beginning of the fall semester; winter internships/practica must be finished before the beginning of the spring semester.
Q: What are the costs?
A: Students cover all their own costs (e.g., accommodations, travel, food) related to their in-country experiences. There is a modest application fee when you apply to the program (currently $120), which is used to provide the ASU required travel insurance for students participating in the program. There are no additional costs paid to ASU other than tuition (at normal rates) for the enrolled courses.
Q: Does financial aid apply?
A: Yes, just as if you are on campus, and as long as you enroll in 6 or more credit hours for the summer. The study abroad program assistant will be able to help you figure out your financial need. Travel costs can often be covered by loans or financial aid.
Q: What is the date for applying?
A: We recommend students apply by March 15 for summer and October 15 for winter to provide us with adequate time to help plan for accommodations; budgeting; local in-country support or activities; and so on. However, we will work with students who apply later than this. Generally, 2–2 ½ months before departure is the latest a student should apply (beyond this, it can be very hard to make good arrangements). So, in short, the answer is—the sooner, the better.
Q: I’m interested. What do I do next?
A: Start by contacting the school’s study abroad program assistant at (480) 965-1366 or shesc.global@asu.edu.
