Academic Opportunities
Internships
Each Global Development Studies concentrator is required to complete at least one internship or independent study. Most students either participate in an off-campus study program that includes an internship or complete a graded summer internship program that works in coordination with the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS). Many students set up their own internships they learn about through off-campus studies or other students. The CLS also has databases of sites at which students have done internships in the past. Some students choose programs that, for a charge, work to set students up in an internship, and often includes a homestay.
Interested students must schedule a preliminary meeting with the CLS to indicate an interest, find out about deadlines, and hear about funding options in the first week or two of the spring semester. To receive Global Development Studies credit, the internship must be for credit and graded. Students applying for academic credit need to complete a Universal Internship Application, available through the CLS. 2 credits are waived if you receive college funding; if not, you need to pay for each credit.
Each year during family weekend, students who have completed an internship for the concentration in the prior year present their experiences in a poster session. Presentations from past years can be viewed in the Global Development Resources Organization in PioneerWeb.
Awards, Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships
Rosenfield Grant
The Rosenfield Grant supports internships in the areas of public affairs, international relations, and/or human rights. The Committee interprets this mandate broadly, but it will be up to the student to articulate the connection of their internship to one or more of these program areas. Students are required to meet with the Chair before applying. The Committee conducts an interview and selection process for their internship grants. Delivery of two public presentations about their internship on campus is required following completion of the internship.
For more information, please contact Sarah Purcell.
Boren Scholarships
Boren Scholarships provide up to $20,000 to U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin American, and the Middle East.
More information: Boren Scholarship
Application: Boren Scholarship Application
Fulbright Grants
In general, there are two types of Fulbright grants:
- A Fulbright Full Grant, which funds one academic year of overseas study and/or research in one country
- An English Teaching Assistantship (ETA), which funds one academic year of teaching English in one country
Additionally, Fulbright offers several specialized grants, including Travel-Only Grants (which are usually given to graduate students, and only for Italy, Germany, and Hungary), Fulbright/mtvU Awards, Critical Language Enhancement Awards, Fulbright Business Grants (Mexico, Spain, and the Netherlands), Fulbright Journalism Grants, and country-specific awards to Australia, Ireland (Irish Language), Italy (slow foods and Deaf studies), Mexico (graduate degree and public policy); and the Netherlands (water management).
More information: Fulbright
Application: Fulbright Application
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Gates Cambridge Scholarships are highly competitive full-cost awards for full-time graduate study and research in any subject available at the University of Cambridge.
More information: Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Application: Gates Cambridge Scholarship Application
Gilman Scholarship
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad.
More information: Gilman Scholarship
Application: Gilman Scholarship Application
Marshall Scholarships
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to forty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study.
More information: Marshall Scholarship
Application: Marshall Scholarship Application
Mitchell Scholarship
The Mitchell Scholarship Program, named to honor former US Senator George Mitchell's pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, is designed to introduce and connect generations of future American leaders to the island of Ireland, while recognizing and fostering intellectual achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community and public service.
Up to twelve Mitchell Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 are chosen annually for one year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
More information: Mitchell Scholarship
Application: Mitchell Scholarship Application
Rhodes Scholarships
Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest international educational fellowships, were initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, and bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford.
More information: Rhodes Scholarship
Application: Rhodes Scholarship Application
Activities and Organizations
SEPC
The Student Educational Policy Committee, or SEPC, is a student-faculty liaison group which provides faculty with student input on professors, candidates, curriculum, and other departmental issues. It also organizes social events within the department.
Student Employment
Global Development Studies occasionally hires a student who has shown particular interest in and dedication to the concentration (i.e. through SEPC work) to undertake research or develop web material.
For more information or to learn about options, please contact Monty Roper.