Planning Ahead for Internship

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Good planning makes it possible for students to do the type of internship they want to do when they want to do it. Planning ahead enables the Intern Faculty and the student to begin the internship using all advantages. 

Students should plan their course work carefully when they begin their Perkins degree program in order to complete the courses recommended in preparation for internship.  Master of Divinity candidates who expect to do a full-time internship as the final piece of their degree program may wish to plan to complete all other academic requirements before the internship begins. Students doing the part-time model usually plan to take additional course work during the internship.

Learning on internship is a priority. All students should plan ahead so that courses, employment, and life situations allow space for this priority on internship.  The Intern faculty can help Master of Divinity students decide whether the full-time or part-time internship model offers the best learning potential given their particular circumstances.

BEFORE APPLYING: Students apply for internship and interview with the Intern Faculty in the fall of one academic year for internships beginning the following fall. In the spring term before Master of Divinity students plan to apply for internship they should a) carefully review their academic plan with their academic advisor, and b) do a degree progress review with the Perkins registrar. They will thus be clear when they have the placement interview on the selection and scheduling of their remaining classes and will know that their internship plan fits with their projected graduation date. Master of Arts in Ministry candidates should meet with their academic advisor and, to the degree possible, map out their entire course of Perkins studies before they meet with the Intern Faculty for the initial placement interview. If M.A.M. students plan to complete their degree program in two years, they will need to apply for internship in their first Fall term at Perkins so that they can do internship in their second and final year.

ORDINATION PROCESS: The seminary's task is graduate education. The church ordains. While the Intern Faculty is interested in students' decisions on and progress toward ordination, it is the responsibility of prospective interns on that track to check with their conference and/or denomination before the placement interview to make sure they are aware of all requirements for internship and ordination. During the interview, they should inform the Intern Faculty placement supervisor of the steps they will be taking in their denominational ordination process during the internship year. With careful scheduling and good communication, interns can avoid calendar collisions that may interfere with learning.
  

LONG-DISTANCE INTERNSHIPS: Students who hope to do internship outside the immediate five-state area (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma) should initiate an early conversation with an Intern Faculty member, preferably in their first year at Perkins, in order to allow time to arrange an optimal internship. If a placement in the desired area is not confirmed by the deadline of January 15 of the calendar year in which the internship will begin, the Intern Faculty will assist the student to explore other options.

The Intern Faculty and staff welcome questions from and conversations with students about internship at any point in their Perkins career.