Internship Experience in the Homeland Security Enterprise

Catalog description

HLS 595A Internship Experience in the Homeland Security Enterprise (3 per semester/maximum of 6) This one-semester internship is offered in falls, spring, and summer. This one-semester internship is designed to provide real world experience in the Homeland Security Enterprise. The course is an elective for students in the Intercollege Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security (iMPS-HLS) program. Internships can be part-time or full-time and paid or unpaid. Interns may earn 3-6 credits. The number of credits a student can earn will be based on the character of the actual work performed in the internship, in particular the site-specific research project. Interns must complete at least 300 hours on the internship. This is equivalent to working 20 hours per week, although internship schedules are flexible and may be determined on an individual basis. The course includes both an internship and accompanying academic supervision and discussion. It is available to students enrolled in all options related to the program. The course is an additional offering to specialized internship programs that are in place in some iMPS-HLS options. It focuses on a comprehensive real-world experience of the Homeland Security Enterprise: The internship provides real-world experience to enhance the educational experience and application of knowledge and skills acquired in the program. The accompanying academic supervision and discussion contribute to reaching the overall purpose of the course: to integrate academic and real world learning through an internship opportunity in a workplace setting. Internship activities and assignments are designed to: understand how research and studies are conducted, used, or interpreted in the Homeland Security Enterprise to inform real-world decision-making; to enhance professional development; gain career-related experiences and to provide the opportunity for real-world application of knowledge in a workplace setting; and to prepare for potential job placements. The course places students in numerous workplace and/or research settings that will allow students the opportunity to apply and integrate academic coursework within a professional setting to prepare for further job placement in the Homeland Security Enterprise. Additionally, internship activities and assignments are designed to meet individualized goals and skills, and to evaluate progress toward those competencies. Internship work will be evaluated on an on-going basis with the student intern, site supervisor, and faculty member involved in the process.