Experiential Learning and Internships

Why Experiential Learning?

Experiential learning has the potential to enhance graduate students' transition into a wide range of careers. There are many reasons to consider engaging in activities such as internships, experiential fellowships, or other experiential activities as part of your graduate training at Emory. Benefits might include gaining hands-on experience in a new professional area, building skills and networks that can help you become a great job candidate, and gaining insight into how different career fields think about their work.

Doctoral students who are considering an internship or experiential learning activity that relates to their research, teaching, and/or career goals should consider enrolling in GRAD 705R: Graduate Internship Experience (Instructor Permission is Required). GRAD 705R is open to doctoral students in all fields and allows students to receive course credit for completion of a part-time internship or experiential activity that provides training to broaden students' skills and expand their career options. This course's structure provides opportunities to help students maximize their internship or experiential learning activity as a professional development opportunity.

To enroll in GRAD 705R, students must first have their activity approved through the LGS Experiential Activity Proposal Form. This approval process will ensure that experiences align with guidelines around academic goals, career development, funding, and internships. Note that this form requires support from your DGS, your mentor/PI, LGS-PDCP, and (if applicable) ISSS.

GRAD 705R Proposal Process

If the activity is approved through the LGS Experiential Activity Proposal Form, you will be enrolled in GRAD 705R: Graduate Internship Experience. LGS-PDCP will consider internship proposals that meet the criteria outlined on the GRAD 705R Overview worksheet.

Completion of GRAD 705R involves several steps:

Before the Internship:

Before the start of your internship or experiential activity, meet with your host supervisor to establish and document expectations using the Student-Host Organization Agreement Form. This form must be submitted to lgs.profdev@emory.edu within th first week of your internship.

During the Internship:

LGS-PDCP will hold two formal class meetings with enrolled students: 1) an orientation meeting at the beginning of the term, and 2) a conclusion meeting at the end of the term. In addition, we encourage you to stay in touch with our office throughout the course of your internship. If you encounter issues with the host organization or internship supervisor, please inform our team so that we may offer our support. We want this experience to be positive for both students and host organizations – let us help however we can.

After the Internship:

1. Obtain evaluation from internship host organization. This document must be submitted by the Internship Supervisor to  lgs.profdev@emory.edu.
2. Reflect upon how the internship experience, your learning outcomes, and the new skills or knowledge you acquired, furthered your progress toward the PhD and your career goals on the Completion Report. This report must be submitted by the student to lgs.profdev@emory.edu.
3. Wait to receive grade (S/U).

GRAD 705 Documents