Internships for CLACS students

CLACS regularly sends out announcements for internships opportunities at various organizations in the area. We encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities that help build a strong curriculum vita that should prove useful once the program has been completed.

CLACS students may now elect to register for an internship seminar for 2-4 points that may count as one of the required courses for the MA program. Students interested in this option may register for G10.3050. When you are registering for G10.3050, please select the number of points you want to obtain.

The following are guidelines that will help you to identify and organize your professional internship.

GUIDELINES FOR CLACS INTERNSHIP SEMINAR: Careers in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

The Internship (G10.3050) 2-4 credits
Class meets every Tuesday, 12-2pm, KJC, Room 404W

This seminar is taken in conjunction with CLACS-approved internships.  Along with completion of internship requirements during one semester of studies, CLACS MA students register for this course, led by the Director and CLACS Internship Coordinator, in which they develop scholarly work – usually a course paper- putting their internship experiences into academic focus. Students present their experiences and papers to one another , and a series of NYU faculty and outside speakers discuss career opportunities (academic, government, NGO’s, activist orgs.,  Journalism, museums, etc.) appropriate to Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Readings and assignments center on careers and professions, and their intersection with scholarship.

The attached materials explain individual internship placements and what is expected of the internship. The aim of the internship is to provide an intensive work experience for competitive entry or advancement in a profession that involves work dealing with Latin America or the Caribbean . Students will be able to utilize the experience and information gathered toward the completion of the CLACS Master Project, final requirement for graduation. Each student will be responsible for securing his/her own internship but CLACS will provide any assistance necessary to secure the internship. The student is encouraged to spend one semester or its equivalent as an intern, for a minimum of 48 hours at one institution. Placements are individualized, and based on student goals.

Students are required to meet every Tuesday, 12-2pm with the Internship Coordinator, Professor Carmen Medeiros, to discuss their duties, working conditions, and progress, if there are changes or unsatisfactory conditions, or breaches of the letter of agreement. In case of difficulties or conflicts between student ’s goals and tasks as assigned by internship supervisor, the internship coordinator will communicate with the internship supervisor.

Internship Requirements for Students:

1. In advance of starting the internship, students will submit to their internship supervisor (at the internship site) and the CLACS faculty internship coordinator, a 1-2 page proposal. Proposal will describe objectives for the internship, why the particular site was chosen, whether the student is obtaining any other benefits from the internship (e.g. pay), responsibilities, connection between internship and research interests (especially master’s project).
2. Students will decide in advance how many points they will seek in exchange for the internship, between 2 and 4.
3. Student must work
1. At least 8 hours/week for 12 weeks for a 2 point internship
2. At least 12 hours/ week for 12 weeks for a 3 point internship
3. At least 16 hours/ week for 12 weeks for a 4 point internship
4. Hours will be logged in a time sheet to be submitted in the 12 th week of the internship.
4. The proposal must be approved by both the internship supervisor (at the internship site) and the CLACS faculty internship coordinator.
5. In addition, student will submit weekly 1 page reports to the CLACS faculty internship coordinator which will detail the number of hours worked, tasks completed and a reflection on how the week’s work relates to the student’s larger goals for the internship.
6. At least biweekly, the CLACS faculty internship coordinator and student will meet in person or in a telephone conference to discuss progress of internship and strategize any necessary amendments.
7. In case of difficulties or conflicts between student’s goals and tasks as assigned by internship supervisor, CLACS faculty internship coordinator will communicate with internship supervisor.
8. In 12 th week of internship, students will submit to CLACS faculty internship coordinator a 5 page process paper in which the student examines the connection between the internship and his/her research goals; and/or a master’s project proposal. Students must also fill out a Student Evaluation Form and fax or bring in person to the IC.
9. Students will also ask internship supervisor to complete an evaluation (to be confidential and submitted directly to Internship Coordinator Carmen Medeiros).
10. Credit (on a pass/fail basis) will be assigned on the basis of timely completion of these requirements.
11. During the progress of the internship, it is the student’s responsibility to: adhere to standards and ethics of the professional host institution; obey all rules and regulations of the host institution, and its dress code; maintain a regular work schedule, as agreed, prior to start of internship.

3. Responsibilities of Internship Coordinator

a.) Once internship has been secured, confer with students on a bi-weekly basis to discuss progress of internship and strategize any necessary amendments.

b.) Read intern’s weekly progress report and final five-page process paper.
b.) Assign a grade on the basis of timely completion of requirements.

4. Responsibilities of the Host Institution
The Host Institution will designate a Site Supervisor whose responsibilities will be to:
a.) Designate appropriate working space for project or projects.
b.) Familiarize the intern with the policies, personnel, and functions to be followed.
c.) Establish a specific project/projects with the IC, prior to start of internship.
d.) Provide guidance and necessary instructions to the intern.
e.) Maintain contact with the IC as needed.
f.) Complete Internship Supervisor’s Evaluation Form detailing the intern’s performance, and mail or fax it to the IC.
h.) Write a letter of recommendation for the student upon the completion of the internship, if permitted by the host institution.
j.) Make recommendations for grading intern, to the IC.