For Students

Internship Information for Students


Information & Directions for Students

The 2024-2025 HPSE Internship Fairs will be held virtually on April 4, 2024 and May 2, 2024. 

Internships (practica) provide students in the Higher and Postsecondary Education (HPSE) program with professionally supervised, consistent, and comprehensive exposure to the roles and functions of a wide variety of departments, offices and positions in the broad field of higher education. This experience will occur both in the internship itself, as well as in the required one-credit fieldwork seminar.

While all incoming students, regardless of degree program, may participate in the Internship Program, incoming, full-time HPSE Master's students are given priority in the internship placement process. International students should contact the Office of International Services by email at tcintl@tc.columbia.edu to discuss their eligibility to participate. Internships are not required for the completion of your program, however, once you accept an offer for the year, you are obligated and expected to complete your internship under the specifics of the contract you sign with your supervisor, which occurs after offers are given.

Listed below are descriptions of the benefits of participating in the Internship Program, information on the Internship Seminar, advice on choosing which positions to apply to, and steps for participating in the Internship Fair.  

PLEASE READ THROUGH ALL OF THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING TO ANY POSITIONS.

Benefits of the Internship Program

The HPSE Internship Program provides students with:

  • Opportunities to relate theory to practice, and practice to theory.
  • Depth to your academic program by providing an environment where classroom concepts can be explored.
  • Breadth to your professional development through work in a different campus setting than has been previously experienced.
  • Practical exposure to administrative and leadership issues, particularly as they relate to entry and mid-level positions.
  • Supervision and assessment directed toward identifying and strengthening your skills as a higher education professional.
  • Assistance in clarifying goals within the field of higher education.
  • Additional financial resources while attending the Program.
  • A challenging learning environment where you can pursue specialized interests, such as organizational culture, community relations, student development, academic policy, multicultural awareness, event planning, or program assessment.

Concurrent Internship Seminar

All students who are placed in a program-sponsored internship, regardless of academic focus, are required to attend a one-credit fieldwork course in both the Fall and Spring semesters.  This course meets four times a semester on Friday mornings. 

This two-semester course builds and strengthens the link between theories regarding higher education and actual work experience at the internship site.  The course allows students an opportunity to discuss specific aspects and issues of their internship experience, and gain support, insights, and ideas from peers.

NOTE: You will register for this course after consultation with an HPSE advisor.

 

Choosing an Internship Site

This website contains a wide variety of internship opportunities sponsored by the HPSE program. You should decide which internships would both best serve your interests and requires basic skills and experiences that you possess. At the same time, keep in mind that the internship should provide you with a learning experience, so there is value to selecting an internship that will broaden your skills and experiences. We recommend that all students apply to a minimum of seven positions, in order to maximize their chances of matching with an internship site.

IMPORTANT NOTE: YOU MUST INDICATE IN YOUR COVER LETTER OF APPLICATION TO THE SITE THAT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE TEACHERS COLLEGE HIGHER & POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION INTERNSHIP FAIR.

 

Withdrawal Policies

The Higher and Postsecondary Education program strongly discourages students from withdrawing from their internship mid-semester or immediately prior to the start of the semester. In order to maintain the highest professional standards, students who have accepted an internship but who no longer wish to continue in their position (either before or during the semester), should communicate in writing to their supervisor two weeks prior to the date they wish to depart.

Students should also send a copy of their notice to the Internship Coordinator, Diana Chadi at db2725@tc.columbia.edu, and the Program Academic Secretary, Lucy Tam at tam2@tc.columbia.edu.

If an intern tries to contact an internship site prior to the start of their internship to confirm their placement etc.… and the site is unresponsive, students should first reach out to the Internship Coordinator, Diana Chadi at db2725@tc.columbia.edu, for further assistance. Students should not accept a new placement without first contacting the Internship Coordinator.

A student who wishes to procure a new internship placement can participate in an upcoming HPSE Internship Fair, if applicable. If the dates of the fairs have passed, students will need to reach out directly to any available internships on the HPSE internship website and secure a position on their own.

Students who encounter any conflict with regards to their employment, including the terms in which they were hired, compensation, vacation time etc., and are unable to resolve the issue on their own, should reach out to the Internship Coordinator, Diana Chadi at db2725@tc.columbia.edu, for assistance.

Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to working with you!

Steps for Pursuing an Internship in the Summer

  1. Please fill out the RSVP form to let us know if you plan to attend the Internship Fair or not.  
  2. ​​Look at the positions listed in this site and apply to all positions in which you are interested.  Directly contact the employers, and make sure to include both your cover letter and resume.  We strongly recommend that you apply to as many positions as possible. 
  3. The positions listed on this site will be updated periodically.  Please check back on a regular basis for new postings.
    Make sure to indicate in your cover letter of the application to the site that you are enrolled in the Higher & Postsecondary Education Program at Teachers College.  Indicate whether or not you are available to interview by phone or platforms such as Skype or Google Hangout in your cover letter.
    Before applying to any position, make sure that your cover letter and resume are in the best shape possible.  We recommend looking at examples of resumes and cover letters on the Teachers College Career Services website.
  4. Internship sites will contact you directly to schedule interviews. Once you have been interviewed please follow up directly with the internship site. If you accept an internship please inform Diana Chadi as soon as possible so that you can be included in the list of 2024-25 HPSE Interns.​​ 

If you have any questions about pursuing an internship please contact Diana Chadi at: db2725@tc.columbia.edu.

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