Representatives from different groups on campus spoke at an internship fair about the many internship opportunities available to humanities students.
PROVO, Utah (Sept. 25, 2014)—Humanities students, because of the perspective they gain through a liberal arts education, are poised for success in career and graduate school opportunities, and Humanities Advisement and Careers is working hard to help students do just that.
Representatives from Washington Seminar, the BYU Kennedy Center, ORCA grants, and Chinese Flagship came to the College of Humanities Internship Fair to tell humanities students that they’re wanted for their skills.
“In this college you learn how to write, how to think. You get a broad education which makes for many career opportunities,” said Scott Dunaway, director of BYU’s Washington Seminar program.
He explained internships are important because they help give students a competitive edge for applying to graduate school and jobs. Washington Seminar is a mecca for students with different interests. They offer internships with non-profit organizations, museums, government groups, and more. He concluded by saying that students who participated in the program have said it’s the best experience of their undergraduate experience.
Another opportunity for students is ORCA grants, which are offered to students who submit and are accepted for a project. Hannah Miller from the ORCA office explained that students work with a faculty member on a project that usually culminates in a presentation or paper. Miller said, “ORCA grants embellish your resume for occupational pursuits or grad school applications.”
Representatives from the Kennedy Center shared the many internship opportunities they provide to students. National and international internships are open to humanities students – more information is available on their website.
The Chinese Flagship Center also came to share the opportunities the program provides to students intending on using Chinese in their careers.
Dave Waddell from the Humanities Advisement and Careers office spoke of the importance of getting experience through internships. “When you’re applying for a job, everyone has a diploma. So the question becomes, what are you going to do that demonstrates you can be successful?” He spoke about On-Campus Internships offered through the Marriott School, and he reminded students of the financial aid the college can provide for students doing internships.
The advisement center’s new name – Humanities Advisement and Careers – shows how the advisement staff is there to help students prepare for the future, including their careers.
—Stephanie Bahr Bentley (B.A. English ’14)
