Germany

International Internships Winter, Spring, Spring/Summer, Summer, Fall 2010

What Is an International Internship?

An International Internships is an independent, work-oriented experience in an international, cross-cultural setting. Students bridge the gap between their academic and professional careers as they pursue personalized study under the guidance of a faculty mentor and receive individualized training under the tutelage of a field professional.

The International Internship philosophy is that students gain real-world experience in the global workplace while gaining language and cross-cultural skills that contribute to academic learning and a BYU degree.

Multifaceted Germany

In the heart of Europe is Germany, a multifaceted country with elegant, big-city decadence, picture-postcard charm, skeletons of castles, and deep forests of myth and romance. Berlin, its capital, is a metropolis of controversy, always reinventing itself. In the last hundred years, modern Berlin has witnessed remarkable events, from the rise of the Nazis to fall of the Wall. This world cultural center boasts more museums than Paris and some of the grandest and wildest green spaces of Europe. Schwäbisch Hall is an old medieval town deep within the forests of southern Germany and along the steep banks of the Kocher River. Hall, the Germanic word referring to the method by which salt was dried, prospered during the days of the historical salt trade. Tübingen is a traditional university town of both urban and rural influence. In the recent past, it was named the city with the highest quality of living in Germany.

Internship Opportunities

• Previous students have interned in the fields of tourism, hotel or restaurant management, mechanical engineering, banking, retail, municipal and public administration, design, finance, media, and theatre.
• Internships are conducted in German. Most students will be required to take an initial intensive German course at the institution prior to the internship.
• The University of Tübingen—Sommerkurse offers study of German language, literature, and international business with other European and international students.
• Learn more about BYU’s partnering institutions at the Goethe-Institut in Germany by visiting www.goethe.de/germany, www.cepa-europe.com, or http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/isp/sommer/index.html.
  

Earning Course Credit

• Students are required to enroll in a minimum of three credit hours during the academic term or semester, with no more than six credit hours during a term or twelve credit hours during a semester.
• Students may select from GERM 399R German Internship, IAS 399R Directed Studies in German Culture, GERM 211R/311R Conversational Language, or other cultural language courses.
• Coursework will be overseen by Robert McFarland, assistant professor of German literature. McFarland has extensive experience directing German Internships and Study Abroad programs in German-speaking Europe.
  

Schedule and Time Commitment in Germany

• Students may select from a fall semester, a winter semester, a spring term, a summer term, or a combined spring/summer semester.
• Internship dates will follow BYU’s academic calendar as closely as possible.
• Students are encouraged to visit sites of historical and cultural significance during times that do not conflict with internship responsibilities or Sabbath-day observances.
• The University of Tübingen—Sommerkurse will require students to be in Tübingen during the month of August 2010.
  

Living in Germany

• Housing is provided for students through either the Goethe-Institut or CEPA Europe.
• Students may select from student housing, shared accommodation, apartments, home stay, and hotels. Home stay is encouraged since it will add a unique cultural aspect to the experience. The University of Tübingen—Sommerkurse will provide housing upon request.
• Whether in the metropolitan capital or a small village, living in Germany offers cross-cultural encounters that will prepare students for the globalized world.
  

Application Process

• Prior to applying for the program, interested students should meet with a program facilitator or attend an information meeting.
• Interested students should complete the online application at https://kennedy.byu.edu/isp/online/app/home.php. 
• Applicants will interview with the faculty mentor once the application is complete.
• Application deadline is 1 October for winter semester internships; 1 February for spring, summer, and fall internships.
• Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. 
• ISP reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost estimates due to conditions beyond its control.
  

Preparation for the Internship

• Students are required to complete GERM 202 prior to departure for the internship.
• Accepted students are required to participate in an international, cross-cultural preparation course (IAS 201) held during the second block of winter semester 2010, unless they are interning in Germany that same semester.
• Accompanying spouses will need to be credit-bearing participants registered for a minimum of three BYU credit hours on the program. Spouses will also need to apply online and take the preparation course.
• Recommended predeparture reading includes Stasiland: True stories from behind the Berlin Wall, by Anna Funder, and When in Germany, Do as the Germans Do: The Clued-in Guide to German Life, Language and Culture, by Hyde Flippo.
  

How Much Does this Internship Cost?

• Application fee ($25)
• Internship placement fee ($100)
• International airfare to Germany ($1,000–1,500)
• BYU tuition
• Passport and permit of stay ($100–200)
• Tuition and lodging paid to the institution in Germany responsible for German courses and internship placement (varies by program and length of stay; $1,500–5,000)
• International health insurance coverage ($65 per term, $120 per semester)
  

What Funding Sources Are Available?

• Regular BYU tuition scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied for students who are enrolled in a minimum of 4.5 credit hours per term or nine credit hours per semester.
• ISP financial aid will be awarded to students who have a current FAFSA form on file at the Financial Aid Office (A-41 ASB). 
• Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants.
• Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also help. See http://kennedy.byu.edu/student/scholarships.php.
• BYU Human Resource Services offers a number of jobs on campus.
• Relatives may wish to contribute toward an early graduation gift.
  

Interested Students Should Contact:

Robert McFarland, associate professor of German, brings the experience of directing students in German-speaking Europe to the internship program in Germany.

Dr. Robert McFarland
robert_mcfarland@byu.edu

ISP
280 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
ispgermaninternship@gmail.com
http://kennedy.byu.edu/isp

Humanities | Department of German Studies and Slavic Languages