College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Contemporary Art and Theater: Graphic design students participate in internships with employers such as Volvo Group Trucks, YMCA, Food Research Action Center, Creosote Affects, Jean Peterson Design, Graphcom, High Rock Studios, Eden Design, and Streetsense as well as producing environmental graphics for the Historic Shepherdstown Museum and the Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education. Photography digital imagery students have completed internships with the Department of the Interior including: the National Park Service, and National Fish and Wildlife as well as with professional photography studios and artists’ studios. Painting, non-toxic printmaking, and sculpture students have held internships with Hamiltonian Gallery, Washington, D.C.; Bridge Gallery, Shepherdstown; Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD; Delaplaine Art Center, Frederick, MD; The Hirshhorn Museum; The Kennedy Center; The Smithsonian; the Contemporary American Theater Festival; and in the private studios of professional artists. Sculpture students have participated in Iron Pours in Georgia, Maryland, and Helsinki, Finland.
Contact: Professor David Modler
Internships for majors of Communications reinforce classroom theory and practice by providing students on-the-job training. Communication majors have completed internships with DC101-FM (Clear Channel/iHeartMedia Inc), WINC-AM (Centennial Broadcasting), WRNR-AM/FM, WELD-FM, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Discovery Channel, WETA-TV, WHAG-TV, Access Montgomery Television, Shenandoah Films, Story House Productions, Echoes Recording Studio, Platinum PR, Martinsburg Journal, Hagerstown Herald-Mail, Shepherdstown Observer, USA Today, Frederick Keys, Hagerstown Suns, Contemporary American Theater Festival, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Office of West Virginia Governor, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, River Trail Outfitters, Snowsports Industries America, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (National Conservation Training Center), Entertainment Management Group Worldwide, American Conservation Film Festival, Cannes International Film Festival, and Volvo Motors. Students have also held journalistic internships with The Martinsburg Journal, Shepherdstown Chronicle, Hagerstown Herald Mail, Winchester Star, Frederick News-Post, Loudoun Times-Mirror, the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, as well as a number of magazine and journals. Journalism students also produce the campus newspaper, The Picket, working with a faculty advisor.
Contact: Professor Jason McKahan
Students majoring in the English and Modern Languages generally do not participate in formal internships though they have multiple opportunities to apply what they have learned in classes in professional situations. A number of publications feature student work in creative writing and poetry and students have the opportunity to work on those publications. Sans Merci, the campus literary and art publication, and The Picket, the campus online newspaper are examples. In addition, students have the opportunity to work as peer tutors under the direction of the faculty program director as well as multiple practicum courses that can be individually tailored to fit the career goals of a student.
Contact: Professor Betty Ellzey
History majors in the historic preservation and public history concentration complete a 400-hour internship. Some of the organizations where Shepherd students have worked include Antietam National Battlefield, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, the C&O Canal National Historical Park, the Crime Museum in Washington, D.C., the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission, the National Conservation Training Center, the Vieux Carré Commission in New Orleans, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Past projects have involved creating museum displays, participating in living history and other interpretive programs, archiving historical documents, and preserving and documenting cemeteries and other historical resources.
Contact: Professor Keith Alexander
Majors in the Civil War Concentration in History have completed internships with the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War, the National Park Service, Antietam National Battlefield, Harpers Ferry National Park, and the C&O Canal National Historic Park.
Contact: Professor Jim Broomall
Music: In addition to performing in venues off campus, School of Music students can take advantage of the myriad industry opportunities in our area to engage in internships or co-ops. Students have worked with NexGen Music and the Friends of Music with opportunities to work with The Kennedy Center, Strathmore, the Maryland Symphony, and more. In addition, music majors have the opportunity to teach in the Shepherd University Community Music Program under the supervision of the School of Music faculty.
Contact: Professor Kurtis Adams
Students who study Political Science and Global Studies may take advantage of a number of recurring and other, more varied internships. Recurring internships include the Canadian Parliament Internship (CPI) and the Frasure-Singleton Program. The CPI is a funded internship that sends students to Canada to intern with a member of Parliament for approximately six weeks. This opportunity affords students unprecedented access to the Canadian legislative process. Recipients of this competitive program receive full tuition and lodging for the duration of the internship. The Frasure-Singleton Program is run by the West Virginia Legislature and is another competitive program. Students submit applications to the departmental coordinator who then sends the applications to the selection committee. This program’s duration is approximately a week during the spring and also includes financial support for the school’s recipient. Beyond these programs, political science students participate in electorally based and legal-related internships. Numerous students engage in canvassing, campaigning, and organizing on behalf of Republican and Democratic candidates in local and national races. Our majors interested in pre-law education frequently intern with local attorneys. Others serve in internships with international and national organizations such as Amnesty International, Habitat for Humanity, and AmeriCorps.
Contact: Professor Sam Greene
The Psychology program is proud to offer students opportunities for practical hands-on experience in the areas of mental health and psychological research. First, Psychology majors may complete a practicum in clinical psychology where they complete an internship with a local mental health service provider over the course of a semester. Internship sites have included Shepherd University Counseling Services, Excel Youth Frederick, WVU Medicine in Martinsburg, the Martinsburg Veterans Administration Hospital, and others. Depending on the posting, students may have the opportunity to interact with clients and their families, to sit in on therapy sessions, to develop group activities, and to experience other aspects of clinical work. More information is available at the program’s clinical internships web page: HERE . Second, students can work directly with Psychology program faculty in their research laboratories to get hands-on experience with the process of psychological research. A variety of activities may be available, from data entry to research design, interacting with participants, data analysis, and reporting results. Many of our students have presented research at scientific conferences. Interested students can contact individual Psychology faculty members about current research opportunities.
Contact: Professor Chris Lovelace
The Social Work Program has an extensive history and tradition of experiential student learning through community field education placements. During the senior year, students complete 600 internship hours (12 academic course credits) in an agency setting under the supervision and mentorship of a field instructor who is a professional social worker. During their sophomore year, students participate in a 55-hour community service learning field placement at social service agencies that have agreed to supervise interns. This field placement provides students with an introduction to social work practice and emphasizes experiential education by placing curricular concepts in the context of real life situations. Social service agencies from the public sector and the nonprofit sector are represented. Agency placements in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia include settings such as inpatient and outpatient health care and hospice services, mental health and addiction services, traditional and alternative schools, public and private services for children and families, correctional facilities and other forensic services, services for older adults, housing programs, and interpersonal violence prevention and intervention.
Contact: Professor Karen Green
Students majoring in Sociology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice have many opportunities to integrate theory and practice. SOCI 419 introduces interns to employment possibilities while they receive valuable field experience and build professional networks. Students must complete 120 hours of internship activity. Sites include the American Jail Association, Jefferson County Youth Reporting Center, United Way, Boy and Girls Club, U.S. Probation Office, and the Vicki Douglas Detention Center. CRIM 450, the capstone to the B.A. requires field experience within the criminal justice system.
Contact: Professor Chiquita Howard-Bostic
College of Business, Recreation, and Education
Accounting students are encouraged to enroll in the Internship in Accounting course (ACCT 339), which is a form of independent study integrating accounting curricula with supervised work experience in the public and private sectors. The primary focus is to provide students with an environment to compare the theoretical accounting concepts with the real world application of those concepts while gaining experience and skills in the discipline. Internships generally last no longer than a semester and may result in full-time employment upon graduation. Over the years, students have experienced opportunities in public accounting, governmental accounting, and private industry. Shepherd students have worked for the following businesses: Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C.; SEK CPAs and Advisors; CohnReznick LLP, Rutherford & Johnson, P.C.; Hottel & Willis, P.C.; David & Company PLLC; CoxHollidaYoung PLLC, Ours Lawyer Lewis & Company PLLC; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and American Woodmark. Contact: Professor Cindy Vance
Business Administration: Internships provide business administration students the opportunity to earn academic credit while applying what they learned in the classroom to the real world of business. Students have held internships with United Bank, BB&T, University Healthcare Physicians, Insurance Outfitters, USAMRAA, HFI Wealth Management, Capital Fiduciary Advisors, Berkeley County Schools, Food Lion, and Shepherd University. You may visit a listing of internships HERE
Contact: Professor Ben Martz and Professor Kathy Reid
Economics and Finance students are offered ECON 392—Cooperative Education in Economics. Recent co-op placements include: Platinum PR, Francesca’s (Retail), Department of Defense at the Pentagon, and the Jefferson County Development Authority.
Contact: Professor Kathy Reid
All Education students complete a minimum of 125 hours of field experience prior to their final clinical experience within local public schools in West Virginia. The culminating clinical experience will either be a traditional student teaching semester or a full-year residency placement, depending on date of entry and program level (undergraduate / graduate). Candidates entering the program prior to July 1, 2021, will experience a traditional student teaching semester, consisting of one 14-week clinical placement (approximately 600 hours in the appropriate PK-12 classroom setting). All graduate-level candidates complete a traditional one-semester student teaching experience, regardless of date of entry. All current undergraduate elementary education candidates and all undergraduate secondary candidates entering Fall 2025 and beyond will experience a final yearlong residency. The first semester of the residency will include at least 250 hours across a 14-week placement followed by a second semester, ideally in the same classroom, that includes at least 500 hours across a second 14-week placement. Teacher candidates conduct their final clinical placement within pre-determined, regional public-school districts in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, or Virginia.Contact: Professor Belinda Mitchell
Health Promotion and Exercise Science, Recreation and Sport Studies majors complete a nine-credit internship during their last semester in a professionally-supervised career-related experience in a variety of organizations. Students must complete a minimum of 400 agency hours in a setting that demonstrates planning, leadership, administrative, and supervisory skills. Students have completed internships at the Baltimore Orioles; Baltimore Ravens; City of Clearwater Parks and Recreation, FL; Pittsburgh Penguins, PA; Frederick Keys, MD; PGA; Veterans Affair Medical Center; YMCAs, Wellness Center at Berkeley Medical Center; ESPN, Hershey Park, PA; League of People with Disabilities, MD; L & T Health and Fitness, Washington, D.C.; and the Washington Redskins.
Contact: Professor Stacey Kendig
College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Nursing
Biology majors and majors with a concentration in ecological sciences have many opportunities in the region to perform internships. Interns typically conduct research alongside professional and doctorate degree-holding scientists in laboratories dedicated to biological research. The labs are located locally in research institutions such as U.S. Geological Survey, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Cancer Institute, and a number of smaller institutions serving research in the region. Yet more opportunities exist in the national laboratories in and around Washington, D.C., such as the National Institutes of Health and the Smithsonian Institutes. Numerous students interested in medicine have been accepted in the WV-INBRE program that supports interns in positions at WVU School of Medicine and Marshall School of Medicine. Outside of the INBRE program, students have also worked at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Shepherd students have conducted internships in numerous other settings across the nation such as zoos, botanical gardens, tiger preserves, and marine biology stations. Biology faculty also welcome students in their labs to further their research goals.
Contact: Professor John Steffen
Chemistry majors complete a four-credit research project in an area related to their interests. Students perform this research either at Shepherd University with a faculty mentor or at an external organization with an approved external mentor. Students have done their research in many external locations including the USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Lab, the Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research Lab in Kearneysville, the Western Maryland Research and Education Center, the Freshwater Institute in Shepherdstown, the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, and at West Virginia University and Marshall University through the West Virginia IDea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence program. Students have also participated in NSF-REU programs at the University of Washington and Texas A&M University.
Contact: Professor Jacquelyn Cole
Employment opportunities are available for students in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Engineering majors within a comfortable distance from Shepherd. Every year students obtain internship and co-op opportunities from employers such as U.S. Coast Guard Operations Systems Center, U.S. Veterans Affairs Hospital, IRS, KRM, Volvo powertrain, First Data, JLG, American Woodmark, AceInfo, and IBM. CME students have participated in NSF-REU research programs at partner universities and also have opportunities to work with faculty advisors in the department on research projects supported by grant programs such as the NASA fellowship, WV-INBRE, NSF, and SOARS.
Contact: Professor Osman Guzide
Environmental and Physical Sciences majors are encouraged to undertake an internship in which they apply their environmental background in a practical form, gain valuable workplace experience, and conduct environmental research in an area of their choice. Students have worked in a wide variety of government agencies, industries, and environmental organizations, and have produced materials used in interpretive brochures, scientific journals, and environmental education. Internships have included work at the National Park Service, Leetown Science Center, Mountain View Solar, Antietam National Battlefield, Blue Ridge Environmental Center, GAI Engineering, USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Station, The Capacon Institute, Skytruth, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Geostellar, Inc. The Institute of Environmental and Physical Sciences also offers opportunities for students to conduct independent research projects undertaken with supervision and mentoring by a Shepherd University faculty member. All environmental studies majors are required to present their research at the Institute of Environmental and Physical Sciences Capstone Conference prior to graduating.
Contact: Professor Sytil Murphy
The following are internships Nursing students have completed recently: Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Student Nurse Summer Residency (SNSR); Valley Health, Winchester Medical Center Nurse Extern Program; the Johns Hopkins Clinical Nurse Externships (Shock Trauma); Chambersburg (PA) Nurse Internship – Level 2; and VA Learning Opportunities (VALOR program), Department of Veterans Affair Medical Center, Martinsburg. All nursing majors complete a 120 hour clinical course (NURS 444 Capstone) which allows the student to assume the professional nursing role in providing safe, multi-dimensional, patient-centered care in diverse healthcare environments. Students work one on one with a Registered Nurse (RN) while working the same shift and units as the RN preceptor. All fourth semester nursing students take this required course. Clinical sites are Valley Health-Winchester Medical Center, Berkeley Medical Center, Jefferson Medical Center, Meritus Medical Center, Chambersburg Medical Center, and Frederick Memorial Hospital.
Contact: Professor Mary Hancock