Philosophy Internships
Philosophy students can gain useful career experience and earn course credit through PHIL 4910: Internships.
- See "Internship Gives Philosophy Major Insights into Law."
- Application and Review Procedures
- Grading
- Specific Internships
- Standards of Professional Conduct
Specific Internship Information
Internship with Heritage College of Medicine Clinical and Translational Research Unit
The Heritage College of Medicine's Clinical & Translational Research Unit supports Ohio University faculty, staff and students who are conducting clinical research with human subjects. For more information, please consult the Clinical and Translational Research Unit website.
Duties. The intern will be assigned to the Senior Clinical Project Managers in the CTRU and will devote up to nine hours a week (including both on-site and take-home work) to the internship. The activities performed by the intern may include (but not be limited to) some of the following: a) reviewing standard operating procedures, informed consents, research protocols, and IRB submissions; b) doing literature searches on assigned topics; c) identifying best practices and use of technology for research informed consent; d) assessing research study recruitment methodologies in various cultural settings; and e) exploring ethical issues in clinical research settings. In addition to discharging the professional tasks of the internship, each intern will prepare and submit a report to the chair of the Philosophy Department by Friday of the last week of classes. For guidelines concerning this report, see Grading below.
Compensation. The internship is unpaid. The intern will receive course credit for successfully completing the internship.
Qualifications. All interns must be Ohio University undergraduate philosophy majors with at least junior standing and a 3.0 GPA.
Internship with the Philosophy Department, Ohio University
The intern for this program is assigned to the chair of the Philosophy Department at Ohio University.
Duties. The intern will assist the chair in various administrative tasks, including but not limited to the following: recruitment and retention for undergraduate programs of study, alumni outreach, and the development of materials to promote philosophy outside of the academy. The intern will devote up to 9 hours a week (including both on-site and take-home work) to assist the philosophy department. In addition to discharging the professional tasks of the internship, each intern will prepare and submit a report to the chair of the philosophy department by the Friday of the last day of classes. For guidelines concerning this report, see Grading below.
Compensation. The internship is unpaid. The intern will receive course credit for successfully completing the internship.
Qualifications. All interns will be Ohio University undergraduate philosophy majors with at least junior standing and a 3.0 GPA. It is desired that the intern have strong verbal and written communication skills."
Application and Review Procedures
No later than the end of the 10th week of the fall or spring semester preceding the internship, interested students must submit by email an application packet that consists of the following:
- A statement of no more than 300 words that answers the following question: What interests me about this internship and why am I an excellent candidate?
- The names and contact information of two references, at least one of whom is an Ohio University Philosophy Department faculty member.
- A resume or CV.
The committee (at least two Philosophy faculty and possibly a representative from the host organization) will confer and arrive at a decision by the end of the 11th week of the semester, selecting its top candidate and (when possible) a first alternate.
The committee will communicate its decision to the site administrator for approval. Once site-approval is secured (ideally within one week of receiving the Philosophy Department?s recommendation), the department will notify the applicant and a green slip will be used to enroll the student in the relevant course credit hours.
Grading
The intern's final course grade will be the average of a performance grade and a summary report grade. The final course grade, the performance grade, and the summary report grade will all be assigned as A ? F grades on the Ohio University four-point scale.
Performance Grade
The site administrator for the internship will assign the performance grade according to the criteria specified below. The site administrator will communicate this grade to the chair of the Philosophy Department at least two days prior to the deadline for submission of all grades.
Criteria for the Performance Grade. It is understood that the site administrator of the internship will strive to assign a grade that reflects the following normative criteria:
- A/A- = At least 90 percent of the time, the intern discharged her or his duties and made a sincere attempt to deliver high quality work.
- B+/B/B- = Between 80 and 89 percent of the time, the intern discharged her or his duties and made a sincere attempt to deliver high quality work.
- C+/C/C- = Between 70 and 79 percent of the time, the intern discharged her or his duties and made a sincere attempt to deliver high quality work.
- D+/D/D- = Between 60 and 69 percent of the time, he intern discharged her or his duties and made a sincere attempt to deliver high quality work.
- F = Less than 60 percent of the time, the intern discharged her or his duties and made a sincere attempt to deliver high quality work.
It is understood that the site administrator will abide by the confidentiality requirements concerning student grades mandated by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. More information about FERPA regulations can be found online.
Summary Report
By Friday of the last week of classes, the intern will submit a summary report to the chair of the Philosophy Department. The report will include the following:
- An overview of at least 100 words describing work done as an intern, including any particularly significant tasks or accomplishments.
- An overview of at least 100 words explaining the respects in which the intern drew upon her or his philosophical training in discharging the internship. (Answer the following question: What knowledge and skills acquired through my philosophy coursework did I draw on in discharging this internship?)
- An overview of at least 100 words describing the extent to which the intern has grown philosophically and or professionally as a result of the internship experience. (Answer the following question: How did this internship enhance my abilities as a philosopher and/or my future career prospects?)
This report will be reviewed and graded by the chair of the Philosophy Department. The grade of the report will be based only on its clarity, coherence, aptness, and thoroughness. It will not be based on whether the student found the internship to be a valuable experience.
Grade Appeals. Any intern who wishes to appeal her or his grade should follow the procedures outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog under "Grade Appeals."
In addition, as noted in the Ohio University Undergraduate Catalog, "Complete information on the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty relative to grade appeals is available at the Office of the Ombudsperson. If you need assistance in understanding the grade appeals process or in preparing a grade appeal(s), contact the Ombudsperson, Baker University Center 501, 740-593-2627. The office will be able to be of greatest assistance, if you make contact early in the process."
Standards of Professional Conduct
Title IX Compliance. It is understood that the site and the intern will abide by Ohio University?s guidelines concerning Equity and Civil Rights as detailed by OHIO's office of University Equity and Civil Rights Compliance.
Should either the site or the intern have questions or complaints about such issues, they should contact Ohio University?s Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by email at titleix@ohio.edu or by phone at 740-593-9140.
Workload. If the intern believes that the workload assigned exceeds that specified within the description of the internship, she or he should communicate this to the site administrator. If this does not resolve the issue, the intern should then contact the chair of the Philosophy Department who will discuss the situation with the site administrator. If this does not resolve the issue, the matter will be referred to the Ohio University ombudsman for mediation and guidance.
University Ombudsperson
Ohio University
501 Baker Center
Athens, OH 45701
740.593.2627
ombuds@ohio.edu
General Statement on Appropriate Professional Conduct. In addition to the points detailed in above, it is understood that both the intern and site will conduct themselves in accordance with generally accepted professional practices as well as those practices unique to the profession of the internship. It is further understood that the site will communicate to the intern in advance of the start of the internship a statement of any expectations concerning professional standards they wish the intern.