Baylor Summer Snapshot

When finals are over in May, some Baylor students head home for a long summer break of rest and relaxation. However, many others choose to use the summer months to further their education and career or to serve those in need. Baylor offers many programs for students to achieve these goals. The success of these programs would not be possible without Baylor faculty and staff who work to make these opportunities available.

Internships

For students seeking work experience, the Office of Career and Professional Development (CPD) offers numerous opportunities to connect them with a summer internship, including on-campus and off-campus placements.

“Summer internships expose students to professional work experiences while inviting them to explore their field, apply classroom learning and strengthen their résumé,” said Chelsea Waldrop, an internship specialist with CPD. “A summer internship is a critical experience to develop professional skills that assist students in setting themselves apart from their peers when competing for full-time employment in their senior year.”

In particular, the CPD sponsored On- Campus Internship Program, which is offered year round, partners with Baylor departments to place students in high-level, project-based, paid internships and allows them to utilize work-study dollars. CPD currently has 60 interns in the program working in 27 departments and hopes to expand throughout the year.

“The departments agree to mentor each intern to ensure a meaningful experience and valuable professional development,” Waldrop said.

If you are interested in partnering with CPD to establish an on-campus internship, contact Chelsea_Waldrop@baylor.edu.

Summer Missions

Each year, Baylor Missions sends hundreds of students, faculty and staff to serve both locally and abroad, integrating faith, learning and service within a broad Christian worldview.

“Mission trips introduce students to the amazing people that make up the world—creating impactful global friendships and a broader worldview that will challenge the way they see their calling and how their everyday decisions have global impact,” said Holly Tate, associate director for missions.

Tate also encourages Baylor faculty and staff to consider leading a mission trip. Becoming a leader gives faculty and staff the chance to engage students in their discipline at a deeper level than what occurs in the classroom. There are also opportunities for faculty to enhance their portfolios through research and grant opportunities in conjunction with missional endeavors.

Throughout the summer, students and their faculty leaders will serve in the United States, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, Greece, India, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Malawi.

Summer Classes

Although “summer school” may not evoke the same sense of excitement as, say, “summer vacation,” taking classes over the summer break allows many students to either graduate early or to stay on track to graduate in four years.

Courses are offered during four sessions: May Minimester (May 10 to 26), Summer I (May 30 to July 3), Summer II (July 5 to August 8) and Full Summer (May 30 to August 12). Making the option of taking summer courses more affordable, summer tuition is offered at 25 percent less than standard hourly tuition.

Summer courses are offered both on campus and online, giving students ample opportunities to “get ahead and stay ahead.”

Online courses are a relatively new option for students and offer more flexibility for both student and instructor.

For information about teaching online summer courses, email Kat_Adams@baylor.edu or call 710-4695.

Study Abroad

Baylor’s campus and a computer are not the only places to take classes over the summer. Many students choose to take their coursework overseas through a Baylor study abroad program. This summer, over 600 students will travel to 20 countries on 29 faculty-led trips, including three new programs—Baylor in Galilee, Baylor in Peru and S3 Global–London.

“What study abroad does for faculty and students is to give them a way of study that is more experiential. There is something to be said about living and breathing your education and not just going through the motions to get your degree,” said Study Abroad Director Bo White.

White and his team express a deep appreciation to all of the faculty who lead or organize Baylor study abroad programs. These faculty members are integrating an international experience into their curriculum, and in so doing, exposing their students—and themselves—to unique and possibly lifechanging opportunities.

“We love hearing from faculty with different ideas,” said Erin Thoes, coordinator for faculty-led study abroad programs, international travel and communications. “That being said, we’re just one office and we can’t do everything. We would love to hear from people and the different ideas they have, especially to nontraditional locations because that’s where we’re really trying to expand.”

If you are interested in developing a study abroad program, contact Bo_White@baylor.edu or Erin_Thoes@baylor.edu.