At Dietrich College, put your education into action through experiential learning opportunities.
Internships, undergraduate research, study abroad and community service are all opportunities to gain hands-on experience and transform theory into practice. Reflecting on what you learn during the process is also an integral part of your education. Every Dietrich College student completes at least one experiential learning activity as part of their general education requirements.
Undergraduate Research: Why is it Important?
Research and creative projects are at the heart of the CMU intellectual community, and they include significant work in the humanities and social sciences. From your very first year, you can participate in the thrill of discovery and creation of new ideas.
Research Opportunities include:
- Research Training Program: Learn to conduct research while working with faculty and other students.
- Senior Honors Program: Pursue an independent research or creative project with guidance from a faculty advisor.
- Honors Fellowship Program: Get a head start on your senior honors thesis.
- Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Development: Apply for funding for independent research during the academic year and summer, and make connections to a variety of funding sources.
Internships: Classroom Learning Meets Real-World Experience
Whether you choose an internship based in Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C. or another part of the world, it will be an experience that contributes additional context and meaning to what you’ve learned in the classroom.
Internship Opportunities include:
- Pittsburgh Summer Internship Program: Apply for summer internships with regional nonprofits, government organizations and startups. It’s a great first internship experience for Dietrich College students, and it includes a stipend for living and travel expenses.
- Dietrich College Internship Opportunity Grants: Land your own internship anywhere in the world and receive funding for housing, expenses and more.
- Washington Semester Program: Spend a semester immersed with political, business and community leaders in Washington, D.C.
- Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC): Visit this campus-wide center to prepare for future internship and career opportunities.
Study Abroad: Gain a Global Perspective
There are many opportunities to study abroad for the summer, the semester or an entire academic year.
Community Engagement: A Vital Component of Learning
At Dietrich College, we believe that serving the community is an important part of your growth as both a student and a citizen of the world. Through these engagement opportunities, you’ll enhance your cultural understanding as well as your problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Community Engagement Opportunities include:
- Collester Family Community Engagement Fellowship Program: a unique program designed to equip students with the leadership skills needed for social change, the Collester Community Engagement Fellowship Program provides students with academic training and experiential learning opportunities which cumulatively build toward developing the capacity for community-based leadership.
- CMU Prison Education Project (CMU PEP): CMU PEP is committed to building dialogue across class, racial and social lines. The program offers several courses each academic year within nearby prisons. Each course, which combines incarcerated students and CMU students, offers full CMU credit.
- Capstone and Practicum Courses: these classes encourage you to engage with corporate or nonprofit partners and make an impact on the world. Read more about these courses in the stories below.