Empowering Future Leaders
In the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts (BCLA), we are committed to delivering a distinctive educational experience rooted in respect for diverse global communities and a passion for justice. BCLA integrates the humanities and social sciences with interdisciplinary majors and minors, global immersion courses, study abroad, experiential internships, and service learning. Our hope is that students in BCLA develop intellectual, creative, communicational, and intercultural skills essential in a globalized world, empowering them to lead with purpose and compassion. BCLA’s curriculum is designed to liberate the mind, nourish the spirit, and cultivate creativity—preparing students not only for meaningful careers but also for a lifelong commitment to social responsibility and engaged citizenship. But now more than ever, BCLA must be attentive to the evolving and challenging professional dynamics that our students will be entering upon graduation. We must ensure that our students are well-equipped to meet the challenges of today and the future. To meet the moment, the college is launching a summer professionalization initiative that will offer roughly 100 paid internships across a diverse set of fields in many different types of organizations.
Summer is a time where students can immerse themselves and gain professional experience at a much deeper level. Research on career trajectories is very clear; students leaving college with meaningful internship experience are much better equipped to successfully navigate their professional lives. In today’s world, it is more important than ever to provide our students with robust resources and professional experiences. At the outset, the Summer Professionalization Initiative consists of six distinct internship programs for BCLA students.
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The BCLA 50 initiative aims to secure 50 meaningful internship placements for students across various sectors, including small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and entrepreneurial ventures. We are in the process of securing 50 providers who have agreed to take a BCLA intern every summer. These internships serve as a vital tool for professionalization, providing students with real-world experience, networking opportunities, and a competitive edge in the job market.
Click below for application information in a BCLA 50 partner area:
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Through the Global Policy Institute, student Summer fellowships focus on international affairs, including placements at foreign consulates, globally focused NGOs, and businesses with robust foreign manufacturing and trade divisions. These roles allow students to explore careers in diplomacy, global development, international economics, and international policy while building valuable cross-cultural and analytical skills. Internships will be Monday through Thursday and on Fridays the program director will run a program that exposes participants to various aspects of global politics and policy.
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StudyLA (the Center for the Study of Los Angeles) connects BCLA students with internships at LA City and County offices and agencies. Students will be working in a government agency for 10 weeks throughout the summer. This program provides a robust experiential learning opportunity for those pursuing careers in public service, law, or policy. Those chosen to participate in the program have their housing provided on campus and will receive a living stipend.
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Each summer the college will employ several interns. We can provide students with important professionalization skills as part of the college social media team, working on the college website, with university advancement, and on special projects for the college. At least two interns every year will work directly with the dean on college initiatives and research projects.
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Many BCLA Faculty use the summer to fully focus on their research projects. BCLA Students will have the opportunity to work closely with an individual faculty member or as part of research team. Students who are accepted into the program will gain hands-on experience as research assistants. Some students will have the opportunity to collaborate with working journalists, social scientists on data-driven projects, and archival research for humanities faculty, thereby sharpening their research, writing, and analytical skills. Students in this program will have the option of living on campus for the duration of the research.
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Loyola Law School is partnering with the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts (BCLA) to provide at least ten undergraduate paid summer internships with the legal clinics at Loyola Law School. This exciting partnership will provide students interested in law, criminal justice, and social work hands on experience working in teams of law faculty, clinic staff and law students on active legal cases.
All Internships are 10 weeks, 25-40 per week, and run from May 25 – July 31
Successful Applicants will receive a $4500 award