Six Westminster College students will spend the upcoming semester studying in a different kind of institution.
The school kicked off its new Capital Internship program yesterday, coupling students with legislators, departments and lobby groups in the capital to give them firsthand experience in state government.
Students with 57 credit hours, a 2.5 GPA and approval from their academic advisor, the internship coordinator, Dean of Faculty and Department Chair are eligible for the program, working 20 to 40 hours per week for a legislator or institution while earning six to 12 credit hours toward their major.
Program planner Tobias Gibson, Westminster Associate Professor of Political Science, said the internship had been in the works for about 10 months. Students entering the program also receive an online course on the state government in the winter session leading up to the internship.
"We wanted to do it in large part because we thought we weren't taking advantage of the geographical proximity to Jeff City," said Gibson. "Also the reputation of the college, I think, behooves having good students go to have high-power, deep-learning type experiences in Jeff City."