The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Paper is written by students from the postbaccalaureate programs of SIT Study Abroad and relates to a program theme. The SIT Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program is designed to enhance a recent college graduate's credentials for graduate school and provide participants valuable knowledge, field experiences, and advanced skills valued in a range of professions in the non-profit, government, public, and private sectors.
Post-Baccalaureate students conduct either a research-focused field practicum or a community engagement experience.
Research-Focused Field Practicum The practicum is designed to give students professional field experience by working for and learning about an organization. Students gain practical experience by working with a local community organization doing part time work of interest to the student that is within a broad program topic. Students complete a substantial piece of original research that is both of benefit to the organization where the student is placed and is of particular interest to the student. This research could be the continuation or advancement of a senior thesis, an honor’s thesis, an SIT Independent Study Project, or another original research topic. Students work under the supervision of a local academic advisor with whom students meet on a regular basis to study advanced research methods and discuss research progress, field notes, practicum details, and obtain ongoing feedback.
Community Engagement Experience A community engagement placement allows students to work full time on a community-based project. Students are placed either in a community or community-based organization and spend their time working on a local project that is in progress or is in the planning stage and is of interest to the student. The student will work under the supervision of a local academic advisor to complete a graduate paper that draws upon their community engagement work to explore a critical global issue in the local context.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Papers are presented in an on-line Global Symposium to post-baccalaureate student colleagues, SIT academic deans, and the student’s academic advisor.
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