Pillar Four: Field Experience

Field experiences allow students to practice application of the principles learned in the classroom. Students seek opportunities outside the classroom where they can serve, learn and generally experience with an eye toward greater understanding of people, organizations, the world and their unique role in it. This unique pillar becomes the testing ground where strengths and weaknesses are exposed and can be analyzed and dealt with under the guidance of a mentor. Mentors help students realize the power knowledge can have when applied in the real world.

George Wythe University students and graduates have been called upon to put their skills to use in real-world situations including internships to state and national government and business organizations; lobbying and negotiating for family values at United Nations conferences in New York, Beijing, Istanbul, Rome, Geneva, etc.; preparing business plans for international corporations; and developing proposals for agricultural, educational, and economic development in developing nations such as Uganda, Paraguay and Kenya.

During the second semester of the senior year, students must complete a single field-experience of 320 hours or more in his or her chosen area of emphasis, approved by the Senior mentor. Usually, students will find a paid job or voluntary internship in a field related to his/her emphasis with a firm, company or individual. For example, a student hoping to go into the field of Law might intern at a law firm, whereas another student hoping to go into Family and Marriage Studies might choose to intern with a Family and Marriage Counselor, or even work in the home of a family who agrees to be observed as a case study. During the 8-16 week field experience, students meet weekly with their mentor and with each other to discuss various experiences, lessons, goals, interesting insights and observations. After completion, students submit a comprehensive report (usually 10-30 pages in length) detailing setbacks, accomplishments, principles applied, lessons learned, and how the experience gained will be applied in their plans for the future.

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