Our students have the opportunity to gain valuable experience in academic and student affairs offices, both at Kent State and in a variety of other types of institutions in the area.
Many HIED students gain valuable work experience and receive help to finance their education through graduate assistantships at colleges and universities throughout northeast Ohio. Students admitted to the M.Ed. program for fall 2024 or later are not required to be placed in a graduate assistantship for admission to the program. However, we strongly recommend that all M.Ed. students who are not already working full-time in higher education seek placement in a graduate assistantship to realize the full benefits of our program’s theory-to-practice emphasis. Graduates of the M.Ed. program consistently point to the importance of the experience and networks gained through their assistantship and internships for securing a professional position in the field after completing the degree. Assistantships include assignments in various functional areas of student affairs, such as residence life, student leadership development, international student services, multicultural student services, parent and family programs, fraternity and sorority advising, career services, and academic advising. (The specific assistantship employers participating will vary from year to year.) Students admitted to the MEd program will have the opportunity to come to campus for GA Days in early spring, during which they learn more about the program, interact with faculty and current students, and interview for assistantships.
Applicants to the Ed.S. and Ph.D. programs who are interested in obtaining an assistantship should apply by December 1, and notify the program coordinator of their interest in order to be considered for participation in GA Days.
To be eligible for a graduate assistantship (GAship), you will be required to complete the GA Application; the link to this application will be provided to you upon your admission to the program.
Master's students are required to complete 2 internships for their program; an additional 3rd internship may be used as an elective on one's plan of study (a maximum of 9 credit hours of internship can count toward the degree). Students can learn more about the internship/practicum experience through the Internship Syllabus and Manual.
To apply for a practicum/internship opportunity, please complete the Internship Practicum Application and return to Dr. Judy Lightner-Noll, jlightn9@kent.edu, or bring to the practicum meeting on the first Friday of the semester in which you will be doing your practicum/internship.
The Practicum Fair, sponsored by GRASPP, is held each year in the fall. It features higher education professionals seeking practicum students and provides opportunities for current students to hear a short presentation and talk with prospective site supervisors.
Below is a list of some of the sites at which students have completed internships and practica during the semester at colleges and universities throughout northeast Ohio (and beyond).