Experiential Learning

The Pre-Law Program gives students meaningful understanding about the profession, concrete skills they need to be competitive law school applicants and successful law school students, and long term vision that ensures their professional success. Students are encouraged to secure summer internships and gain legal experience.

The Roosevelt House Public Policy Program is based on the understanding that the preparation of informed individuals is the key to a vibrant participatory democracy. The program prepares students by providing essential research and rigorous analytical skills that are important goals of a strong liberal arts education.

Our graduates are unique; they span many majors from Anthropology to Political Science, Chinese and Urban Studies to Biology. Students have an opportunity to interact first-hand with policy experts and practitioners in New York City and Washington, DC, both in the classroom and outside, and learn how policies are created, how communities come together to demand change, who benefits from specific policies, and how to best measure the impact of public policy. These are important skills that enable students to enter competitive graduate school programs or to embark on careers in public affairs and the nonprofit sector at both the national and global level.

The Roosevelt House Human Rights Program aims to give students the critical and analytical tools they need to address human rights problems intelligently and constructively, whether as advocates, scholars, researchers or informed citizens. Through academic study and hands-on experience, students explore both the theoretical and practical underpinnings of current human rights debates. By learning about human rights law, theory and practice, students in the program will understand how human rights norms and aspirations can shape public policy, international relations, corporate behavior, and civil society.

As part of both the 15-credit Minor and 24-credit Certificate programs, enrolled students are required to commit a minimum of 120 hours over the course of a semester to a human rights-related internship for which they receive 3 academic credits.

The Public Service Scholar Program (PSSP) seeks to improve our cities and the lives of people by preparing undergraduates for careers in the public and non-profit sectors. The program seeks to raise the representation of women, minority-group members and new immigrants in leadership positions.

PSSP is a one-year internship where students work 20 hours per week from September to May in non-profit and government agencies and elected official’s offices. PSSP provides up to 20 students per year with 12 credits and a merit-based fellowship to assist with tuition and basic expenses. The program is open to Hunter College juniors and seniors in any academic major.

Care For the Future assists students who have an academic interest in the fields of public service, public policy, and human rights with obtaining a related internship. The program also provides stipends for students who have already secured an unpaid internship in a related field.

The Career Development Services Internship Program provides educational internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in broad and diversified career fields and settings in the arts and sciences to explore potential career goals and obtain relevant experience. The program assists students through individual counseling sessions, career panels, internship oriented collaboration meetings with students and faculty, industry information sessions as well as internship project resources and application assistance in order for students to obtain pre-professional experience in preparation for further graduate level training and/or professional employment.

You can also search Hunter Career Development Services – Simplicity for public service/policy internship listings.

The Grove Fellowship Program is a prestigious and rigorous Fellowship that provides mentorship, professional development and a financial award to Grove Fellows, students who are committed to public service, public policy and human rights.

Candidates must have earned, at minimum, 30 credits and be enrolled at Hunter College as full-time undergraduate students (12 or more credits).

The Jewish Foundation for Education of Women (JFEW) is a nonsectarian organization helping women with financial need meet their educational and career goals through scholarships and opportunities for professional development. In partnership with schools and nonprofits, JFEW fosters a community of women dedicated to education, professional achievement and who contribute to society. The JFEW Eleanor Roosevelt Scholars program at Roosevelt House was developed with these goals in mind and specifically recruits students who have shown interest in public policy and/or public service.

To qualify for the JFEW Eleanor Roosevelt Scholars Program, applicants must:

• Be a Sophomore not enrolled in the CUNY Macaulay Honors Program
• Demonstrate financial need (must have a current FAFSA on file);
• Be enrolled as a full-time student for each semester during the Program;
• Maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for each semester during the Program;
• Demonstrate a strong connection to New York City;
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.;
• Have a demonstrated commitment to enhancing the status and role of women in the fields of public policy and public service.

Hunter Has Heart is a yearlong advocacy-focused leadership development program. The main components of the program include individual volunteer work, completion of a group project, and an experiential learning trip. This year’s program focuses on the theme of food, and students will share information and advocate for healthful food access in a way that meaningfully impacts the Hunter community.

Participants must be currently registered, in good academic standing, and have an interest in volunteerism and social justice.

Please contact Teneia Wooten or Carissa Landes for more information.

You can also find out about more volunteer opportunities through The Division of Student Affairs at Hunter College, who provide guidance and assistance to student government organizations and work with numerous student clubs and organizations to develop programs that foster leadership skills.