(This article, written by Amanda Whittier, was taken from the Battalion Passport Window to the World, May 3, 2002)

Texas A&M students, especially those close to graduation, are looking to gain experience in their field of study or in a related field. An internship abroad allows students of all majors to gain the experience they are seeking. Students may chose the country, internship and language.

Texas A&M offers a variety of internships in conjunction with their faculty-led study abroad programs as well as independent internships. Students gain internship and international experience.

"It is one thing to have an internship, but it quite another to have an international internship," said Dr. Deb Blakely, Department of Journalism professor and leader of the public relations Mexico City trip. "It is highly valued by employers."

Each program varies in length and compensation. The internships are either paid, academic or volunteer. Several may not offer monetary pay, but will pay for housing and other bills, such as utilities.

Students may be discouraged by an unpaid internship, however, according to representatives of the Study Abroad Program Office, a more significant compensation will be the high marketability and employment rate due not only to the directly relatedinternshipp, but also due to the international experience the student gains.

Several faculty-led study abroad programs consist of a five-week study session in addition to a five-week internship. The internships are secured by the faculty member before students depart from the United States.

"We have a really good working relationship with businesses abroad," Blakely said.

Students who gain internship experience abroad often have more success finding a job after graduation because of their international business knowledge.

Erica Roy, Class of 1999, attended the journalism department public relations trip to Mexico City and interned at Mexicana Airlines. Upon graduation, she was hired at Continental Airlines because of her letter of recommendation and international expertise.

Dr. Douglas Starr, journalism professor and founder of the Mexico City and Madrid journalism public relations trips, said students who obtain internships abroad are more valuable because they have both U.S. and foreign public relations experience.

Internships in Madrid and Mexico City include airlines, banks, public relations agencies, pharmaceutical houses, TV stations, and non-profit organizations.

Students planning to attend the Madrid study abroad trip must be fluent in Spanish to qualify for an internship; however, those traveling to Mexico City have some flexibility with their ability to speak Spanish.

"We try to match the internship with the student's first preference, but techniques of PR are the same, no matter where you work." Starr said.