Experiential learning is a valuable component of the MIP program. Practical knowledge combined with hands-on experience provides MIP students with a competitive edge in the job market. As such, seeking experiential opportunities for our students is a priority for faculty and staff. While the experiential opportunities afforded to each cohort varies, the MIP program has been successful at arranging a variety of trips and events aimed at exposing students to government agencies and private industries engaged in international trade and security issues. Past opportunities have included tours of the National Capitol Region, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant as well as participation in numerous CITS sponsored events, for example, the Energy Security Conference, Comprehensive Border Management Academy, and the Global Decisions Lecture Series.
MIP students have had the opportunity to attend the CITS Spring Break Washington D.C. Trip. This custom-tailored, week-long trip to our nation’s capital consisted of daily events that provided students with the opportunity to meet with practitioners from a variety of security-related government agencies and think tanks. These visits allowed our students to attain not only greater knowledge about potential career fields but also to generate contacts within these different fields, which is a definite advantage when applying to internships and jobs.
