Since the University of Cincinnati began the first Cooperative Education program in 1906, UC has provided experiential learning programs to equip students with real-world experience before graduation. The College of A&S remains committed to this educational approach today, ensuring you have access to internship, service learning, study abroad and research opportunities that broaden your education beyond the classroom. A&S is dedicated to having students graduate with a career plan--so dedicated that at the time of graduation students will have taken four courses specifically preparing them for professional development.
Through this real-world, applicable experience, you will develop and amplify the skills employers are looking for, whether you're working in an office or working in the field. You'll build professional networks in Cincinnati, which is home to nine Fortune 500 companies—including P&G, Western & Southern Financial Group, The Kroger Co. and more—and countless startups and nonprofits.
Beyond our borders, study abroad opportunities open the door for you to experience other cultures and customs, sharpen your language and communication skills, and prepare to become a member of the global community. You may choose to commit to a cause and make a difference in our communities locally by participating in one of a wide variety of service learning opportunities. Or you may explore your research options, where you can immerse yourself in study in the lab or in the field.
Each year, our students have access to hundreds of employers seeking to hire interns and research assistants. Our real-world opportunities are nearly as varied as our students, but each one richly benefits the student, faculty and organizations that choose to get involved.
September 19, 2023
Study abroad is back to 75% of pre-COVID levels at the University of Cincinnati, and a wide variety of international study options is available to students in any program. Where do you see yourself in the world?
March 29, 2023
According to national studies, as many as 75% to 85% of undergraduate students will change their major at least once before earning their degree. One in ten undergraduate students will change their major more than once throughout their college career. With over 40 majors to choose from in the University of Cincinnati’s College of Arts and Sciences, declaring a major can be a comprehensive process. Fourth year undergraduate student Maggie Sweeney found her perfect fit in the International Affairs program. “I used my resources at UC and looked into a couple different majors,” said Sweeney. “International affairs stuck out to me because it is an interdisciplinary major and all my interests in history, language, and social justice were encompassed into one major as a whole.”
February 6, 2023
Fourth year journalism student Zach Jarrell began his college career at the University of Cincinnati as a statistics major. Despite having an interest in studying journalism, Jarrell had his doubts. He was unsure about the practicality of that degree, and his ability to pay off his future student loans through it.
December 7, 2022
Many non-traditional students find a home at the University of Cincinnati, and Emily O’Bryant is no exception. A student who comes from a history of displaced housing as a ward of the court, O’Bryant is a first-generation student pursuing her bachelor's degree in communications through the College of Arts and Sciences. “I am an independent student. My birth mom had me at 14 and I ended up in multiple homes throughout my childhood,” says O’Bryant. “Neither of my parents made it out of the eighth grade. I went through a few different types of care when I was younger all over the place, but as an adult I wanted to be better and do better.” Only 26 percent of first-generation students complete at least a bachelor’s degree, according to data from the Pew Research Center. In addition to the usual struggles associated with adjusting to college culture, there are myriad additional barriers that first generation can students face, including lack of support from family and peers, college preparedness, racial disparity and financial stability.
November 7, 2022
UC undergraduate Mars Robinson understands as well as any the financial challenges that can face college students. A non-traditional student, Robinson took a break after high school graduation before entering UC’s College of Arts and Sciences to pursue an English major with an emphasis on creative writing. In the beginning, Robinson worked in a casino to pay tuition while she pursued her degree. The night work wasn’t compatible with her goals, she says, and she found herself mentally drained and struggling academically. Then, in 2021, she found an internship opportunity with the University of Cincinnati Press.
November 4, 2022
Sometimes it takes a couple of tries to find your true passion. University of Cincinnati alumna Deja Shanks took a second swing at her path and found professional home near the footlights and greasepaint at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.
October 5, 2022
Student in the College of A&S begins building her future at the Short Vine Literary Journal. Kay Reed began looking for an internship due to her passion for publishing, formatting and managing. Through resources at UC, she found this and more at her first internship. This past spring Reed, fourth-year student in English Literary and Cultural Studies, completed an internship at the Short Vine Literary Journal. Although UC does not require an internship for her major, The Bearcat Promise highly encourages any Arts and Sciences student to do so anyways. The Bearcat Promise is UC’s goal of connecting students to a career path post-graduation, along with making sure students leave the university with a degree. An internship provides students with hands-on work in a real-world setting.
September 23, 2022
Last summer, Molly McKee spent her days fulfilling her goal to work in community service. She combined her drive towards bettering the community with her co-op requirement in UC’s College of Arts and Sciences through a co-op position with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. A fourth-year student, McKee is double majoring in political science and International affairs, with a minor in Spanish. Having discovered the service learning co-op option through UC’s honors program, McKee landed a position as an outreach center programs associate position at St. Vincent de Paul. For her, the experience was transformational.
February 1, 2021
By Rebecca Schweitzer Students in the University of Cincinnati's College of Arts & Sciences are always finding new ways to gain experience in their fields. Callie Tucker, a fourth-year digital media collaborative student, has her sights set on Hollywood, and during her time at UC, Tucker has had the opportunity to intern at some of the most well-known media companies in order to help this dream.
January 6, 2021
For Arts and Science students at the University Cincinnati, there are no shortage of ways to get involved with their major and classes. Many students spend much of their first few years searching for enriching opportunities to help them explore their passions and help them prepare for a career after college. For biology major Ariana Berrios, she didn’t have to look for long.
December 17, 2020
By Jenn Cammel COVID-19 caused millions of college students to study remotely this year but, for University of Cincinnati Arts and Science neuropsychology major Alex Powell, the pandemic meant a new job. In May, Powell joined the medical lab team as an intern at Gravity Diagnostics in Covington. Powell, who plans to attend pharmacy school after graduation, found the position online while looking for a Summer job. At the lab, his job was to get the samples ready to be tested and enter data as well as other basic lab technician work. “Gravity Diagnostics started as a small lab that initially did Toxicology, STI and Upper Respiratory testing,” Powell says. “When COVID hit, the owner purchased the equipment necessary for testing it and it's been growing ever since.” Powell and his coworkers had many precautions in place to help keep them—and their work environment—safe. “It was pretty interesting seeing the pandemic firsthand,” he says. “Whenever the country had a strong spike in cases, we would see it firsthand in the number of samples received per day.