Graduate Program

Communication Studies

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

Summer 2024

Thesis Director

Chigozirim U. Sodeke

Thesis Committee Member

S.M. Walus

Thesis Committee Member

Marita Gronnvoll

Abstract

International graduate students in the United States begin their academic journey with the goal of professional growth, but they frequently struggle to secure internships due to bureaucratic barriers and competitive marketplaces. This study explores Eastern Illinois University's international graduate students' experiences through the perspective of sensemaking theory, with the goal of understanding how they make sense of the internship process. In-depth qualitative interviews with ten students revealed that students make sense of their internships in two ways: on one end, the struggles, and on the on the other end, how they are strengthening. Through sensemaking, students analyze and adapt to their struggles and cultivate resilience and strategic approaches to their professional development.

Key themes emerged from the interviews, demonstrating that students make sense of their internships as critical to their professional development, but face major barriers in obtaining these opportunities. Navigating visa constraints in the application process, cultural obstacles, and a competitive internship environment are all struggles. Despite these struggles, students use their sensemaking talents to analyze and adapt to the challenges, cultivating resilience and strategic approaches to their professional development.

The study concludes that higher education institutions, particularly Eastern Illinois University, play an important role in helping international students by improving career services, fostering social sustainability, and advocating for legislation reforms that make internships more accessible. The fundamental implication is that international graduate students require a comprehensive support structure that covers both their professional and personal requirements, aiding their effective integration into the US workforce and contributing to the global talent pool.

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