By Keagan Suddith '27
When architecture student Meredith Embry ‘26 took an internship with UMD Space Systems Lab, one of the most important skills she gained wasn't a new technical skill: it was learning how to communicate with her engineering colleagues, whose industry jargon often sounded like a foreign language.
“Communicating with people from different backgrounds… it takes time to figure out how to best understand each other,” she said. Through this process, Embry developed strong interpersonal and leadership skills, even stepping in to resolve team conflicts when necessary.
ARCH386, the experiential learning course at the University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (MAPP), is designed to accomplish something many classes cannot: fully immerse students in the realities of their future careers, from making deadlines to sharpening soft skills to working across different departments.
"We have a lot of students who need a job; they want an internship, and this gives them the additional opportunity to gain credit for it too," said Kristen Stack, the course instructor and director of student services.
The course, which runs during the spring and summer semesters, blends work experience with written reflections through weekly journaling and two papers. These assignments encourage students to think critically about how their coursework translates to real-world applications, what skills they still need to develop, and how they grow through both successes and mistakes. A supervisor evaluation further grounds the experience in professional expectations, helping students understand how they are perceived in a workplace setting.
Many students take internships in construction project management, join architecture or real estate development firms, or work in hands-on trades like carpentry, but some take less traditional paths, demonstrating the wide range of applications for MAPP-related skills. Last summer, undergraduate student Charles Treger interned with Maryland State Delegate Vaughn Stewart in the General Assembly during the state’s 90-day legislative session. His experience placed him directly in the fast-paced world of policymaking, where he was responsible for researching legislation, writing testimony and policy summaries, responding to constituent emails, and working with advocacy groups throughout the amendment process.
“It was a very engaging place to be… definitely more hands-on than a typical office internship,” said Treger.
While the course structure provides professional guidance, its true value is determined by what students learn from it. Many describe the experience as a turning point that helps them transition from thinking like students to acting like working professionals. Time management, communication, and accountability quickly become essential, and students learn firsthand the importance of meeting real deadlines, contributing to a team, and maintaining professionalism in everyday tasks. Treger says that his internship not only strengthened his writing skills but also taught him how to translate complex policy into accessible language, an ability he now uses across academic and professional settings.
“I feel very confident when I write now… a lot of it is owed to that internship,” he said. “It solidified my interest in law school and having an impact through policy.”
The transition is not always easy. Common challenges include balancing work and school, learning to communicate effectively, and overcoming the hesitation to ask questions. Embry emphasized how stepping outside of your comfort zone can lead to stronger performance and confidence.
“Asking questions is encouraged, even if no one says it,” she said.
She combined her background in architecture with aerospace engineering to contribute to the design and fabrication of a pressurized tunnel prototype. Her role evolved from technical work to mentorship, guiding engineering students and facilitating collaboration across disciplines. The experience also confirmed her career aspirations in space architecture.
“It cemented what I wanted to do in the future,” she said.
In fields like architecture, planning and real estate, the realities of tight deadlines, collaboration, client relationships, and high expectations are difficult to fully grasp in a classroom. Internships provide that missing perspective, said Stack, giving students insight into the pressures and responsibilities they will face in their careers. It also can clarify for students what they want to pursue for a career or reveal what they don’t. Ultimately, the course equips students with more than just experience; it is an opportunity to reflect, adapt, and grow.
“Regardless of the job, an internship is an incredible opportunity to learn skills you’ll use long after college,” said Stack. “Whether they follow a traditional path or pursue something unexpected, the experience has the potential to shape not only their career but also the way they see their future.”