Back to Bonner Partner Organizations

The Philadelphia Center

Organization Description: As one of the nation’s oldest experiential education programs, The Philadelphia Center (TPC) offers a dynamic and valuable off-campus experience. Since 1967, TPC has helped more than 6,700 students from over 80 colleges and 50 countries discover their personal and professional direction in life through our 16 week semester program and 8 week summer program. Students earn academic credit while interning 32 hours/week, taking seminars, and living independently in a diverse and vibrant urban setting. With more than 800 placements, we offer substantial internship options for almost any major. 

Issue Area(s):

Students work closely with TPC’s faculty advisors, who help ensure that each participant has a substantial learning experience during their internship.  Through the use of learning plans, portfolios, and on-site meetings, TPC’s faculty advisors provide individualized guidance throughout the semester so each student receives the maximum benefit of participating in our program.  With more than 800 placement opportunities, TPC offers an internship for almost any major.  The list below highlights over 25 placements relevant to Bonner participants.  Please note that while every student is guaranteed an internship we cannot guarantee placement with a specific organization as availability may vary semester to semester.   We have many more that also pertain to Bonner students so please contact us for more information.  Additionally, we continually add to our database of placements as well depending upon the needs of students participating in our program.   For detailed job descriptions related to any internship please also contact us.

• Community Development
• Center City Residents’ Association
• .Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation
• New Kensington Community Development Corp
• Education
• BuildaBridge
• Mighty Writers
• Point Breeze Performing Arts Center
• Environmental Issues & Outdoor Recreation
• Mill Creek Urban Farm
• Academy of Natural Sciences
• Healthcare & Health Issues
• Thomas Jefferson University Wellness Center
• Homelessness & Housing
• Project H.O.M.E.
• Reconstruction, Inc.
• SHARE Food Program
• International
• Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Committee
• American Friends Service Committee
• Nationalities Services Center 
• Policy & Advocacy
• Children’s Crisis Treatment Center
• HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy
• Defenders’ Association
• Poverty & Hunger
• Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign
• Religious Services
• Broad Street Ministries
• Bethesda Project Sanctuary
• Social Justice & Human Rights
• Envision Peace Museum
• Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness
• Women's Issues
• Girls, Inc.
• Women’s Law Project
• Maternity Care Coalition
• Youth Development & Youth Issues
• Philadelphia Futures
• Multicultural Youth eXchange
• Other 

Type(s) of Bonner Partnership Connections:

• Alternative Break/Short-term Service Project Site
• Internship opportunity - See brief list of placement opportunities above.  We have over 800 placements available for almost any major.  For students interested in policy research, advocacy, lobbying, public education and other Bonner related areas we have dozens of opportunities.
• Educational opportunity -  As one of the nation’s oldest experiential education programs, The Philadelphia Center (TPC) offers a dynamic and valuable off-campus experience. Since 1967, TPC has helped more than 6,700 students from over 80 colleges and 50 countries discover their personal and professional direction in life through our 16 week semester program and 8 week summer program. Students earn academic credit while interning 32 hours/week, taking seminars, and living independently in a diverse and vibrant urban setting.  
• Job opportunity
• Resource Provider

Opportunity Description

(Alternative Break/Short-term Service Project Site, Internship, Educational opportunity, etc.)

Type of Opportunity & Description:

Start/End Dates: We offer a 16 week semester program in the fall and spring as well as an 8 week summer program.  For the current start/end dates please visit http://www.tpc.edu/apply/calendars1/ 

Application Process: Students participating in our program usually go through one of three offices on their campus to apply to our semester or summer program: Off-Campus, Career Services or Study Abroad. 

Application Deadline: Since we partner with numerous schools that issue their own deadline we do not have a deadline.

Stipend Provided?: No.  Students who complete our semester program receive 16 academic credits while students who complete our summer program receive 8 credits.  Hope College in Holland, Michigan is our managing institution and issues each student a transcript.

Housing Provided?: Yes.  Students engage in our independent living process during the semester program.  During the summer program we house participants in a dorm at a nearby campus.

Hosted Bonners before?: Yes.  DePauw, Earlham, Oberlin and a variety of other schools routinely send us students, some of which have been Bonners

Policy and Advocacy Connection

Does this organization/program offer opportunities for students to engage in policy research, advocacy, lobbying, public education, etc.? Yes.  See brief list of placement opportunities above.  We have over 800 placements available for almost any major.  For students interested in policy research, advocacy, lobbying, public education and other Bonner related areas we have dozens of opportunities.

Type of Opportunity & Description:

Current Contact

Updated DATE

Name/Position: 

Email: 

Phone: 

Back to Bonner Partners main page