The ten-week Summer Institute serves as a college internship and carries college credit at Bowie State University. Undergraduate students receive four credit hours while graduate students receive one credit hour for participation. The courses combine computer applications and space-related work experience. The tuition for these courses is provided by the SIECA program.

Included in the description of this internship may be a short language course in C, C++, Java, or other specialty language necessary for the development of a NASA project. The language studied will be dictated by a participant's need and mentor. If the participant has prior knowledge of the language required by the mentor, he/she need not participate in a course. A major purpose of the SIECA program is to broaden the participant's professional perspectives through exposure to a variety of research/application environments.

Any student chosen for the SIECA program gains the opportunity to:

1. Take a mini course in C, C++, Java, etc. at GSFC.
2. Gain experience in the operations process of one of Goddard's space related projects.
3. Gain college credit.
   (Undergraduate - 4 credits)
   (Graduate - 1 credit)

Various seminars are conducted at Goddard during the ten-week period. SIECA participants are required to attend these activities. Participants may also take advantage of field trips when they occur.

Students participating in the program will be assigned to work on a specific project. The major culminating requirements are a research paper and a presentation at the division or directorate level. Students are evaluated by their mentors and the program director.

Presentations play a ma=jor role in the internship programs sponsored by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center's Equal Opportunity Programs Office. During the past nine years, awards have been given to several participants whose presentations were remarkably excellent. Summer 2007, three participants from the SIECA program received the Rashaan Jackson Presentation Award. They are Deirdre Beasley, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Deztany Jackson. Congratulations to these individuals on an delivering outstanding presentations!