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student internship handbook cover

What is an internship? 

  • Structured learning experience in the workforce 

  • Relates to a student's major and/or career goal 

  • Includes specific job responsibilities entailing assisting in projects and not only performing small tasks 

  • Is supervised by a professional in the field who gives feedback and training 

  • Can be one academic term (summer, spring, fall) or multiple academic terms in length 

  • Can also be called a practicum or co-op, and sometimes student jobs can be considered internships 

  • Is mutually agreed upon by the student, supervisor and/or faculty member 

  • Meets registration requirements for 0 credit hour or academic internship course  

  • Is paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time  

Note:  while many internships in non-profit organizations and governmental agencies are unpaid, for-profit organizations must pay you unless they meet U.S. Department of Labor standards 

 
What are the benefits? 

  • Career exploration 

  • Leadership, competencies, and skill development 

  • Learn by doing 

  • Option to register for course credit or transcript notation 

  • Apply knowledge from the classroom 

  • Network and establish mentors and references 

  • Resume enhancements 

  • Gain a competitive edge for fulltime work or graduate school 

 

When Should I Start Looking? 

  • It’s never too early to start, but we recommend 6-9 months in advance of when you hope to participate in an internship.   

  • You can start by scheduling an appointment with a career coach for assistance  

 

Identify Motivations, Goals, and Priorities before Applying 

  • Why do I want an internship? 

  • How will obtaining an internship of interest potentially benefit me? 

  • In what field am I trying to gain experience? 

  • What skills or competencies do I want to gain from an internship? 

  • What kind of responsibilities would I like to have as an intern? 

  • What do I hope to learn from the internship? 

  • Would I consider unpaid experience? 

  • What considerations do I want to keep in mind for location, housing, and size or type of organization? 

  • Do I need a specific length, or hours per week in order to meet course registration requirements or other requirements for graduation?