What is an Internship?
Internships are opportunities to connect your classroom experiences in a professional organization through hands-on projects and direct exposure to the real world of work. Internships can take many forms including part-time, full-time, paid, unpaid, and credit or non-credit bearing experiences. Internships usually last three to six months and can occur at any time of the academic year. Typically, interns are juniors or seniors; however, sophomores should never shy away from an internship opportunity.
Benefits of an Internship
- Establishes valuable professional contacts and increases your professional network
- Facilitates the transition from student to employee by socializing you to the world of work
- Increases your confidence as you learn new skills
- Creates valuable experiences that enhance your resume
- Builds industry knowledge that allows you to create a realistic picture of a specific career
Difference Between Credit and Non-credit Internships
Credit internships allow a student to earn university course credit during the internship and are offered through academic departments. Each academic department sets its own criteria for awarding credit for internship experiences. Please select the link below for department internship requirements. Non-credit internships are not facilitated through a university department and are arranged and completed solely by the student. While these internships are independent, we encourage you to look for experiences that are beneficial to your goals and further facilitate the acquisition of the skills and qualifications that you desire.
Internships vs. Part-Time Jobs
Internships may be part-time or full-time (in reference to the number of hours worked) and be single or repeat experiences. It is important to be clear about the difference between an internship and a part-time job. The guidelines in the table below clarify the fundamental differences between an internship and part-time job according to LEE.
| A position is an internship if… | A position is a part-time job if… |
|---|---|
| It is related to the student's area of study and professional goals | The job duties are primarily clerical in nature |
| It requires established learning objectives/goals | The student is replacing the work that would normally be done by a current employee |
| Students receive regular feedback and evaluation in relation to the established learning objectives from a qualified professional | Compensation is the primary purpose of the position |
| Students regularly apply what they have learned in the classroom to a professional setting | It is not professional in nature and/or does not align with the student's area of study and professional goals |
| Student learning is the primary purpose of the position |
Internship Guidelines by Department
Internship Resources
To find the appropriate internship for you, utilize the resources available to you, including:
- Department internship coordinator
- Handshake
- On-campus/virtual recruiting events
- Faculty
- Networking
- Social media
- Company websites
- Job search engines