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Internships

Internship FAQs

An internship provides relevant, real world work experience in your career field of interest. Internships are a valuable way to learn about a career and determine if it is the right choice for your skills and interests.

During your internship you learn things about an industry and job function that you could never learn without the actual experience of completing the work every day. You will also be able to network-meeting people who can help you connect to other organizations, or job functions that interest you.

Having an internship on your resume demonstrates that you have work-related knowledge and skills, actual experience that increases your marketability and, if you perform well in your internship, offers you the opportunity to land a full-time job at your internship site.

It's never too early to do an internship! You can start as early as the summer after your first year of college, but it's crucial for you to have a solid, well-targeted internship the summer after your junior year. Internships take place in the academic year or the summer, and can be found at private corporations, government offices and nonprofit organizations.

You should aim to have at least two internships before you graduate.

 

Before you start your search, create a list of your most important criteria for an internship. Consider the following:

  • Pay: Do you need to be paid for your internship or can you take an unpaid position?
  • Location: Where do you want to work? Should you live with your family or friends in order to expand your options? Can you live in a different city if you find inexpensive housing?
  • Career Industry or Function: What industry and/or job function do you want to target? Are you aware of all of the possible options?
  • Timing/Deadlines: While it's never too early to start looking for an internship, there are a few important issues to be aware of. For some competitive fields like accounting, investment banking or consulting, you must plan ahead to get relevant summer internships. These programs are very competitive and look for higher than average GPAs.
  • Government agencies like the CIA, NSA, and the State Department require background checks that can take months. As a result, the deadline for summer internships is in the fall of the year before the internship.
  • Organization: What kind of culture are you looking for? Do you want to experience working with a small, medium or large company?

Expect that finding an internship will be labor-intensive. You will need to keep applying and interviewing until you land an offer, which can mean 20 applications or more. As you begin to fill out applications and submit resumes consider using a tracking system (such as Excel) to help you keep all of your opportunities and contacts in order.

Types of Internships

Internships for academic credit typically range from 10-14 weeks. For credit internships can be paid or unpaid. The number of credit hours and requirements for academic credit vary by major and are listed below. If receiving academic credit, the student must pay tuition to enroll in the internship course.
  • The student, faculty & internship provider are required to fill out an experiential education internship registration form. 
The Certified Internship Program (CIP) helps students get the most out of an internship by providing a framework to enhance knowledge gained through the experience. The CIP is not a for-credit experience, but does satisfy the Explorations Beyond the Classroom graduation requirement. Click Here for more information on the CIP.
The E-internship program is not for academic credit, and can be completed at any time. This experience based internship can help students develop career interest, develop professional network, and help build your experience and marketable skill set.

Internships for Academic Credit

  1. The student will need to be offered an internship by an organization
  2. The student will need to meet the departmental requirements. Please see the Departmental Requirements tab above for details.
  3. The student needs to identify a faculty member to be their faculty supervisor in the department in which they wish to receive credit.
  4. The student, faculty & internship provider will fill out an experiential education internship registration form.
Yes, internship credit is counted as course credits toward graduation.  If the internship occurs during the academic year it may be part of the credit hours allowed each semester as a full time student. Please note that if the student will be completing an internship in the summer for credit, then they will have to pay separate summer school tuition and fees.
Yes, students are required to purchase internship liability insurance.  The $19 fee is automatically added to their tuition bill when they register for the internship.

Credits: 1- 6
Prerequisites:

  • Admission to Cameron School of Business(Accountancy Option)
  • Completion of ACG 301 and ACG 306
  • Overall grade point average of 3.0 or greater

Involves the application of accounting knowledge in a "real world" setting. The participant receives hands-on experience under the guidance of a manager from a business, not-for-profit organization or CPA firm.

Credits: 1 - 6
Prerequisites:

  • Consent of faculty supervisor
  • Admission to Cameron School of Business

Involves the application of business analytics knowledge and skills in a company. The participant will receive practical training and experience under the guidance of the staff of a local business or government organization and a faculty supervisor.

Credits: 1 - 6
Prerequisites:

  • Junior or Senior standing
  • 3.00 overall grade point average
  • Consent of the department chairperson
  • Completion of BLA 361

The internship activity must involve an aspect of the legal system that is approved by the Department Chair.

Credits: 1 - 6
Prerequisites:

  • Junior or senior standing
  • Consent of department chairperson
  • Admission to Cameron School of Business

The chairperson may consider grade point average and individual course grades as they pertain to the internship being considered.

Credits: 1 - 6
Prerequisites:

  • EBD 380
  • Junior or Senior standing
  • 3.00 GPA in the Cameron School of Business
  • Admission to the Cameron School of Business

Involves the application of entrepreneurship and business development knowledge in a real world setting.

Credits: 1- 6
Prerequisites:

  • Junior or Senior status
  • Consent of department chairperson
  • Admission to Cameron School of Business

The class involves the application of economics concepts in a "real world" setting. The participant receives hands-on experience under the joint guidance of a manager from a business or not-for-profit organization and a faculty supervisor.

Credits: 1- 6
Prerequisites:

  • Junior or Senior status
  • Consent of department chairperson
  • Admission to Cameron School of Business

The class involves the application of financial concepts in a "real world" setting. The participant receives hands-on experience under the joint guidance of a manager from a business or not-for-profit organization and a faculty supervisor.

Credits: 1 - 6
Prerequisites:

  • INB 300
  • 3:00 GPA
  • Admission to Cameron School of Business
  • Consent of International Business Concentration director

Involves the application of international business education in organizations participating in some level of international business activity.

Determination, courage and tenacity are a few of the qualities needed to complete a successful international internship. However, the global internship may be the key to finding your dream job after graduation! 

Learn more about Global Internships

Credits: 1 - 6
Prerequisites:

  • Consent of faculty supervisor
  • Admission to Cameron School of Business

The participant will receive practical training and experience under the guidance of the staff of a business or government organization and a faculty supervisor.

Credits: 1 - 6
Prerequisites:

  • MGT 350
  • Junior or Senior standing
  • 3.00 GPA in the Cameron School of Business
  • Admission to the Cameron School of Business
  • For students seeking a HRM internship, MGT 356 must be completed

Involves the application of management in a real world setting.

Credits: 1 - 6
Prerequisites:

  • MKT 340 plus 6 additional hours in marketing
  • 3.00 overall GPA
  • Senior standing
  • Admission to Cameron School of Business

Credits: 1 - 6
Prerequisites:

  • Consent of faculty supervisor
  • Admission to Cameron School of Business

Involves the application of quantitative and systems skills developed in the academic environment to problems in a real-world operating environment. The participant will receive practical training and experience under the guidance of the staff of a local business or government organization and a faculty supervisor. Available internships are filled on a competitive basis.

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