Division of Workforce Development (Careers and Continuing Education)

Internship Program Description

Definition: An internship is a prearranged, structured learning experience scheduled within a specific time frame. The experience must be relevant to the intern’s academic and professional goals and to the competencies of the applicable program of study.

Purpose: Internships provide a unique learning experience outside the traditional academic environment, one where students can test the theories, concepts and applications introduced in the classroom. A meaningful internship will be built upon this foundation by providing real-world experiences.

Internship positions are designed to serve as a supplement to academic learning and to provide interns the opportunity to gain practical work experience in their area of interest. When students take an internship for academic credit, they not only work “on the job” but also satisfy internship faculty requirements. This is in addition to their course-required 15 classroom hours. Also, when students take an internship for credit, they are graded on their work performance.

Working as an intern involves discipline, responsibility and a firm commitment to get the most from the internship experience. It is important to ensure that internship goals are realistic and that the internship chosen is appropriate for the student. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of an internship is the opportunity it affords students to get to know themselves better. An intern should consider the following:

• What kind of work do you enjoy the most?
• How do you react in particular work environments?
• What kind of people do you like to work with?
• What things can you do particularly well?
• What areas do you need to learn more about?

The answers to these questions will assist in selecting a satisfying internship experience.