Internships

Office of Career Success


What is an Internship?

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting.

Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths, and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.


How Internships differ from other jobs?

Internships must include specific learning objectives for the student. In the classroom, the student builds knowledge from lectures, assigned reading, exams, and class projects. Through internships, student interns learn through the practical application of what was gained in the classroom.

To be truly defined as an internship, the experience must be:

  • Related to the interns intended career field or coursework.

  • Facilitated by an internship supervisor who provides regular constructive guidance, evaluation, and feedback.

  • Targeted toward a learning objective, which the intern engages in and reflects upon throughout the course of the internship.

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Internship Inquiry