Internships

What is an internship?
An internship is an opportunity to gain practical experience in an environment outside the classroom. It is a chance for students to take on responsible roles within an organization and learn through both work experiences and observation.

What is the value of doing an internship?
Internships can enhance classroom learning or can be venues for career exploration. The value of engaging in an internship includes opportunities to:

Increase knowledge and skills
Test classroom theories in the "real world"
Explore a potential career path
Network and make contacts
Contribute to an organization or company
Increase community involvement

How do they work?
Internships can be paid or unpaid, but students should try to receive compensation for any expenses incurred. Internships can earn one unit of credit; credit must be approved by the registrar, the assistant dean for academic administration and a faculty sponsor before the internship begins. The length of an internship, which is determined by the student and the sponsor, can be for the period of one summer session or longer. Some academic departments have minimum GPA requirements associated with internships as well as independent study. Your responsibilities and what you hope to get out of an internship should be formalized with your sponsor well before you begin the experience. An internship is an excellent way to make use of time during your summer when you are between classes!

Note: Students taking an independent study or participating in an internship must be registered and have paid in full in order to receive a grade and course credit.

What's out there?
The career services and leadership education office has several internship possibilities for the summer. These internships are often for experience only, but occasionally compensation or credit is given. Some possible areas for internship opportunities include but are not limited to:

The legal field, such as local law or judicial offices
Human services, including group homes, day-care centers, social service agencies and advocacy programs
Financial services, such as accounting or banking
Advertising, marketing or public relations firms

Whom do I contact to get started?
The office of career services and leadership education is located at the Student Center 202. Its library is open for use during the summer from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments with a professional advisor are available during this time by calling 315-229-5906.

Other resources for possible internships:
· Carol Kissam, McNair/C-STEP, 315-229-5605
· Ron Flores, Community Based Learning, 315-229-5228
· Brenda Papineau, Community Based Learning, 315-229-5255