Internship Program

Searching for an Internship

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an internship?
An internship is a structured work experience that combines academic learning and career exploration in a professional work environment. The heart of a successful experience is the relationship between the intern and the supervisor, who serves as mentor and guide. Internships can be done for credit or no credit, paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time, during the summer or over a semester.

Why do students choose to do internships?

To gain hands-on experience, learn new skills, and explore a profession
To apply and test theories and methods learned in the classroom
To network with professionals already working in their field or to obtain entry level positions

Will I need internship credits to graduate?
Some academic departments require an internship for credit. Others offer internships for credit as one of the options for fulfilling the capstone requirement. Check with your major department for information on these requirements.

Will I be paid for my work at an internship?
Many business-related internships are paid. Internships with non profit, government and educational organizations are typically unpaid. In the summer students find it's often possible to arrange a part-time internship for 10-20 hours per week while maintaining a part-time job.

Can I be paid and earn credit for my internship at the same time?
Yes, definitely.

Tuition for Credits.
During the academic year you won't pay for internship credits unless you overload credits. During the summer, students pay tuition for credits. Phone Student Accounts for information on summer tuition rates.
CSB Student Accounts, 363-5387
SJU Student Accounts, 363-2193

Internship Guidelines

Internships for credit are allowed after you've earned 58 credits towards graduation and are generally arranged after you've completed your junior year.

Duration of Internships for Credit:

Academic Year: 16 weeks over fall or spring semester
Summer: 12 weeks over summer term

The minimum hours guidelines for earning internship credits:

1 to 4 credits:   160 hours in one semester.
8 credits:           320 hours in one semester.
16 credits:         640 hours in one semester.

Deviations from these guidelines require prior approval from the academic department and the Internship Coordinator

Zero-credit internships may be arranged at any point in your academic career and are frequently planned for summer. There are no registration requirements for students who do internships for no credit.

Preparing for the Internship Search

The Internship Search mirrors the job search and is in itself a learning experience which will prepare you for searching for employment after graduation.

Update your resume and prepare a cover letter. Start with a rough draft. Then make an appointment with a Career Services counselor for a resume critique or attend a Career Service Resume and Cover Letter Session.

Visit the Career Services website for information on these Top 6 Career Tools:

Networking
Cover Letters (Samples)
Resumes (Samples)
Interviewing
Portfolios
Business Cards

Brush up on your interviewing skills in one or more of the following ways:

Pick up handouts at the Career Resource Centers on either campus
Attend a Career Services Mock Interview session
Participate in On-Campus Interviewing (requires registering on E- link)
Attend job fairs for opportunities to network and interview

Researching and Searching for an Internship

Talk with your professors, your faculty advisor, internship and career services staff, employers, friends and family about your interests and career goals.

Check out the Internship Listings page for listings of places where students have interned in the past or E-link, LandIt and InternPost for new opportunities.
LandIt!
InternPost
Check out Internship Links to a multitude of outside search sites including:
Internships USA a subscription service with nationwide listings
Attend Job Fairs to find out about and apply for opportunities. Many of these opportunities are offered for summer.
Take advantage of Career Services events and resources:
Career Exploration Series
Employers visits to campus
E-link: for on-campus interviewing
Check out these resources in the Career Resource Centers on either campus:
Profiles: site evaluations written by students after completing their internships
CANE files: an online database of alums willing to talk with students interested in their professional field

Searching for an internship in another state?

For help finding internships in states other than Minnesota:

Visit the Internship links page where you'll find a list of search sites with listings by geographic area and area of interest:

Check out Internships USA a subscription service with nationwide listings.

You may also want to visit the websites of colleges in the geographic area where you want to intern and check their internship listings.

Searching for an International Internship?

Important Notice:
The CSB/SJU Internship Office supports students in setting up academic credit for international internships on condition that the site, housing and travel arrangements are discussed in advance with the CSB/SJU Internship Coordinator. See Registering for an International Internship for requirements and steps.

Students participating in an internship/field experience (Course #398) while on a CSB/SJU sponsored study abroad program will register through Banner and do not need to follow the registration process linked in the previous paragraph. Check with your academic department to determine whether a course #398 internship experience will count toward your major requirements. Contact the internship office at X5799 if you have questions.

Students planning International internships are required to read the US State Department travel warning (if any) for their host country http://travel.state.gov/travel and the Before You Go and Health and Safety sections on the Office for Education Abroad website.

Visit the GLOBAL AND INTERCULTURAL INTERNSHIPS link on the Internship website for listings of international internships and Going Global for country-specific information on travel, VISA requirements, and culture in 24 countries.