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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 internship experience is the relationship between the intern and the supervisor, who serves as mentor and guide. Internships can be done for credit or non-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?
It’s a fact of life that non profit, government and educational organizations don’t typically pay interns. On the other hand, some business-related internships are paid. 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
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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. Please make an appointment with the Internship Office to discuss a variation to this allowance.
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 is no registration required from the Internship Office to do an internship for no credit.
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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 5 Career Tools:
Networking
Cover Letters (Samples)
Resumes (Samples)
Interviewing
Portfolios
Brush up on your interviewing skills in one or more of the following ways:
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.
Internships USA a subscription service with nationwide listings
LandIt! a private college consortium with listings in Minnesota
InternPost a listing of Minnesota internships sponsored by SCSU
Career Exploration Series
Employers visits to campus
E-link
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
Career Files: informational files organized by occupation.
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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. In order to receive approval for an international internship the following criteria must be met:
1. 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 Student Health and Safety Checklist and Risk Factors and Strategies to Reduce Risk while Abroad.
2. Students who wish to receive credit for an international internship (Course #397), either as part of Study Abroad or on their own, must make an initial appointment with the CSB/SJU Internship Coordinator 2-3 months in advance of the experience, before making a commitment to the internship site, before arranging for credit and before making any travel plans.
3. International internship sites and student interns are required to sign the Registration for Internship Learning Contract and the International Internship Program Agreement. Students will also sign a Participation Release and Waiver Agreement and submit a Health Insurance Coverage form. These forms can be obtained by appointment with the Internship Coordinator. These forms must be turned in to the Internship Office before the student leaves for the international experience.
Here are some sites with information which may be helpful in planning and searching for an international internship:
Internship Website Global Listings
Going Global: country-specific information on travel, VISA requirements, and culture in 24 countries.
AISEC a student-run international organization that assists students in obtaining and setting up international internships. Note: CSB/SJU accepts no responsibility for the appropriateness or safety of internships secured through AISEC. (See 1 above)
CSB/SJU International Student Program- Information on registering for an international internship.
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