Internships

What is an internship?

An internship is an opportunity for students to apply theories and skills learned in the classroom to a real-world work environment. Interns gain valuable experience that not only enhances the value of their education, but also provides opportunities for networking and resume-building that can lead to better employment opportunities after graduation. For-credit internships will expose students to the professional level of work and decision-making that relates to their area of concentration. A student intern acts as an employee of the company, with assigned tasks and responsibilities and a supervisor to whom to report. A faculty advisor is assigned to each intern to ensure that the student is gaining appropriate academic value from the experience.

What does an internship entail?

Internships in business may be either paid or unpaid, and can be completed over a fall, spring or summer semester (summer internships typically are spread across both summer sessions). Interns must put in at least 150 hours, or approximately 10-12 hours per week. Academic deliverables are required, which may consist of journaling, reflections, and a final paper or project. Actual deliverables will vary, and are determined by the faculty advisor in conjunction with the employer and the student.

What are the eligibility criteria for an internship?

To be eligible for a for-credit internship, students must:

1. Have completed Integrative Core
2. Have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA
3. Have completed at least 56 credit hours toward the business degree
4. Be admitted to the Division of Business
5. Have completed one full semester at IUPUC

In addition, students are encouraged to have completed at least one course in their area of concentration. Specific pre-requisite coursework and skills are determined by the company hiring the intern. Remember that the more coursework and experience in your concentration you have, the more you can contribute to the internship site, and the more adept you will be in relating the theory of the classroom to your internship experiences.

Can I do an internship if I don't meet these criteria?

Yes, but you will not receive academic credit for it and the Division of Business would not be involved in any way. The internship would still allow you to gain experience, which you could include on your resume, and provide professional networking opportunities. The Division of Business would not be involved in a non-credit internship; the terms would be at the discretion of the student and the employer.

I want to do an internship. What’s my first step?

Students who wish to do an internship should submit an Internship Proposal Form to the Division by the deadline below. You do not have to have a site in mind yet; this simply notifies the internship coordinator of your intent, and we will confirm your eligibility and walk you through the process. The earlier you inform us of your intentions, the more time we have to help you position yourself for an excellent internship experience.

Internship semester	deadline*
Fall	July 1
Spring	November 1
Summer	April 1

*Proposal forms will be accepted after the deadline; however, those received late are less likely to result in placement in the desired semester.

How do I find an internship site?

Looking for an internship site is a good way to develop job search skills in preparation for finding long-term employment in the future. Thus, we encourage students to research potential internship sites as though they were doing a job search. Put those networking skills you learned in BUS X220 to work! Suggested tactics include:

1. Register with Indiana INTERnet
2. Attend job fairs
3. Attend events where you can meet potential contacts (Columbus Young Professionals, Chamber of Commerce events, IUPUC Alumni sponsored events, professional seminars, etc.)
4. Seek out opportunities to network with employers in your desired field
5. Join professional organizations as a student member (AICPA, IMA, AMA, etc.)
6. Search job sites for internships (IndianaCareerConnect, Monster, CareerBuilder, YahooHotJobs, etc.)
7. Let family and friends know you are looking and ask for leads

The Division has relationships with companies that serve as internship sites, and we will work with students to find placements whenever possible; however, students should not rely on the resources of the Division to find a suitable site.

Can I do more than one internship?

Only one internship can count in each concentration area. If you have two concentrations, you could do an internship in each area for credit. Students may do additional non-credit internships as they see fit; however, credit will only be granted once for each concentration.

Who do I contact for more information?

Discuss your interest in an internship with your faculty advisor or complete an Internship Proposal Form. If you aren’t sure how to contact your faculty advisor, call the Division of Business office at (812) 348-7273.