Internships
What is an Internship?
The National Society of Experiential Education describes internships as carefully monitored work or service experiences in which students pursue clearly identified educational goals and reflect actively on what they are learning. The purpose is to promote critical thinking, skill development, and personal and professional growth.
Further, Indiana INTERNnet defines an internship as something that, " ... allows you to gain hands-on experience within the working world. It allows you to test drive the career path you have chosen and explore the opportunities that are available." An internship can be a part of a highly structured program or more loosely structured, which would include internships created by you, the student, in conjunction with your supervisor.
The key that differentiates an internship from a part-time job is that you are working in exchange for training. You may be compensated monetarily for your internship, but many internships are unpaid with the understanding that students are being "compensated" by receiving academic credit.
So, working from those definitions, what consitutes an acceptable internship?
When reviewing an internship contract, we are taking numerous things into account. We take into consideration your degree program, long-term career goals, and learning objectives. Some basic requirements for internship approval include, but are not limited to:
- Public relations/affairs (can include communication systems and design components, media development, design and implementation of exhibits, and public sector marketing)
- Project management (including curatorial work and database management)
- Job shadowing of senior-level staff
- Managing other employees, setting work schedules, and assisting with training/orientation of new employees
- Management of payroll and employee performance assessments
- Organizational innovation (development and implementation of new systems, new delivery systems, and efforts designed to improve the performance of public organizations)
As mentioned earlier, internships can be either paid or unpaid. What sets an internship apart from a part-time job is the pre-professional experience that you are receiving as a student. You should be learning skills and taking on responsibilities that help you develop as a working professional and prepare you for the working world after college.
Why complete an internship?
There are numerous reasons that completing an internship is beneficial to you as a student. For example, an internship can:
- Offer exposure to multiple departments within one company
- Provide critical hands-on experience in your field of interest
- Create networking opportunities
- Enhance your educational experience
- Increase your chances in finding a job
- Help you narrow your career interests
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Undergraduate Students - Click this link to be taken to information on your requirements and how to register