Internships

 

definition
search for placement
credit or not
more information [Advance Planning Manual: work related experience for undergraduates]

 

Remember: An internship is only ONE of the ways to gain work-related skills

 

What is an Internship?

The term “internship” can be confusing.  It is often used as a short-hand term reference to two quite different situations.  Being aware of the context in which you use the word can help you to communicate more effectively:

1.  INTERNSHIP [PLACEMENT]:
The term "internship" refers ONLY to a work-related opportunity offered by an institution or business only to students who are in the process of earning a college degree.   It is a chance for a student to obtain supervised practical (professional) training and experience in a setting outside the University.  These programs usually last for a specified period of time.

An internship is not the run-of-the-mill summer job.  There are specific expectations for the student and for the host institution:

 

Some institutions and programs do offer a stipend. Some institutions offer housing or a stipend for housing. Most, however, are volunteer positions.

You may not receive a paycheck for an internship, but you will be performing the duties of a professional. Internship experience, therefore, should always be included in your resume.

 

2.  INTERNSHIP [COURSE]:
Often people refer to an MSU course with the word internship in the title as an "internship."  But the internship placement (1. above) must be located BEFORE one can enroll in the course:

 

 

 

When and where do you start your search?

Each institution will have different application deadlines and prerequisite requirements, so it is wise to begin a search for a suitable program in your freshman year. Spending an hour or two per week on this search will enable you to be well-prepared for an internship in your junior or senior year. Start your research with these web sites:

Some companies or agencies, such as zoos or environmental organizations, may only use their own websites to list internship opportunities for a short period of time. MySpartanCareer contains a list by state of companies and institutions. Other possible internship locations include the individual websites for:

You may be able to find an unadvertised internship through a contact, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.

The Advance Planning Manual: work-related experience for undergraduates has more information on finding and applying for internships.

 

Deciding whether to receive credit for the internship

Do you have to take an MSU internship course while you are completing your internship?  Not necessarily.  You will need to apply for credit in if:

If neither of the above applies to you, it is your choice whether or not to receive credit on your MSU transcript for this work.  You do not have to include the internship in the college transcript.

If you do decide to apply to receive credit (have it in the college transcript) while you are participating in an internship:

In order to receive Zoology credit, the Zoology Department requires students to be willing to commit to a minimum of 40 hours per week for at least 15 weeks. Sometimes, though, it may be necessary for you to work more than the scheduled 40 hours in order to complete your assigned tasks.

Credit is never awarded after the fact. You must follow the established application procedure before that semester begins.

Information about adding internship course options and how to add them to your transcript may be found in the Advance Planning Manual: work-related experience for undergraduates..

 

More information


 

Other ways to gain experience

There are MANY ways to obtain work-related skills when you are a student.  Find out about some other ways to gain work-related skills.