Dahl School of Business

What is an internship?

An internship provides an opportunity for a student to gain work experience related to their academic major or career field, explore career options while in school, and earn academic credit for the experience.  Benefits of an internship include:

• Acquire resume building experience essential to obtaining full time employment.
• Develop and/or increase your marketable skills.
• Observe the work place and see if it matches your expectations.
• Begin to develop your network of professional contacts.
• Develop mentor-type relationships.
• Ease transition from student to work world.
• The opportunity to integrate classroom theory with practical work experience, which makes the classroom more exciting.

Viterbo University offers both lower division and upper division internships for credit. Parameters surrounding these internships are outlined below:

• 287 is an introductory internship – it requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA and is geared for freshmen and sophomores.
• 487 is an advanced level internship – it requires a cumulative GPA of 2.3 and is geared for juniors and seniors.
• Most internships are off campus and some are unpaid.

How many hours are required?

The minimum number of hours required at the internship site is determined by the number of credits requested and granted.  The following chart may assist you in your planning:

Who can do an internship?

All majors at Viterbo University may participate in an internship.  Some academic programs require an internship for graduation.  Internship credit may be registered for in the department in which you major (i.e., PSYC 487), or it may be taken as a general elective (i.e. EXPL 487).  It is very important to understand academic requirements for your department.  Check with your advisor, the Career Planning & Placement Office, or your college catalog for information.

Application Process

At least six months (or more) prior to the time you wish to intern, discuss your plan with your academic advisor. Then, make an appointment with the Career Planning & Placement Office to pick up the Internship Application Form. Complete the form and submit it to the Career Planning and Placement Office.  A current resume is also necessary for an internship application.

The Career Planning & Placement (CPP) Office maintains information of internship sites and also posts available internship opportunities through the CPP job bank as well as via targeted emails to students.  The staff is available to work with you one-to-one as you go through the process of identifying potential sites, making contacts, and securing an internship site.  The steps for securing an internship may vary from site to site.  However, it is advisable to have a current resume and cover letter prepared and to brush up on your interview skills.   Resources on resume/cover letter development and interviewing skills are available from the Career Planning & Placement Office and at Todd Wehr Library.  The selection of an intern is made by the organization, not by Career Planning & Placement staff.

Requirements

In addition to working the required number of hours to receive the academic credit, interns must submit documentation of their experience.  Documentation includes the following:

1. a Preliminary Information Form (basic information on your internship site),
2. a Learning Contract developed by you and your site supervisor,
3. three monthly Self-Evaluations,
4. a final report of your internship experience, and
5. participation in an on-site evaluation meeting (or conference call).

Interns may be required to maintain a journal of their activities/experiences and may be asked to meet periodically with other Viterbo University interns to discuss internship experiences.  A presentation of your experience may be given at a college forum.

Career Planning & Placement refers all students who wish to be considered for a particular site regardless of race, cultural background, sex, marital status, sexual preference, or disability.