Real World Opportunities
and
Winning Partnerships
What is an internship?
Internships provide a valuable experience for both the student and sponsoring organization. While internships can be paid or unpaid, they are not considered the same as part-time employment or volunteer work. Internships, which are typically 3 to 6 months in duration, are guided by a structured learning plan that includes specific educational objectives. Additionally, internships:
- Allow the student to engage in higher-level thinking and functioning in an activity or series of activities relating to his/her chosen career field,
- Provide a supplemental learning experience in which students can apply and reinforce the skills and knowledge that have been acquired through the completion of upper-level courses pertinent to his/her major,
- Offer real-world perspectives on potential careers and opportunities in the student’s career field while providing valuable insight in organizational behavior,
- Do not regularly engage the student in routine tasks (i.e., answering telephones, filing) that are typically performed by a paid employee of the organization,
- Present the opportunity for students to function as pre-professionals and contribute to the advancement of the host organization while being mentored by an assigned supervisor.
*Note: Additional criteria may apply based on departmental guidelines governing internships at UPJ.