Types of Internships

Internships are often categorized based on three main criteria: compensation, college credit, and time-frame.

Compensation

Internships can be either paid or unpaid depending on the career field and employer resources.  Internships in business fields (accounting, marketing, finance) are more likely to be paid than those in social science careers (social work, education, history).  Consider whether or not your personal financial situation will allow you to accept an unpaid internship. An unpaid position can be a great experience and has the same networking opportunities and professional benefits of a paid internship. When considering an unpaid position, it is important to weigh the long-term benefit of your experience against the short-term financial gain. 

College Credit

If you will receive college credit for your internship you need to contact your academic department to arrange this.  Internships that are for college credit may require you to enroll in an internship course and have a faculty advisor. Each department handles internship credit differently so be sure to check with your advisor before accepting or beginning an internship.  Internships for which you do not receive college credit are still valuable experiences.

Time-frame

The length of internships varies, however students commonly complete internships over the summer or during a semester while taking classes. Summer internships are more frequently full-time, while internships completed during the semester tend to be fewer hours per week to allow students to continue to take classes. In the early stages of your internship search, consider which option fits into your schedule. Location of an internship also is a factor; summer internships can be found nationwide, or even internationally, while semester internships may have to be local.

What is a co-op?
During your internship search you may run across the term co-op. A co-op, or cooperative education, experience is typically a semester of full-time employment. Students in a traditional co-op setting do not take college courses during the co-op. Employers may use the term internship and co-op interchangeably so be sure to ask about the employment time-frame and expectations.     

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