What is an internship? The Internship Program is an excellent way to gain career experience in your chosen field while working at least 10 hours a week during a semester for a company or organization. Each intern is paired with a mentor from the company who guides the student’s learning program and supervises all projects and activities. The interns apply their classroom knowledge to practical business situations and also each earn three hours of business elective credit. What are the benefits of having an internship? Apply classroom knowledge to practical business situations Establish networking contacts that may lead to a full-time job after graduation Earn three hours of upper-level business credit: BUSA 4340 or MKTG 4340 Practice interviewing and explore various career options More than 50% of interns are offered a part-time or full-time job with the sponsoring company Build your resume with documented experience and interview for a full-time job with confidence What are the class requirements for an intern? As an intern, you will work 10 to 20 hours per week gaining experience. Keep a journal of your activities and samples of your work, make e-mail or verbal progress reports, write a summary paper at the end of the semester, and finally, make a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation. Who may have an internship for credit? The Dunham College of Business has established the following internship eligibility requirements for all undergraduate business students: Accounting 3.0 GPA in Accounting 2.7 overall GPA 9 upper level hours of Accounting (six of which are intermediate accounting) OR permission of an Accounting instructor Finance 2.5 overall GPA Completed 6 hours of Finance courses at HCU 2 recommendations from faculty in the area International Business 3.0 GPA in International Business Approval of Management Faculty Completed 80 hours of coursework Completed 12 hours of International Business courses Management 3.0 GPA in Management Approval of Management Faculty Completed 80 hours of coursework Completed 12 hours of Management courses Marketing Completed 80 hours of coursework Completed 12 hours of Marketing courses When can I do an Internship? In one of HCU’s academic semesters – Fall or Spring – and even during the Summer. Are internships paid? Many internships are not paid, but some are. The organization providing the internship determines whether or not an intern will be compensated and at what rate. When should I begin planning for an internship? As soon as possible, but no later than six to eight weeks before the beginning of the semester in which you would like to have an internship. You will also need to make sure that you register for either BUSA 4340 or MKTG 4340 to earn course credit for your internship. How can I find an internship? HCU Business students generally find internships in one of three ways: Handshake: Create an account and actively search for internships that match your interests. LinkedIn: Set up a profile and use the platform’s job board and networking tools to research opportunities. Campus Career Fairs: Attend the career fairs held on the HCU campus to connect directly with employers. What do I do next? If you are interested, then it is time to begin the process of arranging your exciting internship position. The following are a list of steps that must be completed before interviewing with potential sponsors: Prepare Your Application Documents Resume and Cover Letter: Prepare a professional, updated resume and a cover letter tailored for a general business internship search. Personal Statement: Write a professional personal statement detailing your career goals and interests related to your field of study. Course List: Prepare a list of all completed business classes. For each course, include a brief description taken directly from the HCU Course Bulletin, beginning with all courses required for your major. Schedule and Attend Your Advising Meeting Once steps 1-2 are complete, schedule a meeting (in-person or phone) with the Internship Director. Email the Internship Director to find a convenient time. During this meeting, you will discuss your career goals and internship interests, and officially submit all of your documents: the application, resume, cover letter, personal statement, and list of completed courses. Begin the Company Search and Submission Process The Internship Director will work with you to select a list of companies to contact, using both the available internship notebook resources and any companies you found through your own research. Your resume and cover letter will then be submitted to these prospective employers. Interview and Accept Your Position Participate in interviews with interested companies. Once an offer is extended, formally accept the internship position!
