Internship Steps
Steps to Arrange an Internship for Academic Credit
If you are a Clinical Lab Science, Nursing, Social Work, or Teacher Education major, please see your department.
Online students should follow the same process. Questions should be directed to internship@uis.edu.
You should start this process at least one semester before you plan to complete the internship for credit! For assistance at any stage of the process, contact IPL.
- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Determine if you are ready to complete an internship.
- Have you completed three core courses (300-400 level) in your major?
- Criminology & Criminal Justice: Have you completed CCJ 315 & 345?
- Sociology/Anthropology: Have you completed SOA 302 & 304?
- Assess how many credits of internship you will need to satisfy your degree requirements.
- College of Business & Management, all majors: minimum 3 credits, 6 credits recommended
- Criminology & Criminal Justice: minimum 6 credits
- Exercise Science, Health & Fitness: minimum 3 credits
- Legal Studies: minimum 3 credits
- Political Science: minimum 6 credits
- Public Administration, Public Policy: highly recommended 6 credits for students without professional experience
- Determine if you are ready to complete an internship.
- Start the internship application process.
- Create a draft of your resume and a cover letter. Utilize the Career Development Center’s OptimalResume or contact the IPL office.
- Search for internship opportunities.
- If you work in your desired degree field, ask your supervisor about taking on new responsibilities or projects to complete an internship at your current place of employment.
- Online students may find the Resources page helpful.
- Apply for internships that relate to your degree field (it is recommended that you apply for at least 3).
- Follow the application instructions and participate in the employer’s interview process.
- Receive internship offers; accept a position.
- Complete and submit the IPL 300/301 course application by the due date.
- The application form will be routed to IPL, Field Supervisor, UIS Faculty Supervisor, and student for approval in Adobe Sign once student submits the form.
- International Students will also need to seek CPT authorization from the Office of International Student Services
- After receiving your course approval email, register for the internship course, IPL 300.
- Review the Internship Handbook and the course Canvas site.
- Keep a journal of your internship work (hours without journal entries will not be counted).
- Complete assignments/course requirements for the internship course.
- Review the Internship Handbook and the course Canvas site.
If you would like assistance or have questions about this process, you can set up a meeting to meet with an IPL Coordinator. Email internship@uis.edu, or call (217) 206-6640.
Resources
Before applying for ANY internship, make sure you have prepared professional application materials (consider utilizing OptimalResume through the UIS Career Development Center) and correspond using email etiquette. You can also check out our 10 Ways to Search for Internships.