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Undergraduate Students

Internship FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is an internship?

A: An internship is a planned learning experience, in which the intern works with a supervisor in an organization to learn how to link classroom to work place, and /or explore previously identified aspects of a career.

Q: What sorts of internships does CCS have information about?

A: CCS has information about for-credit and non-credit internships in Syracuse, elsewhere in the USA and abroad. The internships are in most employment sectors, e.g. private, government, non-profit, and many career areas - from physics to photography, commerce to communications, science to social services. We can also tell you how to search on the web, how to set up your own internship, and how to arrange to get academic credit for it if you choose to do so.

Q: Why take an internship?

A: Internships provide many benefits. They allow students to complement their academic programs with practical experiences. They let students explore a career area or place of work. They can teach new skills, build up contacts for the future, and are a valuable addition to any resume when students look for a job or admission to a professional or graduate school.

Q: Who is eligible to take an internship for credit?

A: Each school and college has its own rules about whether students can take an elective internship.

Q: How are elective credit internships arranged through CCS?

A: Students search and apply for internships online via OrangeLink. Forms and required documentation are available online. Questions should be addressed to CCS.

Q: What is the time requirement for credt bearing internships?

A: Students must spend at least 45 hours at the site for each academic credit - about half a day a week over a semester.

Q: Is there any benefit in taking an internship for credit rather than just for experience?

A: Yes - internships taken for academic credit give students access to the support of a professor ("faculty sponsor") who can help them get the most out of an internship experience. Students are required to identify what they want to learn, and the site has to agree to offer them these opportunities. And, CCS intervenes if students don't get what was promised, or encounter difficulties as the experience unfolds.

Q: Do any of the internships pay? If so, is credit still awarded?

A: Most paid internships are offered during the summer, when students tend to work more hours than in fall and spring. Paid internships can be taken for credit through SU.

For further information, contact CCS by phone at 315-443-3616, visit the center in 235 Schine Student Center, or email the center.