Internships
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Internship FAQ
Explore the topics below to find answers to commonly asked questions about student internships. Learn more about internships on the St. Petersburg campus and Tampa campus websites.
What is an internship?
An internship is an opportunity for you to gain hands-on work experience related to your major or career interests. During an internship, you can have the chance to work alongside industry professionals in the real world, make connections with local community members, and potentially find a future employer.
What are the benefits of an internship?
Nearly all employers today expect applicants to have experience, and internships can help provide you with the necessary skills and tools to stand out among the competition. Internships allow you to learn, explore career options and grow professionally before you join the workforce.
Students who complete internships will also nearly double their chances of securing employment after graduation and earn a higher starting wage than applicants without an internship or field experience.
One of the other great perks? You can even earn college credit for internships!
How can I earn college credits for internship work?
Some majors require an internship course as part of their curricula, whereas other majors do not. All majors can earn elective internship credit, titled "Cooperative Internship" (IDS 3947).
The Center is here to help you find an internship, but if you are intending to complete one for academic credit, you will need to work with your academic advisor and/or the faculty instructing the course to ensure you will meet academic requirements.
We highly recommend that you look into your options and plan your academic schedule in advance. If you are interested in earning credit for an internship, please consult with your academic advisor. Here’s the process:
Learn what qualifies as an internship experience.
Micro-Internships
Micro-Internships help organizations get immediate support while identifying and evaluating candidates for future hiring needs. Unlike traditional internships, these paid opportunities typically range from five to 40 hours of work, can be completed year-round, and help teams scale up seamlessly -- with no unnecessary expense.
Tips for managing successful internships during the coronavirus outbreak
COVID-19 has changed the landscape of work. What does that mean for internships? Read USF Sarasota-Manatee’s top five suggestions for intern projects in summer and fall 2020.