Internships

Internships provide an opportunity to get real-world, hands-on experience in a professional environment. They are the number-one method of recruiting college students and hiring recent graduates. Internships can help you discover your likes and dislikes in a career path, put theory into practice, and build your resume and contacts for future jobs.

How do I get an internship?

Decide what you want to do

What are your career goals?
What type of experience are you seeking?
What does your academic advisor suggest?
What skills do you want to test or gain?
What kind of organization are you interested in working for?

Gather information

Talk to People:
- Department faculty and staff
- Career Development counselors
Visit the Career Development Office and Career Development Library
Find directories of internships and organizations
Design your own Internship by approaching an employer with your internship interests and plan. Meet with a faculty advisor to make sure you are designing an experience that will meet the departmental criteria.
Explore Additional Internship Websites:
- BiolaLINK – Biola's external internship/employment site managed by Career Development
- Jobweb – Links and listings for hundreds of internships
- Action without Borders – Nonprofit internships in organizations around the world
- AT&T – More than 100 internships available at this communications granddaddy
- Internships program for minority youth in business and industry to prepare them for corporate and community leadership
- Internship Programs – Search internship database and sort by location and field of study. Read internship program reviews by students.
- Journalism Internships – Hundreds of newspaper internships for small-town and big-city papers alike
- Washington D.C. Internships – The presidential race is on, and you can be right in the middle of DC politics.
- Microsoft Internships – Offerings of 12-week internships for those interested in computers
- National Assembly – Contains information on over 1,100 paid and unpaid internships with nonprofit human service organizations worldwide
- Riley Guide – Guides you through many online sites and services that are useful for your jab search. Lots of job search hints and links too.
- Rising Star – Internship opportunities in more than 100 fields from archaeology to broadcasting, corporate fitness to physics.
- The Washington Center – The Washington Center's unique and comprehensive program enables students to take full advantage of the resources of Washington, D.C., for academic credit.

Determine Needed Academic Credit

Be clear about what your department requires for you to receive academic credit. If your department does not offer an actual internship class, you may want to arrange an independent study course with the help of a faculty advisor.

Reminder: It is your department that determines internship criteria, and gives you the credit. Your internship-employer will most likely be asked to evaluate your performance but your faculty advisor gives the final grade.

Take Action to prepare and apply

Research the organizations.
Determine what is needed to apply for the position.
Create updated résumé, cover letter and references. (See Career Development website or Career Development office for samples and handouts.
Call Career Development to have your résumé reviewed.
Apply to the organizations that you are interested in, setting up interviews if possible.
Be persistent and follow up.

Possible Internship Sites / Credit Availability by Major

Anthropology

Museums, archeological sites/research foundations, nonprofit and universities. Field practicum required. See faculty advisor.

Art

Advertising agencies, graphic design firms, art studios, art related nonprofit organizations, museums, galleries, corporate marketing departments. Internship credit is available, and required for Studio Arts and Graphic Design.

Biblical Studies

Churches, para-church and missions organizations, Christian schools and universities. Practicum credit available.

Biochemistry

Labs, pharmaceutical, oil, chemical and bio-technical research companies, health clinics. Practicum credit available.

Biology

Labs, clinics, pharmaceutical and medical research and supply companies, museums, aquariums, parks, schools and universities. Practicum credit available.

Business

Business and industry. (Helps to know the function of business you are interested in: i.e., management, finance, marketing, accounting, etc.) Internship credit available.

Christian Education

Churches, para-church and missions organizations, Christian schools and universities, nonprofit organizations. Vocational practicum available.

Cinema and Media Arts

Television studios, radio stations, entertainment industry. Internship required. See faculty advisor. Check out the LA Film Studies, a BestSemester Program.

Communication

Business and industry. Target public relations departments, media relations, magazines, television studios, radio stations, theaters, nonprofit organizations (target speakers bureaus, special events planning), and hotels. Internship credit available and required for Radio/ TV/Film and Journalism.

Communication Disorders

Clinical practicum is required. See faculty advisor.

Computer Science

Large, midsize and small companies, target information systems departments; also computer related product companies. Internship credit available.

Education

Student classroom observation and teaching is required. See faculty advisor.

English

Business and industry. Target publishing, literary employers; bookstores; newspapers, magazines, newsletters; law offices; technical writing; Practicum available.

History

Federal, state and local governmental agencies; legal firms; business and industry. Nonprofit organizations such as museums, historical societies are also possibilities. Internship credit available.

Humanities

Depends on emphasis (English, History, Philosophy). Consult Department.

Intercultural Studies

Field internship required. See faculty advisor.

Journalism

Newspapers, magazines, industry newsletters. Internship required. See faculty advisor.

Mathematics

Business and industry (target departments needing quantitative analysis, computation and statistical skills); insurance companies, actuaries.

Music

Churches, schools, community orchestras and choral groups; amusement parks; entertainment related companies. Practicum credit available.

Nursing

Clinical practicum required. See faculty advisor.

Philosophy

Business and industry; (target departments needing research, analysis, and logical thinking skills); legal firms, nonprofit research organizations; educational institutions. No credit available

Physical Science

Labs, business and industry (pharmaceuticals, oil, aerospace, electronics), government agencies. Industrial or research internship credit available.

Physical Education

Athletic teams, schools, physical therapy clinics, business and industry related to sports products and services.

Political Science/ Social Science

Nonprofit organizations; federal, state and local governmental agencies; law firms; business and industry. Internship credit available.

Pre-Law

Nonprofit organizations; federal, state and local governmental agencies; law firms; business and industry. Interested students should contact the Pre-Law advisor for more information.

Psychology

Non-profit organizations, counseling offices, business and industry (target human resources departments), health care and mental health facilities. Directed fieldwork credit available.

Sociology

Nonprofit organizations; governmental agencies; law enforcement, mental health and health care facilities. Field instruction credit available.

Special Cross-Discipline Programs

Check pages in the University Catalog under "Off-Campus Programs" for experiential programs that might relate to your major. Below is a sampling:

The American Studies Program offers students the opportunity to study and work in Washington DC, tailoring the units to fit a variety of specific academic programs.
The Latin American Studies Program offers several different opportunities for students studying language, culture, science or business.
Leadership Internship is offered through Student Affairs. Contact x4874 for more information.
The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities website also lists a variety of programs.