Internships
Internships provide an excellent opportunity to gain professional work experience and test out a career field of interest. As a student, you can develop or enhance your skillset and knowledge base, build a network of professional contacts, and learn how to manage the multitude of responsibilities that come with a career. On the flip side, your energy, enthusiasm, and creativity provide much-needed assistance to organizations looking for the innovation and determination that only college students can provide. It is a “win-win” situation that is not only valued but expected in today’s competitive job market.
Preparing for Internships
We offer a wealth of resources to help you prepare for internships and other work-based learning experiences along the way to Life After Mary Washington. Visit our Tools & Resources page to learn more.
Searching for Internships
There are many internship opportunities available to you, both on and off campus. Visit the Student Employment page to search current openings.
Funding Internships
Visit the Internship Grants page to explore options for financial assistance to make your internship experience more affordable.
Documenting Internships
Documenting internships on your transcript provides evidence that you participated in a high-quality work-based learning experience. To have an internship recorded on your transcript, you must submit an internship contract on Handshake for approval. Internship contracts are agreements between students, employers, and faculty to collaborate on facilitating high-quality work-based learning experiences. There are two types of internship contracts: academic credit and zero-credit.
Academic credit internships must be evaluated by a faculty member and approved by an academic department and the Office of the Registrar to qualify for credit. To be eligible for credit, internships must incorporate a hands-on experience per the duties outlined in the contract and include academic components which are determined at the discretion of the faculty sponsor. The academic department from which credit is requested has the final decision on approval of the internship.
Zero-credit internships must be evaluated and approved by Dr. Antoinette Jenkins (ajenkin5@umw.edu) and the Office of the Registrar to qualify for recording on transcripts. To be eligible for a grade of “Satisfactory,” zero-credit internships must incorporate a hands-on experience per the duties outlined in the contract and include an opportunity for students to reflect on their experiences. If the internship is approved, it will be recorded on the transcript as IDIS 099.
Internship Contract Tutorials
The following menu features how-to guides with step-by-step instructions for internship contract processes in Handshake. Select your role to learn more.
Experiencing Internships
Our Eagles soar in internships! Follow our blog, UMW Intern Adventures, to learn more about their experiences.