Internships: Everything You Need To Know

Are internships a must? It depends on your major. Are they recommended regardless of your department? Most definitely. Read on to make sure you’re updated and in the know about what requirements exist for internships.

According to Jack Bower, chair of the business department, “[An internship] is not required, but [is] highly recommended and encouraged by the entire business department.”

Professor Bob Thomas of the business department is in charge of internships. He said that student interns are required to submit their name and a detailed outline of where they will be working, learning objectives, assigned work and contact information for the business. During the internship, students must meet regularly with him.

Students must also email Thomas a weekly journal and write a 1,200 word summary essay at the end of the internship stating what they learned.

Dr. David Tyson of the psychology department said, “Psychology majors must complete either a senior thesis or an internship. Some students do both.”

The internship is at least three credit hours, equaling 120 hours of work.

Tyson said, “Students also keep a daily journal which they submit to me, and we meet to discuss their experience biweekly.”

The clinical supervisor submits an evaluation and a log of work hours. Students finish up the internship with an 8-10 page paper that includes a combination of what they’ve learned with additional research.

Missions and anthropology requires a “field experience” for both majors. Missions and anthropology professor Eloise Meneses stated that there is also an optional internship for both.

The nursing program does not require internships.

“We ask the students to perform ‘externships’ at local hospitals where they work closely with registered nurses in an apprentice-like role,” Professor Mary Boylston of the nursing program said.

The social work department requires two internships, or field placements, as they are called.

Sandra Bauer, the social work department’s field education director, specified that students are placed at a social service agency during their junior year for two days per week. The work continues into their senior year when they are placed in a different agency for two days per week for both semesters.

“At the same time, students meet with other students at their level in a social work practice class every semester that they are in placement. Both theory and practice are taught in the agency and the classroom,” Bauer said.

The chemistry major requires internships in the category of research or work.

“[Each major] requires five credits of either an intensive laboratory-based research project, on or off campus, or an internship with a chemical company, followed by a one-credit presentation course on the results of the project,” chemistry department chair Jeanne Bundens said. She went on to say that chemistry and biochemistry majors most often choose the research internship.

“The communications department does not require [internships], but we highly recommend them,” communications professor Talli Sperry said.

There is a class that interning communications students are required to attend. Each credit earned for communications equals 40 hours of working at the internship, with a potential of receiving up to 12 credits.

According to department chair Kathy Lee, the political science department does not require an internship, although there has been recent talk of whether or not to do so.

Steve Boyer also said that there is no internship requirement in the Biblical studies, theology or philosophy majors.

Although this list does not include every major at Eastern, it gives a brief overview of the variety of internship options offered at Eastern.

For any major, it is the student’s responsibility to check with his or her adviser and make sure to include such requirements in a four-year plan.

A wide variety of internships exist for students. Try to find an internship for a company that you potentially want to work for after you graduate. Interns will often get priority when a position opens up, leaving you with your first job without the hassle of unending applications.