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Student Internships

An internship is an opportunity that combines learning with work and offers a unique experience for career exploration. The essential component is that as you are working, you have structured and intentional objectives to learn about a career field.

Types of internships

Extra-Curricular Internships

Extra-Curricular Internships are initiated by the student, are not required for the degree, and do not receive academic credit. Students are not enrolled in any internship course. These internships can be pursued during academic terms in which they are enrolled in other classes or during breaks between periods of enrollment. They need not be related to the student’s program of study, and no faculty supervision is needed. The University does not enter into an agreement with the Internship Sponsor. Students may list the internship on their resume, but it will not appear on their academic transcript.

Co-Curricular Internships

Co-Curricular Internships relate to the student’s program of study (e.g., major, minor, certificate program) and can be paid or unpaid. Students pursuing them are enrolled in a course (which can be 0 to 6 credits), but it is not a mandated requirement for the program of study. Students must have a completed learning plan signed by an assigned faculty supervisor. Academic credit appears on the transcript and may be offered as credit/no credit or for a letter grade.

Curricular Internships

Curricular Internships are a requirement for the student’s declared degree or major. These internships must be for academic credit and can be paid or unpaid. Students must have an assigned faculty supervisor and learning plan. These internships appear on the transcript, and the internship course may be offered as credit/no credit or for a letter grade.

Your Internship Search

  • Start your search with Handshake
  • Discover thousands of internships 
  • Find career-related events that allow face-to-face interactions

Networking, job shadowing, and informational interviews often open doors to additional opportunities.

Internship Search Checklist

The following checklist is a suggestion for how to think about and progress through the Internship Search process. But keep in mind, each student’s internship search is different. Some will find our internship postings and career fairs an important part of their search. Others will need to develop a more individualized search focused on employers and organizations beyond those associated with Miami University. So, as you begin your search, contact a member of the Career Services & Professional Development staff for help in clarifying your career goals.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER / NOVEMBER / DECEMBER

  • Schedule an appointment with Career Services & Professional Development. Begin checking our Handshake for internships.
  • Create a draft of your resume.
  • Schedule an appointment to review your resume and to discuss your internship search.
  • Attend a Basic Interviewing Skills Workshop.
  • Schedule an appointment to discuss interviewing.
  • Check your wardrobe for proper interviewing attire and consider purchasing items as necessary.
  • Research employers attending the Oxford Career Fair at Millett Hall; some employers recruit for jobs, internships and co-ops.
  • Attend the Miami Oxford Career Fair at Millett Hall in September.
  • Develop a "prospects" list of potential employers in which you are interested.
  • Use your network: who do you know (and who do they know) who may have an internship or co-op opportunity? Consider faculty, family, friends, alumni, student-affiliate groups of professional organizations, social media, etc.
  • Create a LinkedIn profile, and learn how to use social networking sites in your search.
  • Prepare customized cover letters for each internship or co-op opportunity.
  • Apply for internships with early deadlines (e.g. federal government). Don’t forget to check for opportunities on Handshake.
  • Attend Regionals Career & Internship Fair.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER / NOVEMBER / DECEMBER

  • Conduct follow-up phone calls with prospective employers.
  • To verify credit is available for your internship/co-op, contact our office. Academic credit should be arranged prior to the start of your internship!

WINTER BREAK

  • Continue to network and inform contacts of your internship or co-op search plans.
  • Continue to update and edit your LinkedIn profile.

JANUARY

  • If you are just getting started, begin with the AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER / NOVEMBER / DECEMBER portion of the checklist.
  • Revise your resume as necessary. Check Handshake for available opportunities.
  • Begin preparing for Spring Internship & Career Expo (Spring ICE) held at Millett Hall in February.
  • Attend a Basic Interviewing Skills Workshop.
  • Expand your “prospects” list of potential employers.
  • Apply for internships (those posted) and/or contact employers that may be willing to create an opportunity for you.

FEBRUARY/MARCH

  • Review the Spring ICE printed list of employers and check the Miami Oxford CCES website for additional information.
  • Attend Spring ICE at Millett Hall.
  • Follow-up with contacts made at Spring ICE and interview with those in which there is a mutual interest.
  • Check Handshake for available opportunities.
  • Attend Regionals Career & Internship Fair.

MARCH / APRIL / MAY

  • Begin preparing for the Job Fair held at Miami University Hamilton Campus, in spring semester.
  • Review the Job Fair materials once available.
  • Attend the Miami Regionals Career Fairs.
  • Tip: Spring Break is a good time to schedule interviews with employers.
  • If you are still seeking an internship in May, continue to network and make direct contact with employers. Some opportunities may still be available.
  • Continue to check Handshake frequently.
  • Keep in mind that many employers will post their opportunities a semester ahead of when they need the intern student.

You got an internship! Now what?

1. Request

Use Handshake to request for your experience to be documented and/or awarded academic credit. Choose your experience type then complete the experience form.

2. Approval

Your internship coordinator and site supervisor will receive notification of your request, review the details, then provide approval.

3. Follow Up

Your internship coordinator will guide you through the final steps of documenting your experience, including any evaluations or required paperwork.

How can you create your own internship?

  • Search for available opportunities on Handshake.
  • Interview with employers who recruit at Miami.
  • Contact employers in particular fields or companies that interest you.
  • Network with friends, relatives, alumni, faculty.
  • Participate in informational interviews.
Notebook, pen, glasses and Miami coffee cup

Requesting your internship experience

Use Handshake to request for your experience to be documented and/or awarded academic credit. Complete the internship form no matter whether the internship experience is credit-bearing or non-credit-bearing, paid or unpaid or occurs during the academic year, winter term or summer term.

Steps to complete

Review the types of internships (see above).

  • For Extra-Curricular Internship - Select “Extra-Curricular Internship” 
  • For Curricular or Co-Curricular Internship - Select Your Academic Department and Internship Coordinator
  • Be prepared with the following information:
    • Employer/Organization Name
    • Location
    • Industry
    • Phone Number
    • Email address
    • Internship Job Title
    • Department
    • Start/End Date
    • Employment Type (Seasonal, Full Time, Part Time)
    • Salary
    • Offer Date
    • Internship Site Supervisor First and Last Name
    • Internship Site Supervisor Title
    • Internship Site Supervisor Phone Number
    • Internship Site Supervisor Email Address
    • Other Compensation
    • Approximate number of hours you will work each week
    • Scheduled Hours
    • Number of Credit Hours you are requesting 
      • 0 (Zero) credit = less than 37.5 work hours
      • 1 credit = 37.5 total work hours
      • 2 credits = 75 total work hours
      • 3 credits = 112.5 total work hours
      • 4 credits = 150 total work hours
      • 5 credits = 187.5 total work hours
      • 6 credits = 225 total work hours
    • Where the internship will be conducted (Onsite, Virtually, Both)
    • Job Description
    • At least 3 Learning Objectives

Please note: The form for Curricular and Co-Curricular Internships is the same. Students who complete the Curricular/Co-Curricular Internship Form will be registered into the internship course by the University Registrar.

Deadlines

Deadline to register each semester is set by the Academic Calendar and the Office of the Registrar.  

Last Add Day for Departments - Full Term: First Friday of the semester

Last Add Day for Departments - Sprint Course: Wednesday, 9th week of the semester

Next Steps

Once submitted, the approval process will begin with your Internship Coordinator and Site Supervisor. Upon approval, it will be added to your class schedule. 

Mid Semester and End of the Semester Surveys may be sent to you and/or your Site Supervisor.

Academic Departments may have additional requirements. Check with your Internship Coordinator for more details.

Update your resume, LinkedIn profile, and/or Handshake profile to showcase your hard work.

Academic credit and other information

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the university’s internship policy. To be eligible to receive academic credit for an internship you must:

  • Be currently enrolled at Miami University.
  • Undergraduate students must be enrolled for a minimum of six (6) actively registered credit hours in a semester to be eligible for federal financial aid or loan deferment.
  • Be in good academic standing with Miami University and have maintained at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average prior to enrolling for an internship. Individual departments/colleges or programs may require a higher GPA.
  • Completed at least two full-time semesters with a minimum of 24 GPA hours earned at Miami (for continuing students); or completed at least 12 GPA hours earned at Miami (for transfer students)
  • Complete the internship form by the end of the semester or term before the internship experience. The internship course will be added to your schedule after the form has been fully completed and approved. Internship credit cannot be retroactively granted.

Unpaid Internship Award Program

The Miami Regionals Unpaid Internship Award Program provides first-time unpaid interns with funding to offset personal expenses. 

  • You must be a student at the Regionals to apply.
  • Awards will be based on merit and financial need.
  • Merit will be based on applicants with a 2.0 GPA or higher.
  • Applicants that are pursuing the award based on financial need must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial need will be determined by the Regional Financial Aid office.
  • The internship work responsibilities must be related to the applicant’s academic major.
  • The application deadline is 14 days prior to the beginning of each term (fall, winter, spring, summer).
  • Applications for this award will only be considered after students have applied to track their internship through Handshake and enrolled in a 340 course.
  • International students must complete the application and meet the merit criteria.

Apply for the Unpaid Internship Award

Reneging on a job/internship acceptance

Renege: to go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract. Reneging is unethical, unprofessional, and jeopardizes the reputation of fellow students and the University. Therefore, the Career Services and Professional Development office prohibits any student from reneging on an accepted job/internship offer. To renege is to accept a new internship/job offer after already committing to a previous internship/job.

A student who accepts any offer shall withdraw from the hiring process for any other position. A student who fails to withdraw, continues to solicit another position, or reneges on a previously accepted position may be denied future services from Career Services and Professional Development and barred from future on-campus recruiting until such time that the Center for Career Services and Professional Development, in their discretion, removes such ban. A student that violates this policy shall also be referred to his or her departmental chair(s) for consideration of additional sanctions at the discretion of the department chair(s).

If you are uncertain as to whether you should accept an offer, please seek guidance from a member of the Career Services staff before taking any action.

Career Services and Professional Development

Hamilton Campus Rentschler Hall 120
Middletown Campus Johnston Hall 105