Internship Program – Information for Students

An internship is much more than a job. It’s an experiential learning opportunity (typically one semester in length) related to your field of study that emphasizes “on-the-job” training. Other names for experiential learning are student teaching, practicum, co-op, study abroad, or service-learning. Some internships are unpaid, but our program strives to promote paid opportunities. An internship or other experience is required in some degree programs, but even if it’s not a requirement you may be able to get credit for it. Check with your Academic Advisor and Internship Specialist to determine your situation. If your internship is completed for credit, there will be specific requirements set by your academic department that must be met. Regardless of your major, an internship is an extremely valuable opportunity, and every UNT student is encouraged to complete at least one. To get started, meet with your Internship Specialist, review the resources on this page, check out the Internship FAQs, and watch the Internships: Student Testimonial Videos.

Internship Team – Find Your Internship Specialist

  • Jazmyne Dixson, supports internships for the following Colleges: Education; Health and Public Service; Liberal Arts and Social Sciences – Humanities (English, French, German, History, Japanese, Philosophy, Religion, and Spanish), Social Sciences (Economics, Geography, Geographic Information Systems, International Studies, Latino Culture, Economy & Policy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology) ; Visual Arts and Design
  • Sarah Spath, supports internships for the following Colleges: Engineering; Information; Merchandising, Hospitality, and Tourism; Science
  • Corey Davidson, supports internships for the following Colleges: Liberal Arts and Social Sciences – Communication, Media & Performance (Communication Studies, Converged Broadcast Media, Dance, Media Arts, Professional & Technical Communication, and Theatre), Anthropology, Integrative Studies/Social Science; Mayborn School of Journalism; Music
  • G. Brint Ryan College of Business – Brian Hirsch, Accounting, Marketing, Management, Professional Selling and all RCOB Graduate Students and Alumni; Beth Kent, Aviation Logistics, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Operations & Supply Chain Management; Lola Aje, BCIS; Business Analytics; Economics; Finance; Information Technology; Real Estate; and Risk, Insurance & Financial Services
  • Students at UNT at Frisco – Stacey Jones

Unpaid Internship Scholarship

Do you have an unpaid internship? The UNT Career Center is offering scholarships for undergraduate students participating in unpaid internships. The intention of the scholarship is to encourage and support experiential learning opportunities that help students prepare for their careers. Learn more about the Unpaid Internship Scholarship.

Graduation Cords

Did you know that if you are graduating and have completed an internship during your time at UNT, you are eligible to receive a platinum graduation cord? Learn more about it here.

The Value of Internships

One advantage of completing an internship is that employers prefer to hire graduates who’ve gained hands-on experience related to their major. Other benefits are that it:

Extends your classroom learning into a real-world setting. Provides the opportunity to reinforce your choice of major and career path.
Allows you to gain practical experience and transferable skills by working in a professional environment. Gives you a competitive advantage in the job market because of the knowledge and skills you develop in the position.
Helps you develop a network of professional contacts in your career field. Provides insight into your future career.

Finding an Internship

Many employers are looking for students to complete internships. Check out some of the currently available positions here, and filter the list by your college. A complete list of current internship opportunities is available in Handshake. After you log in to Handshake, you can filter for internships.

The Texas Internship Challenge is a partnership among the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Texas Education Agency (TEA), and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), who challenge employers to offer paid internships and make it easy for students to search and apply for them. Check out the Texas Internship Challenge to learn more about the initiative and start your search  

The Federal government works in every industry and every sector. It is the largest and most diverse employer in the United States, with four million public servants working every day to strengthen communities. Internships are a great opportunity to work alongside these experts, learn valuable skills, drive change, and make a positive impact. Check out the new Federal Internship Portal to learn about current opportunities.

 

Internships Abroad

There are opportunities for students to participate in internships abroad.  Keep in mind that while these are great opportunities, there are more costs involved (airfare, fees for collaborating agencies, room & board, etc.) than a typical internship and credit may not be available. To view the available international internships, log in to Handshake and go to Search Jobs. Click on the International Internships position type and start your search. These positions are made available with the help of UNT’s Study Abroad Office.

Career Treks

Career Treks was established to facilitate job shadowing opportunities across all industries, and is designed to assist students in their career exploration and development by matching them with hosts working in career field of interest.

Alternatives to the Traditional Internship

In addition to a typical internship, there are other ways for you to gain experience and learn about a particular company or profession. The Internship Alternatives resource highlights some of these opportunities. Two examples are Forage and Parker Dewey, which are explained in the video and information below.

  • Forage is a virtual work experience program. What does that mean? As a student, you can engage in online simulations of the work done at leading companies. Any student, regardless of university degree, prior experience, location or year group, can experience working at some of the world’s top firms. This opportunity is free for students through our partnership with Forage.
  • Parker Dewey is a competitive opportunity for college students and recent graduates to complete short-term, paid, professional assignments in a completely virtual setting. It has proven to be a great opportunity for students and recent graduates to demonstrate their skills, gain applied experience, and build their professional portfolios as they seek the right full-time role or internship. This account is free through the UNT partnership with Parker Dewey.

Additional Sources for Internship Opportunities

Federal Internships

Additional Internship Information

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