Internships

The UNT Internship Program assists students in obtaining high-quality internships prior to graduation and works closely with employers to develop internships within their organizations. In some cases, experiential education is known as a co-op or practicum. Regardless of what the experience is called, students gain valuable academic learning outside the classroom.

The mission of the program is to develop well-prepared students who, through the benefits of experiential education, become the next generation of leaders for the global community. We feel strongly that when students gain real-world experience in their field of study, they excel academically, as well as professionally.

Internships – What and Why

What is an Internship?

An internship is a work experience (typically one semester in length) related to your field of study with an emphasis on “on-the-job” training rather than merely employment. Although some internships are unpaid, our program strives to promote paid opportunities.

Some degree programs require students to complete an internship as part of their coursework. In other degree programs, students have the option of completing an internship for credit. You should check with your academic advisor to find out what’s required or possible for your major. If you’re completing an internship for credit, there will be specific requirements set by your academic department that you must meet. But even if you will not get credit for it, an internship is an extremely valuable opportunity and every student is encouraged to complete at least one internship.

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.
  • Helps you develop a network of professional contacts in your career field.
  • Provides insight into your future career.
  • Allows you to enhance your resume.
  • Gives you a competitive advantage in the job market because of the knowledge and skills you develop in the position.

Intern Abroad

In addition to local internships, 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.

International Students

International students are eligible to work off campus in an internship or co-op, as long as they have filed the necessary CPT paperwork and received work authorization. Credit is one component of the process, which is where our office assists. All CPT-related questions should be directed to International Student and Scholar Services.

Each semester an international student is working off campus, they must fill out all paperwork (CPT and Request for Credit). Failure to do so can result in a loss of work authorization.

Finding an Internship

Featured internship positions that are currently available can be viewed here. A complete list of current internship opportunities are available in Handshake. After you log in to Handshake, you can filter for Internships. In addition, the Career Coaches are available to assist students who are interested in completing an internship or other experiential learning opportunity.

Additional Sources for Internship Opportunities

Federal Internships

Resources