Internship Information

 An internship gives you the opportunity to:

• Gain valuable work experience before you graduate.
• Develop new skills and refine others.
• Apply knowledge gained from coursework to on-the-job situations.
• Test-drive tentative career choices.
• Meet and work with professionals, establishing contacts for letters of reference and networking.
• Experience new work environments.
• Earn money for tuition and expenses

The most effective internship searches utilize a variety of search strategies. A great place to start is the Career Center website. Many internship listings are available online via Handshake. You can search your interests by keyword(s) and by major (you may also want to use the word "intern" or "internship" in your search.) You will find information about additional internship opportunities elsewhere on this website. Internships can also be found on LinkedIn, Indeed, Internships.com, Glassdoor, etc.

Also, take advantage of all your networking opportunities. In addition to making contacts through friends, family, current and former employers, classmates, and faculty members, there are many other networking avenues you can pursue. Attending the Career Fairs and Networking events the Career Center hosts each semester are a great place to start. You may also learn about internship openings through newsletters, job fairs, work study abroad programs, hometown contacts, professional associations, student organizations, trade magazines, community service or volunteer groups, and your major department office.

While there is a great deal of information available, you must be persistent in your internship search. Start early and seek out help from the Career Center by making an Internship Advising appointment. Have a plan that includes a great resume and cover letter, appropriate follow-up, and good record keeping. Be prepared, open-minded, flexible, and professional. It's up to you to make all your contacts count!

Typically, it is most common for students to complete an internship during the junior year, usually in the summer between their junior year and senior year. As such, the hiring cycle for summer internships tends to be at its peak in the early to mid-fall. If you mean during which year of academic study, the second semester of your freshman year is not too soon. Allow yourself at least one semester of academic study to adjust to the rigors of life at UNT. Then, depending on your major, GPA, and course-load requirements, you may be ready to intern. Remember that your academic work is always your highest priority.

If you mean at which point during the year, the Career Center receives internship listings continually. It's probably best to begin your internship search the semester prior to your desired placement. That way, you'll have time to respond to listed positions and initiate contacts on your own as well. Lead time can give you a competitive edge when it comes to composing an effective cover letter or tailoring your resume to a desired internship.

It may be possible to get academic credit for your internship, but not from the Career Center.

Only academic departments can offer credit, and policies differ greatly from one department to the next. Often your internship must relate directly to your major and will require you to complete a research project or writing component as part of special studies course. Check for courses listed in your academic department labeled Internship/Co-op. These courses are typically 4000 level courses. Be sure to ask your academic advisor about course credit.

Some Colleges/Departments will allow a student to obtain academic internship course credit using the role they have at their current employer or if they move into a new role at the company they are employed with. Often your internship must relate directly to your major. Additionally, in order to satisfy the learning component’of an internship, you may be asked to complete a special project or add additional job duties, related to your degree program, along with the current job duties you have, in order for your job to qualify for internship course credit. Check with your college and/or academic department for clarification. Final approval for academic internship course credit comes from the Academic Program Faculty Internship Approver.

International students can still complete internships. Students can typically participate in an internship using Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Students can be eligible to use CPT for an internship if they have been enrolled in school full-time for 2 long semesters and have maintained F-1 status. The internship must either be taken for course credit OR required for completion of your degree. Internships taken under CPT can be paid or unpaid.

Students should work with their academic advisor and with International Student & Scholar Services as early as possible before searching for internships to ensure that they are eligible, the appropriate course is taken for credit, and that appropriate paperwork is completed.

Absolutely! Some employers such as non-profits may not have an internship program, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t love some extra help. Doing this may mean it will be an unpaid internship, but experience is an invaluable asset to have later down the road when applying to full-time positions.

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 their career field of interest.

Job shadowing, sometimes called an externship, is a short-term, observation‑based experience that typically lasts from one day to four weeks. During a shadowing experience, you’ll observe professionals as they go about their daily responsibilities, giving you a firsthand look at what work in that field actually looks like.

Job shadowing is a great way to explore career paths, understand workplace expectations, and build confidence as you consider your next steps. It’s designed to help you see yourself in a role and learn what skills and interests you may want to grow. You can find job shadowing opportunities through the Career Center’s Take Flight program on Handshake.  

Internships provide a deeper, more hands‑on experience and typically last 12 weeks to one year. Unlike job shadowing, internships involve active participation in real projects and tasks, allowing you to build skills, apply what you’ve learned in class, and gain meaningful experience in your field.

Internships help you develop professionally, strengthen your resume, and explore long-term career possibilities. Whether required by your major or pursued independently, an internship is a powerful way to grow your confidence, clarify your goals, and prepare for what’s ahead.

No. Internships are not required to be paid, but most of the internships posted on Handshake will indicate whether or not they are paid. If you are required to take an internship class, then your internship must be a paid internship.

The Career Center offers 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. 

You can receive an internship graduation cord for your internship, practicum, student teaching, or any other experiential learning during your time at UNT by reporting the internship in Handshake and filling out this form.

Check with your academic advisor to see if your major requires an internship or if receiving course credit would be beneficial for you. Not all majors require you to complete an internship in order to graduate. 

Begin searching in the preceding fall semester in order to take full advantage of all the resources and listings available to you. Some deadlines are very early! Beginning early allows you to more evenly balance the time required to conduct a successful summer job search with other demands on your time. Being better informed will help you make better use of academic breaks to investigate summer job possibilities.

Yes, they do! Typically, this happens most after the Career Fairs. One more reason for you to attend!

 Report your internship to the Career Center! Even if the internship is not completed for course credit, this is still valuable data for the Career Center to have. Additionally, if you would like a graduation cord, you must report your internship to be eligible! You can follow these instructions to Report Your Internship.

**Once you report your internship via the link, you will be eligible to receive a graduation cord for your experience! You will be able to pick it up at the Career Center the semester you are graduating, no matter when you reported your experience!!** Report yours today!