Internships

According to an annual survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers prefer to hire candidates who have relevant experience. For university students, internships are a great way to gain the experience that employers value.

  • What is an internship?

    Internships are monitored work experiences that include learning goals and reflection.

    • May be part-time or full-time
    • May be paid or unpaid
    • Last at least ten weeks long and ten hours per week
    • Are available to all Calvin students who are sophomores or above
    • May be for academic credit (completed while taking an internship seminar course at Calvin) or non-credit (completed for experience only)
    • Are available fall, spring and summer semester
    • Are available to students from all majors offered at Calvin
    • Establish a balance between the intern's learning and the work that the organization needs done
  • Why should I pursue an internship?
    • Explore a specific field of interest
    • Determine if a career is a good fit
    • Obtain practical experience to enhance a resume and improve skills
    • Supplement theoretical learning with practical applications
    • Build your network with people in the field that interests you
  • Does internship work count for academic credit?

    You may participate in the internship program on a credit or non-credit basis. To receive credit, students must register for an internship seminar course (see list of available internship classes). For-credit internships have academic requirements. Some summer course work is completed on-line.

  • What's the difference between a job and an internship?

    For a work experience to be considered an internship, it should meet the following criteria:

    • The intern should be professionally supervised on site
    • The internship should be a new learning experience
    • The intern should have a deliberate learning agenda going into the experience
    • The intern should actively reflect on what he/she is learning through the experience
    • Interns are not eligible for unemployment at the conclusion of the internship
  • Are interns paid?

    In the past few years, 70 percent of Calvin interns have been paid. Pay is often determined by market supply and demand. Typical unpaid internships are in non-profit, sports management, health care, television, political and ministry organizations. Don’t rule out an internship because it's not paid. Think long-term: one semester of a part-time, unpaid internship can be invaluable to your career. Find the position that will give you the most relevant experience. Some students maintain a part-time, paid job while doing an unpaid internship.

  • What is Work-Study?

    The federal government provides money to help pay for university students' wages in some on-campus and off-campus jobs. Your eligibility for Work-Study is related to your financial situation as determined by the FAFSA form. Calvin has partnered with a few non-profit organizations to offer internship quality, paid, Work-Study community service opportunities off-campus. To find out more, visit our student employment webpage.

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