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Internships Overview

Resources and Links

Some employers offer internships in which you can earn academic credit. This can only be granted by the department of your major and is generally supervised by either a faculty member or internship coordinator. Be sure to check with them early in the process so you don’t miss any deadlines. Your academic department will decide whether or not you receive academic credit for an internship. Each department also has differing requirements that need to be met for eligibility. It is essential that you contact your academic advisor prior to the start of your internship program if you wish to receive credit.

Colleges' Internship Coordinators

Some colleges at UTSA have their own internship coordinator or internship web page which can assist you with locating an internship or provide guidelines as to what is expected in an internship.

Overview

As a college student, you've heard or seen the word a million times. Is doing an internship, or gaining experience in your desired career field, really that important? YES!

Paid interns have a distinct advantage in the job market, according to results of NACE’s 2012 Student Survey. Overall, approximately 60 percent of 2012 college graduates who took part in paid internships received at least one job offer, according to the results of the survey.  The survey also found that unpaid interns fared only slightly better in getting job offers than graduates who had not taken part in an internship. Overall, 37 percent of unpaid interns received job offers; 36 percent of graduates with no internship experience received job offers.  
Please visit Rowdy Jobs to view our internship postings.  You can also check out the following Internship Listings Site or TexasIntern, to view numerous internship listings in Texas and across the country.

Visit this Internship Listings Site to view over 300 internship listings from around the country for students, ranging from Nascar to Sony Pictures.

Visit TexasIntern, another great internship resource.

Internship Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is an internship?

Q: How long does an internship last??

Q: Where can I do an internship?

Q: What can I gain from an internship??

Q: Is it better for me to do an internship in the summer or during the Fall or Spring semesters??

Q: Will I be paid as an Intern??

Q: Should I do an Internship even if I cannot get academic credit for it?

Q: Can I get credit for an Internship that I did last summer?

Q: Can I do more than one internship while obtaining my Bachelor's degree??

Tips for Successful Applications

  • Develop an action plan
  • Begin your research at least one semester before you hope to participate in the internship; two semesters is even better
  • Be aware of and meet all deadlines
  • Register with the Career Center office
  • Have your resume reviewed by Career Center
  • Have your essay or personal statement reviewed by Career Center
  • Be prepared to conduct a telephone interview

We've provided numerous links below to sources for finding an internship. Use these sources not only to apply to programs but to begin researching to find out what might be available to you. Perhaps you need to wait another year before applying - keeping track of this information will make you more successful in your attempts to locate, and participate in, a valuable internship. Many programs begin recruiting during the Fall Semester for the following Summer Program so it's never too early to begin your research and apply for different programs.

National Programs | Megasites | Diversity Opportunities | Research Opportunities | Government Programs | Corporate & Institutional | Non-Profits | International | Science Programs

While creating your own internship takes research and resourcefulness, you may find that it is well worth your time. Not only will you be creating a position that meets your individual needs, but you will also be practicing the job hunting skills that will be needed later when you seek full-time employment.

While the Career Center job bank contains many excellent openings it should not be your only resource. Use as many resources in your search as you can find. Don't limit yourself by applying to only one or two. The following guidelines should get you started.

Explore options and identify prospective internship sites and contacts:

Written (or online) resources:

  • Career Center Job Bank
  • Career Center Resource Library. Internship directories listing national and international internship opportunities – The Internship Bible, Peterson's Guide to Internships, Bext 109 Internships, Back Door Guide to Short-Term Adventures, Internships…. Non-Profit Directories (Community Assistance Directory is just one example).
  • UTSA Library. Business Directories and databases. Directories to national associations. Employer directories and guides may list names/addresses, sometimes by geographic area and type of industry.
  • Websites. See our list of internship websites [link to website listing]. Also do a 'Google' search for 'internship' and the field you are interested in pursuing’ to see what you can find.
  • Career Center Employer Files. We maintain a file of employer materials for those companies interested in UTSA students.
  • Association publications or websites. Many professional associations offer information on internship programs which are not widely advertised.
  • Magazines and/or newspapers. Career sections of magazines can provide helpful tips on careers and internship opportunities. Career Center receives several magazines which are free to students and have valuable internship information in them.
  • Job Choices – a free magazine available at Career Center, in particular, contains a list of companies interested in hiring interns.
  • Telephone book. The Yellow Pages are always a good source of names of businesses you may want to contact.

Human resources:

  • Your academic department (they may even have an internship coordinator)
  • Friends/family
  • Professors/Teaching Assistants
  • Classmates (they may even know someone who’s leaving an internship and looking to find a replacement)
  • Career Fair employers
  • Classroom speakers
  • Career Center and University staff
  • Advisors
  • UTSA Alumni Association
  • Volunteer agencies (Sometimes they need help but are unable to pay for it. This would be a valuable way for you to gain experience.)
  • Professional organizations

Use these resources to develop a list of companies that you are interested in pursuing. Now that you have a list of potential companies you’re ready for the next step. If an internship program already exists, you simply need to prepare and apply for it. If an internship does not currently exist, your job is to convince the company that they need to hire someone and that you’re the best one for the position.

If your Internship does not qualify for academic credit, you may still receive official University recognition of your Internship on your Academic Transcript.

The Academic Transcript Notation program is a collaboration between the Career Center office and the Office of the Registrar. To receive official University recognition of non-credit Internships on your academic transcript, you must meet the following criteria:

General Student Eligibility Requirements for Academic Transcript Notation

  • Must be in good academic standing at UTSA, 2.0 GPA.
  • Must have completed 12 hours of coursework.
  • Must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours of coursework in the semester (summer excluded) prior to the term of the internship.

Students must also complete the following steps by the last ADD day for the semester in which their internship will take place:

In order to obtain Transcript notation, the internship must be approved by the Career Center office. Part-time jobs that are not 'internships' or part of an Internship Program will not be considered.

Once approved, the Career Center office will register the student in a non-credit course for the semester in which their internship will take place.

For more information about having your internship notated on your transcript, please contact the University Career Center.

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