Internships

Internships are an important part of gaining real-world experience in your field.

“An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting.” -National Association of Colleges and Employers

Common Characteristics of an Internship

• Three-six months long
• Part or full time
• Paid or unpaid
• On or off campus
• Connection to an educational program with academic credit
• Non-credited experience

For-Credit Internship Information

A Hope College internship involves:

• An academic course with deep learning in an applied setting for which students receive a grade and academic credit listed on their transcript
• A professor who:
  • Oversees the internship
  • Makes contact with the onsite supervisor and student
  • Assigns and evaluates readings and written assignments
  • Meets or communicates with the student regularly to stimulate reflections about vocation and calling
• An applied experience onsite at an outside employer
• Three hours onsite per week over the course of at least one semester or summer, along with time invested in course meetings and writing, for each credit earned
• An experienced on-site supervisor who conducts regular meetings with the student

Contact individual academic departments for information about earning academic credit for an internship. The Boerigter Center is available to support all students in the internship site search.