Internships

About

Internships and practicum are approved by the academic department chairpersons with organizations representing a variety of industries and career opportunities.

The advantages of an academic internship:

• career-related employment that complements current academic studies
• opportunity to investigate a career field of interest
• valuable work experience
• a professional network and possible mentors
• 3 credits supervised and graded by a Bryant University faculty member

An academic internship (Course code: 391 or 491) is a three-credit elective course in either a concentration, minor or general business area of study which provides a professional work experience. A faculty supervisor will create an academic learning assignment with the student, monitor the internship, and assign a grade.

A general business practicum (Course code: BUS491) provides eligible seniors the opportunity to work and study in a business, educational, or private institution, earning from six to nine credit hours, depending on the academic nature of the effort and time committed to the practicum. Students develop a major research project which is monitored by a faculty supervisor.

Academic Internships

Special academic internship programs

European Study Abroad (EUSA) - Dublin, Ireland

• A ten week summer program providing a living, learning and professional working experience in Dublin. The program includes a supervised internship (3 credits); a course taught in Dublin by a Bryant professor (3 credits) and opportunities to explore Dublin, as well as travel in Europe. Internship and housing is provided.  
• Eligibility: Junior or Senior standing, overall GPA of 2.5 or higher. 
• To learn more, go to the Bryant Career Connection (BCC) and search for Dublin.

The Washington Center (TWC)

• A full-time internship and seminar program offered during the fall, spring and summer semesters in DC. Previous students have worked in the White House, Environmental Protection Agency, National Opera House, a law firm and a Lobbying Consultant firm. Interested sophomores, juniors and seniors should attend the TWC information session to prepare for the enrollment process which is very aggressive. Eligible students can earn 9 to 15 credits for one semester by living, learning and working in DC. The internship placement, seminar program, one evening course and housing is provided. 
• Eligibility: Junior or Senior status, overall GPA: 2.75 or higher. 
• TWC application form , which must be reviewed and completed by an academic advisor in the Undergraduate Advising Office.
• To learn more, go to the Bryant Career Connection (BCC) and search for the Washington Center.

Requirements

• Students must be a junior or senior having completed departmental prerequisites within the concentration, minor or degree area of study for Internship 391 course as stated in the Undergraduate Course Catalog.
• Students must have a minimum cumulative, and concentration GPA of 2.0. For Finance 391, students must possess a minimum cumulative and concentration GPA of 2.5.
• Transfer students must have completed one full semester to establish a GPA and prerequisite coursework prior to applying for an internship.
• Students are required to attend an orientation session on academic internships. Learn how to successfully prepare for and search for an internship and be able to apply to opportunities listed on the Bryant Career Connection.

 Internship policy

• All internship opportunities must be approved by the Academic Department Chairperson or their designee through the Amica Center for Career Education prior to starting an internship for academic credit.
• A maximum of nine credit hours of any combination of internships and practicum may be applied to fulfill degree requirements; a maximum of three credit hours may be applied to fulfill requirements in a concentration.
• Student must complete a minimum of 120 hours for each academic internship worked over a period of 10-12 weeks.
• An academic internship within a student's family business is not permitted.
• Students will not be given credit for current or past jobs.
• Students seeking academic credit must obtain an Academic Internship Enrollment Form from an Academic Advisor in the Undergraduate Advising Office by the deadline established each semester.
• Students must secure a Faculty Supervisor to assess learning and provide a letter grade. Faculty must be a full-time, tenure track, professor or adjunct professor from the discipline for which the internship is approved.
• Academic internships may be unpaid, paid or offer a stipend as determined by the employer.

Approval of academic internships

Pre-approved: Internships listed on the Bryant Career Connection (BCC) in the jobs/internship section have been approved by the appropriate Academic Department Chairperson or are pending approval.

Student proposal: Internships found by using a variety of resources may be presented to the Manager of the  Academic Internship Program for review by the appropriate Academic Department Chair. The employer must complete an Internship Data Sheet and include a comprehensive job or project description. The Internship Data Sheet along with an Employer Brochure is available in the Amica Center for Career Education for students to obtain.

Timeline for a successful search

Preparation one semester prior to the internship start date:

• Attend one (mandatory) orientation session. 
• Set an internship goal based on self-assessment and career research.
• Obtain an Academic Internship Enrollment Form from an Academic Advisor in the Undergraduate Advising Office.
• Write a powerful resume, a dynamic cover letter and have confidence in your interviewing skills. Attend career workshops listed on BCC, obtain handouts in the Career Center or on our website, or meet with a Career Counselor.
• Upload resume, cover letter, unofficial transcript and any other materials required by the employer to the document section of BCC to apply to pre-approved internships.
• Research internship opportunities through BCC, websites, company home pages, directories, networking, etc

Mandatory orientation

Orientation to Academic Internships will provide you with: the policies and procedures to follow, the ability to use and apply to internships listed on the BCC, and other resources and tips on conducting a successful internship search. 

Learning through internships

• Academic learning and application: apply ideas, concepts, or theories of the concentration, major or minor field of study learned in the classroom to a practical setting.
• Skill development: develop skills specific to your academic area of study or occupation; and/or general skills such as oral and written communication, critical thinking, organization, problem solving, decision making, leadership, technical, etc.
• Personal growth: develop and enhance self-confidence, self-awareness, self-management, sensitivity and appreciation for diversity, interpersonal relationships, clarification of work and personal values, and career awareness.

Responsibilities

Student: will be provided with a learning agreement packet from the Career Center. The packet includes: intern schedule, mid-performance evaluation and final performance evaluation to be completed with intern's site supervisor. The student will fax, scan & email or drop off the forms to the Amica Center for Career Education at the appropriate time during the semester. The student will complete an Intern Assessment Form at the conclusion of the internship to reflect on both professional and personal learning and to rate the experience.

Faculty supervisor: will provide each intern with a syllabus or learning agreement stating grading guidelines. These guidelines may include: meetings with the faculty advisor, measurable learning objectives, criteria for a research paper, required portfolio, written log or journal. The professor will review the mid-semester performance and final performance evaluations submitted by the employer to assess performance and provide student with a letter grade.

Employer: will complete a schedule form, mid-performance evaluation form and final performance evaluation form provided by the intern to insure feedback is provided on the practical application of academic learning; skill development and personal growth.