Internship Information

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Goals & Objectives
Prerequisites
Credits
Intern Process
Intern Criteria
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Forms

Internship Application (complete on-line)
Internship Evaluation Form (employer print from browser)
Periodic reports (complete on-line)

Fifty to seventy-five students in the College of Business and Economics participate in internships each year. Examples of internship sites include Andersen Windows, City of River Falls, City of Woodbury, Menard's, Wells Fargo, Target Corporation, Edward Jones Investments, and numerous accounting firms.

Internships are posted on the College of Business and Economics Internship Bulletin Board in the hall outside the CBE office (124 South Hall). Internship opportunities are also announced in upper level major courses, as well as posted on the CBE Undergrad Communication D2L site. Many students locate their own internship. The majority of internships are completed over the summer.

If you have located an internship, please read the guidelines below and complete the application . You can complete the Internship Application electronically, but there are additional items that need to be turned in before the Internship Application is reviewed and approved. Go to the process link for further instructions.

Goals & Objectives

• To give the student valuable experience in the business world significantly beyond the classroom experience.
• To expose the student to potential career opportunities.
• To provide for more interaction between the UWRF College of Business and Economics and the business community.

Prerequisites for Internship

• Full time Accounting, Business, CSIS or Economics major, in good academic standing.
• Completion of a minimum of 60 credits including the following courses for the respective majors listed:
  1. Accounting: Lower Division Business Requirements and ACCT 321, 356.
  2. Business Administration: Lower Division Business Requirements and MNGT 300, MKTG 310, and FINC 345. MIS majors should also have completed the CSIS courses listed below with the exception of CSIS 237.
  3. Computer Science/Information Systems: CSIS 161, 162, 237, 247, and 333.
  4. Economics: All courses required for major except for ECON 480.
• Obtain approval from Internship Coordinator and Department Chair.
• Student's G.P.A. and major courses may be considered in the selection process.

Credits

• 2-6 credits (pass/fail) depending on work requirements.
• 1 credit = 45 hours approximately.
• Note: No more than three (3) credits can be used as electives in
  the major.

Process for Internship

1. College of Business and Economics students interested in completing an internship should review the internship site to ensure they meet the prerequisites for the internship program and become familiar with the internship process. Students are encouraged to initiate their own internship opportunities. The Internship Coordinator can provide guidance and will attempt to match students with available internship opportunities. In either case, the Internship Coordinator and the student's Department Chair will make an initial determination if the job meets the stated requirements to qualify for internship credits.
   1. Submit the following to the Internship Coordinator: 1. Internship application. Students are encouraged to use the electronic application.
   2. A copy of the detailed job description from the sponsoring organization. Include dates of employment, number of work hours per week, and total hours of internship. This should be signed by the student and employer.
   3. A cover letter to the Internship Coordinator from the student noting how the internship relates to the intern's academic program and career interests.
   4. A current copy of transcript (Degree Audit Report/DAR) is adequate.
      
2. Documents b, c and d should be submitted to the Internship Coordinator in person, mail, or fax.
3. Upon final approval from the Internship Coordinator and Department Chair, the internship may begin. Upon receipt of an approval letter from the Internship Coordinator, the student may then register for internship credits.
4. The student must submit a periodic report to the Internship Coordinator upon completion of 40 hours of work, and for every 40 hours completed thereafter. Periodic reports can be submitted electronically through the College of Business and Economics internship page.
5. The Internship Coordinator will make contact with the employer as necessary. When feasible, the Internship Director will conduct a site visit with the intern and their supervisor.
6. The employer will submit an evaluation of the student’s efforts at the end of the internship. The report shall consist of an evaluation of the student’s progress, performance, and contributions while working for the sponsoring organization. The Internship Evaluation Form is available on-line.
7. The student will complete a maximum three-page, double-spaced typed report summarizing the internship experience. An explanation of how the internship related to academic course work must be included in this final report. Both content and writing quality will be evaluated. A final satisfactory grade will not be turned in until all the requirements of the internship have been successfully completed.

Criteria for Job

• The internship program is designed as a learning experience. Therefore, the job content should reflect this goal. Job rotation, responsibility for special projects, or assisting a manager in his/her duties are all possible examples of a significant learning experience. Other considerations include scope of learning experiences, formal training, level of analysis, and decision-making. A workplace setting with structure and mentoring possibilities is generally expected.
• Proper supervision of the student should be provided by the sponsoring organization. The student should have an individual within the company to resolve an questions or problems as they arise. Guidance is an important factor. The student is also encouraged to discuss any problems with the Internship Coordinator.
• The student should be provided with clear objectives by the sponsoring organization. Responsibilities, deadlines, and the required results should be well-defined for the student.