Alumni & Student Connections’ career services team is here to help students search and apply for internship opportunities. As a college student, embarking on an internship offers a variety of invaluable benefits that can shape your future.
Apply to the PLU Internship Fund!
Each year Alumni & Student Connections solicits applications from qualified PLU students who need assistance paying for internship-related expenses. To learn more about the PLU Internship Fund and find out if you’re eligible, follow this link.
Register for Credit:
Your internship may be eligible to receive academic credit. For more information, review the steps to register for credit.
Explore external Internships Opportunities
Link to External Internships Opportunities Page
Types of Experiential Learning
Internships aren’t the only forms of experiential learning. There are many ways you can gain skills and deepen your learning outside of the classroom! Check out some examples below:
Internships
An internship is a short-term work experience designed specifically for students to get hands-on, real-world experience in a field or industry they’re interested in, while working under the supervision of a mentor. They are typically a semester in duration (fall, spring, or summer), can be paid or unpaid, and may or may not carry academic credit.
Micro-Internships
Micro-internships are short-term, professional assignments that are project-based. While shorter than internships, they still offer training and supervision, and provide opportunities for skill development and acquiring knowledge.
To start exploring and applying to micro-internships, check out PLU’s site for micro-internship opportunities, Parker Dewey.
Cooperative Education (Co-op)
Cooperative education typically refers to alternating classroom learning and paid work experiences in a field directly related to the student’s academic or career goals. In many cases, the co-op is a full-time work experience that requires the student to not enroll in additional courses during the term. Co-ops may be eligible for academic credit.
Volunteering
Volunteers perform a service without pay to support a cause. Opportunities include one-time assistance or continual service. Students can gain skills and knowledge, and experience workplaces through service. Explore volunteer opportunities on Idealist.
Job Shadowing
Job shadowing provides an initial “day in the life” exposure to a career, industry, and organization through the experience of “shadowing” an experienced employee. Activities may include a tour of the workplace, observing employee activities, meeting with members of the organization, involvement in projects, or attending meetings. This is a great opportunity to build connections and better understand the work environment.
To explore job shadow opportunities, start with LuteLink. Explore the community and use the “Help Topics” filter to search for PLU alumni who may be interested in hosting a job shadow.
Simulations and Hackathons
Simulations or hackathons aim to imitate a system, entity, phenomenon, or process. Both can allow experiments to be conducted or innovations to be created and are opportunities to build new skills, make connections, and gain experience.
More Questions
For additional questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions About Internships page.