Internships
As you progress through your major at the University of Florida, we challenge you to seek opportunities to expand the scope of your education beyond the classroom. UF has identified a number of strategies for success, including experiential learning through an internship. Internships provide an opportunity for you to experience your future career, test your skills, learn new skills, and make important contacts. It also can be an opportunity for future employers to assess you before you graduate.
Internships are typically a career/major-related work experience usually lasting one semester or a summer.Internships can include any experience during which students learn by taking on responsible roles as workers in organizations and observing and reflecting on the daily activities at the work site. Internships are structured, supervised work experiences that are found in every sort of organization. An internship may be paid or can be done on a volunteer basis. Students may choose to obtain credit through their academic departments.
Students interested in receiving credit for their internship experience should talk to their academic adviser before trying to register for internship credit. Some majors require a specific internship as part of their curriculum. Other majors may have very specific criteria for approved internships taken for credit. The UF Honors Program offers IDH 4940 (Internship Credit) variable credit to students from all departments wishing to pursue an internship. While this usually fulfills elective requirements, you should speak to your adviser about this option. You do not need to be an honors student to apply for internship credit through the Honors Program.
The University of Florida offers many resources to assist you in finding and completing a successful internship. The Career Resource Center, CRC, provides a clearinghouse of over 1,300 internship listings annually. These listings are available on the Gator CareerLink System, so check that site regularly for updates. Internship directories and listings are located in the CRC Library, including specialty books to help you find an internship by geographic location. The CRC maintains E-mail contact with students listed through the CRC Internship Program Contact List. An On-line Internship Handbook is also available on the CRC website to assist you with searching and preparing to make the most of your internship.
