Internships are hands-on experiences that relate to a specific major or career interest and usually involve training and responsibilities for which the student has already completed appropriate academic coursework. An internship may be full-time or part-time for the duration of a semester or summer. Internships can be paid or unpaid. Mount students may also register to receive college credits for an internship.
Four Mount students explain why they think internships are important, and what they learned from their experiences in fields from public service to law and business to the environment.
*Note: students are still permitted to use the fillable PDF Learning Agreement Form to discuss plans and expectations of the internship and can also secure agreement with the site supervisor, faculty sponsor, and department chair if desired, though it is expected students will also enter the internship information in Handshake. Students who collect approvals on their own (instead of on Handshake) may submit the document on Dropbox.*
*The summer session is a distinct term. All credits earned for this period are billed at the summer rate upon registration. Students are encouraged to contact the Accounting and Finance Office with questions related to billing and payment.
Students are responsible for ensuring that all information is complete and accurate. Failure to submit a complete learning agreement by the internship registration deadline date may result in denial of credit registration.
Registering an internship starts with completing the credit-based internship learning agreement. Discuss and confirm the plans and expectations of an internship with your internship site and faculty sponsor.
The Mount St. Mary’s University Career Center's Internship Fund aims to reduce the financial challenges associated with participating in a wide range of low-paying or unpaid summer internships. Through the generosity of the fund established, the Elizabeth Santos, Class of 1989 Scholarship Fund offers grants for students who accept unpaid or low-paying internships.
*Please note: This award is taxable income, therefore taxes will be withheld at the time of distribution. Please plan accordingly, as this cannot be waived due to federal regulations.
All application materials must be complete and submitted by the application deadline listed above. No exceptions. Late applications will not be considered.
Applicant must upload and submit the following documents to careercenter@msmary.edu.
A committee evaluates the applications. Emphasis is placed on application, one-page personal statement with support from the resume, transcript, and internship description. A competitive application is one that successfully demonstrates the applicants understanding of the link between her/his goals, past experiences, and the opportunities afforded by the internship(s) in question. Rising juniors and seniors will receive priority consideration for this award along with applicants who have not received the Career Center's award in the past.
All criteria listed are required and are conditions for the funding. Failure to comply with conditions will jeopardize current and future funding.
“An internship is an opportunity to create a stepping stone toward a great career. I am thankful that Mount St. Mary’s provided resources that allowed me to easily discover and prepare for my internship. The staff focuses on working with employers and students to develop a unique opportunity of learning and professional development that will prepare you for the future."
An internship is an essential experience to complement your Mount education. This is why the Career Center has dedicated resources for students and alumni looking for the right match.
Students can search this dedicated online resource for regional, national and international job and internship postings; connect with alumni for advice or opportunities; and be recruited or promoted by faculty for internships or summer research on campus.
Looking for that personal touch? The Career Pathways program links current Mount students with alumni in their field of study so they can tap into the power of the Mount alumni network. Students can shadow a professional for a day, gain inside tips about an industry or company they are interested in, or even find a personal mentor in an alumnus who is doing job they’ve been dreaming about.
With a campus close to Washington, D.C., many students choose to spend a summer living and working in our nation’s capital. The Mount in Washington is a credit-based internship program specifically designed to allow students to earn a semester’s worth of internship credit, live in dedicated student housing, and expand their professional network at some of the world’s most influential organizations.
"I’ve met with community-based organization (nonprofits) leaders/founders and have been given several opportunities to attend high-level meetings with officials and community navigators. The Mount has instilled within me the importance of moral integrity; I am able to better understand the importance of the work being done at my internship site and move toward the furtherance of collective action."
Not sure how to get started with getting an internship? The Career Center staff helps students prepare resumes, provides resources and information on how to find internship sites, and gives advice on how to narrow down your choices or work your personal network. Make an appointment to discuss your next steps in completing an internship or search our internship resource links.
"My internship experience permitted me to learn more about the criminal justice field and to grow personally and professionally. The Mount provided training and answered any and all of the questions I had. As a transfer student, I was not sure what I was getting myself into, but the Career Center walked me through the process."
Mount students can earn anywhere from 1-12 credits for an internship experience. The number of credits is determined in part by the minimum number of internship hours being completed and the internship description/responsibilities. Academic departments reserve the right to limit the number of credits registered.
Submit the Learning Agreement, with all signatures, to the Career Center prior to the deadline date. Expect that it may take at least a week, if not longer, to gather all signatures.
Graduate students can earn anywhere between 1-6 credits for an internship experience. The number of credits is determined in part by the minimum number of internship hours being completed and the internship description/responsibilities. Academic departments reserve the right to limit the number of credits registered.
Students are responsible for ensuring that all information is complete and accurate. Failure to submit the completed Learning Agreement or any additional items needed by the internship registration deadline date may result in credit registration being denied.
“You aren’t doing just busy work or being a small part of a bigger picture; you are brought onto a team of very dedicated individuals who rely on your commitment; you are preparing your own lesson plans and instructing the youth most of the time unsupervised, so you are an actual vital piece to the organization’s success."
While all internships involve a great deal of personal commitment, an international internship promises to be even more challenging and rewarding. Many international organizations offer students significant responsibilities and experiences that cannot be taught in a classroom. Former Mount students who have interned abroad have regarded these higher levels of responsibility and expectations to be some of the best experiences of the trip—outside of the chance for traveling and exploring a different country. Interning abroad helps students develop personal strengths and skills that are useful in marketing themselves for future job opportunities.
Contact the Career Center if you’re interested in interning abroad.
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“Studying abroad is about challenging yourself and stretching your limits. I have experienced this in many ways in London, but especially through my internship. This opportunity has given me a taste of how a business outside of the U.S. operates, which is valuable knowledge considering how global and interconnected the business world has become. When I get back to the states, I will bring this knowledge and sense of confidence with me and use it as I prepare for my career.”
Reading about how to get an internship is one thing—sometimes you just want to see where others have been. Here are some sample internships from Mount students: