Did you know that over 40% of Boise State students who do an internship are offered a job as a result of their internship?
An internship is a temporary work experience that provides students with the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. It’s a great way to explore different career paths, gain practical experience, and build professional networks.
Why do an internship?
- Get practical, hands-on professional work experience.
- Build skills employers look for when hiring college graduates.
- Explore a potential career path, an industry or an organization.
- Apply the knowledge you gain in the classroom to the world of work.
- Network and make valuable connections for references and future jobs.
Find and Apply for an Internship
For additional information about finding and applying for an internship, see the Internship Handout.
Get Academic Credit for Your Internship
Some students choose to earn academic credit as a part of their internship experience for reasons such as:
- Your major requires an internship
- The credits help you meet your graduation requirements
- To reduce the number of other classes you need to take that semester in order to free up time for the internship
- The place you’re interning requires it
To determine whether or not an opportunity can be considered for academic credit, you must review your opportunity with your department internship coordinator to ensure that it meets department guidelines.
Register for Academic Credit
- Complete the Internship Orientation Workshop and download your certificate as a PDF file
- Log into the Internship Application for Academic Credit – Student Login
- Click the “Start Your Application” or “Add Internship” button
- Complete all required fields
- Submit your application
After submitting your application, it will go to your department internship coordinator and internship supervisor for review. Your application is not considered fully approved until all parties approve it. Check your Boise State email for updates on this process or log into the Internship Application for Academic Credit to view your internship records.
If you have questions about registering your internship for academic credit, please email internships@boisestate.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to register for academic credit?
In most cases it is up to you whether you want to get credit for your internship. Consider the following factors:
- Do you need internship or upper division credits to graduate?
- Does the internship you are completing require you to receive academic credit?
If you plan on receiving academic credit for your internship, you must complete the application for credit before the deadline for the semester you wish to receive credit for.
When is the deadline to register for academic credit?
Please view the academic calendar to determine the last day to register for internship academic credit. This date tends to be about 4-5 weeks into the semester.
How many hours do I need to work to get credit?
You will need to complete 45 hours in your internship for every credit you earn. So, if you register for a 1-credit internship, you would need to complete at least 45 hours throughout the course of the semester. If you register for a 2-credit internship, you would need to complete 90 hours, and if you register for a 3-credit internship, you would need to complete 135 hours.
What class am I being enrolled in?
When you register for credit, you will notice on your course schedule that you are added to a course for however many credits you register for. Along with your internship, you will have academic requirements designed to help you best engage with your internship and articulate your experience. Please see your department internship coordinator for more information on the curricular requirements for your internship.
Where have students interned previously?
For a comprehensive list of previous internships for credit, please see the Internship database inside the Internship Application for Academic Credit.
When should I start looking for an internship?
Although deadlines and availability of internships vary, it is recommended that you start this process the semester before you hope to complete your internship.
I need help applying or finding an internship!
See the Internship Handout for more information on how to apply for or find an internship.