Central Michigan University

Several publications, databases, and trade magazines are available in hard-copy format.  Please stop into Career Services or make an appointment to obtain these additional resources.

Career Services Advising

Realizing the importance of internships and pre-professional experiences, Career Services has dedicated a full-time staff member to assisting students with career development tools regardless of their selected major.  To schedule an appointment with the Internship Coordinator, Brian J. Partie Jr., please call Career Services at 989-774-3068.  If you have a quick question or need assistance without an appointment, please email Brian directly.

• Contact Brian

An Internship Through Central Michigan University

Definition and Goal of an Internship

Central Michigan University and Career Services strongly encourage all students to become involved in pre-professional experiences, such as internships. Internships are designed to be hands-on, well-structured, pre-professional work experiences with an organization related to the student’s academic program or career field of interest. Each undergraduate and graduate student has a unique situation regarding his or her desires and ambitions; fortunately, internships are offered in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate these personalized needs and expectations. The goal of an internship program is to provide a learning experience and facilitate a successful partnership that is mutually beneficial to the student, faculty advisor, and sponsoring organization.

Benefits to the Student
Internships provide students the opportunity to:

• Translate classroom knowledge into the professional work environment

• Gain professional experience and receive academic credit

• Sample various careers before making a long-term commitment

• Enhance independence, responsibility, self-confidence, and other job skills

• Strengthen verbal and written communication

• Interact and collaborate with a developed professional network, and learn from a seasoned professional in your field of interest

• More times than not, interns will be offered a full-time position upon completion

Academic Departments

Career Services is the front-door entrance, for employers, to Central Michigan University.  Through our office, you have access to a variety of employer networking events, available internships, and other pre-professional opportunities.  Once an employer has contacted our office, we publicize the information to the appropriate academic departments.  Unfortunately, we are not authorized to approve or grant credit for any internship.  For credit, students must work with their academic department, prior to starting an internship.  Please contact Brian J. Partie, Jr. (Coordinator, Internships), if you need assistance locating your department’s internship faculty representative.  Since each department has different requirements and approval processes for credit-bearing internships, a meeting with a faculty member or departmental internship coordinator is mandatory for accepting any internship experience.  It is highly recommended that you pursue academic credit if you have the option; this will make the internship more credible to future employers and will help guard against the stereotypical "busywork" internship.  Contact the applicable department for information on earning credit for an internship experience and to meet with the department's internship coordinator.

Credit vs. Not-For-Credit Experiences

Regardless of whether an internship is required or not, it is highly recommended that you receive university recognition for your internship experience. By seeking credit, you maximize the opportunity for a well-structured outline of responsibilities and goals, and offer a more credible experience to potential future employers. In order to receive credit, you must have signed approval from the internship advisor in your academic department; they will assist you with application eligibility, number of credit hours, and grading requirements. Career Services is not authorized to approve or grant credit for any internship; however, we can assist you in determining and contacting the appropriate faculty member from your academic department.

Paid vs. Unpaid Experiences