Internships @ DePauw

DePauw defines itself as a place where the intellect is challenged by experience. DePauw has been nationally recognized among liberal arts colleges for its commitment to internships, as well as for its innovative internship programs. Internships are viewed as an opportunity not only for gaining active “real-world” experience or exploring career options, but also for discovering greater purpose and focus in academic learning.

DePauw University is committed to facilitating students’ pursuit of internship opportunities in a variety of ways. The following is a general guide of internship programs sponsored by or affiliated with DePauw; the links provided will take you to more detailed program information.  If you would like to learn more about the ways you might enhance your DePauw education through internships, please visit the Opportunities Lounge or contact Stephanie Hogue, Coordinator of Internships and Winter Term.

Winter Term Internships
Each Winter Term, hundreds of DePauw students participate in full-time, month-long internships all over the world. To receive Winter Term credit, students work with Civic, Global & Professional Opportunities staff to plan and develop internship placements that are professionally and intellectually rigorous.

Summer Internships
Summer is an excellent opportunity for DePauw students to explore career interests via internships. Students may work with an organization of their choosing to initiate an individually customized internship, or they may apply for competitive internship programs sponsored by a wide variety of companies and organizations. These internships may or may not be paid, or offer stipends or other types of support, and are generally not for academic credit. Civic, Global & Professional Opportunities staff are available to assist students in pursuing summer internship opportunities, as well as coordinating UNIV 297 (our zero-credit course for DePauw academic recognition of summer internships) arrangements.

Semester Internships
DePauw students looking to spend a semester engaged in high-quality, immersive learning experiences may elect to partake in one of several internship program options. Many of the Off-Campus Study programs approved for DePauw credit, both domestic and international, integrate internship participation into their missions or offer internship components. Students should research options by viewing the list of approved programs and speaking with Civic, Global & Professional Opportunities staff, who coordinate the application process.

Students for whom these programs are not an appropriate fit may also consider applying for independently-designed off-campus internships, which consist of academic credit for full-time, semester-long internships in conjunction with meaningfully-related academic work. Planning for a semester off-campus involves collaboration with faculty and staff far in advance, so students should seek advising as early as possible. Many students enrolled in classes on campus also participate in part-time semester internships on campus or located nearby. Part-time internships are valuable experiences, and are sometimes recognized for course or program requirements (see below). They are typically not awarded academic credit.

Special Programs and Departmental Internships
Students may also participate in an internship as an integral component of their course of study. Bonner Scholars, Information Technology Associates, Management Fellows, Media Fellows and Science Research Fellows should work through their respective programs to arrange on- and off-campus internships that meet program requirements. Some academic departments offer academic credit for certain internship projects. Contact the appropriate department for more information about eligibility and requirements.