What types of internships are available?

Internships can be done for credit or no credit, paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, during the semester or during the winter/summer breaks.  The following are procedures regarding credit and non-credit bearing internships as a student at Stony Brook.

Unpaid Internships

Unpaid internships can be found in any industry  In some industries non-paid internships are common (for example entertainment, politics, etc)  An unpaid internship may impress employers because it shows that you are interested in gaining experience, rather than just making some money.

"I cannot afford nor have access to transportation"
Some Internships can be “remotely offered.” This means that you can work from home. That’s right, commuting is not necessary

Paid Internships

Several internships will offer payment in the form of stipends, travel allowance, or even a salary. The type and size of compensation does not reflect the competitiveness of the internship position. The pay reflects the policies and practices of the organization and industry culture not the quality of the candidate.

"If the internship is unpaid, I cannot afford it"
There is always the option of getting a part-time job on the side. Your department may also have a grant that you can apply for. Diversity programs may also exist, providing financial assistance in an unpaid internship.

Internships for Credit

Internships for academic credit are generally offered through departments under a faculty sponsor. For example after permission, business majors would register under BUS 488, Psychology major under PSY 273 or PSY 488,, Environmental Studies major under ENS 488 for, EGL 488 for English, etc.

For questions, please contact Alfreda James at Alfreda.James@stonybrook.edu.

Related Documents
Applying for Internship Credit
Internship Agreement Form for Academic Credit

Students may also wish to seek an internship for academic credit outside of his/her major/minor department. For example, a student majoring in environmental studies may wish to do an internship in a business field. To receive academic credit outside the department, students may register for the following based on class standing.

EXT 288 Internship:

• This class offers internships as work-learning arrangements. These supervised, career- related work experiences, combined with reflection that relates the work to academic study, help students “learn by doing.” A sponsored internship with an off-campus organization or on-campus agency gives students an opportunity to learn how to effectively apply their university studies to work in professional settings and explore untested areas of work experience. Internships must be sponsored by a faculty member. A request for approval of the Career Center Internship Manager must be submitted no later than two days prior to the last day of the add period as scheduled in the academic calendar. Course is not repeatable.
  
  Prerequisites: Minimum GPA 2.5; one prior semester of attendance at Stony Brook; completion of DEC A, first course; acceptance by a faculty sponsor; permission of appropriate department and the Career Center Internship Manager. 0-3 credits, S/U grading

EXT 488 Internship:

• Participation in an off-campus or on-campus agency or organization that provides students the opportunity to learn to apply their University studies to areas of work experiences. Internships must be sponsored by a faculty member. Request for approval of the Internship Manager in the Career Center must be submitted no later than two days prior to the last day of the add period as scheduled in the academic calendar. Students may register for only one 488 course per semester. May be repeated up to a limit of 12 credits.
  
  Prerequisites: Minimum GPA of 2.50; U3 standing; one prior semester of attendance at Stony Brook; acceptance by faculty sponsor; permission of appropriate department and internship manager. 0-6 credits, S/U grading

Non-Credit Internships

Students may also choose to pursue an internship without academic credit at anytime. For non-credit bearing internships there are no deadlines or number of hours required by Stony Brook University. A faculty sponsor is NOT necessary for a non-credit bearing internship.