What is an internship? What is a coop?

An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. 

Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent. (NACE, 2023)

Coops stand for Cooperative education, and generally indicate an experiential learning experience but it lasts longer (usually beyond one semester, like an internship). 

Why do an internship (how can it help me)?

• To gain professional experience that links your NSM academic coursework to your future career
•  To engage in projects and tasks that contribute to the professional work of the organization, and builds your skills set and accomplishments (which can expand your resume/CV)
• To apply academic knowledge and skill into practice, in a “real world” environment
• To explore possible career paths and opportunities
• To be more competitive in the workplace (employers are more likely to hire you with experience)
• To develop “power” skills expected by employers such as: communication, leadership, teamwork, ethics, etc. 
• To develop relationships with individuals in the field, obtain potential lifelong mentors and professionals in the industry who can serve as a reference for you in the future

What are the requirements for a NSM internship/course?

In order to receive academic credit for your internship you must:

• Be registered and currently enrolled in a UT Dallas academic, degree-seeking program with a declared major
• Be in good academic standing (2.0 cumulative GPA for undergraduate students and 3.0 cumulative GPA for graduate students) 
• Have completed at least one semester at UT Dallas. In addition,
  • Undergraduate students must have a total of 24+ credit hours completed (including transfer hours)  
  • Graduate students must have a total of 6+ credit hours completed. You may begin the internship process if you anticipate being eligible the following semester
• Meet any additional requirements or conditions imposed by your academic department or school

How can I prepare for an internship?

• Create and develop your resume and cover letter- and have it reviewed by the NSM Career Success Center (CSC)
• Set up a LinkedIn profile 
• Create and practice your elevator pitch (an introductory statement to use when first meeting employers)
• Set up an appointment for interview coaching (if you are new to interviewing) with the NSM CSC
• Set up a mock interview with the CSC (must send internship description to CSC 1 day in advance)

How do I find an internship?

• Students are responsible for seeking out and finding their own internship.  Here are some suggestions:
  • Log into Handshake at utdallas.joinhandshake.com using your NetID and Password
  • From the top menu bar select Jobs > Internship > (Optional) Filter by Work Authorization, Industry, Major, Location, etc. 
  • Talk to faculty, the CSC staff, academic advisors, and research possible employers
  • Attend employer events hosted by the CSC and the UCC
  • Focus on developing your professional network (LinkedIn is a great place to start)
• Guideline to remember:  The internship should be a legitimate learning experience benefitting the student and not simply an operational work experience that just happens to be conducted by a student. Your work as an intern should benefit the employer in a way that also advances your education!

What are the deadlines?  

The deadlines can be found here (scroll to the bottom of the page):  https://career.utdallas.edu/experiential-programs/report/

Steps to follow for gaining approval and securing an internship

1. Find potential internship with employer. Here are a few suggestions:
   1. Use Handshake, LinkedIn, talk to UTD alumni and faculty, use other internship search engines, search company websites, go to employer events, attend career fairs, talk to friends and family.
2. Obtain 2 documents from your employer/supervisor:

1. Offer letter.  The letter must be signed offer letter on company letterhead which includes Name of Organization, Internship Position Title, Start Date, End Date, Hours Per Week, Wages/Hourly Rate($), Physical Work Location Address of Internship Assignment, Manager/Supervisor Information (Name/Title, Phone Number/Email Address), Detailed Job Description
2. Job description. The detailed job description is a required document

3. Any required information not included in the formal offer letter must be documented by the employer in a supplementary email and added in a screenshot. These documents should be combined into a single .pdf with the offer letter.
4. Log into Handshake and complete the request. A video, written step-by-step instructions and sample offer letter can be found here:  https://career.utdallas.edu/experiential-programs/report/
5. The University Career Center will review the application, offer letter, and job description. The UCC will also take measures to ensure it is a legitimate organization and learning experience.
6. Be patient. It takes up to 7-10 business days
7. Once approved, you will hear from the UCC Experiential Learning Team and they will message your academic advisor or internship coordinator that the experience is approved. You will then be registered for the applicable course by your advisory. Be sure and meet with your NSM academic advisor, to determine where your course will apply on your degree plan. 

Beware of Scams/Fraudulent internship and job posting. How can you tell if a job/internship is legitimate?  

The University Career Center recommends the following: 

Does a job offer sound too good to be true? Or did you receive a message from someone offering you a job you didn’t apply to? Here is a list of tips for avoiding fraudulent jobs and scams to ensure your job search process is as positive as possible.

• Online scams and attempts to collect personal data are prevalent. Beware of unsolicited job offers
• It is important to ALWAYS safeguard your personal information
• Be cautious of sending your address or other identifying information to unknown contacts
• NEVER provide your Social Security Number, Bank Account info, or other sensitive information, via email
• NEVER respond to requests for check deposits, package pickups, or money transfers
• A legitimate employer will never ask for your bank account information, a payment for background checks or fees, or money transfers via email, or ask you to buy equipment/supplies
• The only time an employer should ask for your bank account information is after you have accepted an offer and are filling out payroll forms
• A legitimate employer will ALWAYS ask you to fill out tax forms. We strongly advise against participating in any employment where taxes are not withheld
• Unfortunately, scammers can be very savvy at avoiding detection and finding ways to email or call potential victims. Be cautious when using job boards and social media
• Make sure the company is recognizable, has a website and a legitimate business address

Want official documentation for an experience, but do not want to enroll in an internship? Consider a transcript notation.

If you are not interested in obtaining academic credit for an internship, and/or you do not meet eligibility requirements, you may opt to receive transcript notation for your experience. Transcript notation is an official note by the Registrar on a UT Dallas transcript that shows an internship was completed. The employment period and transcript notation period must be in the same semester.

It is important to note, transcript notation is not available for international students.

If interested in receiving transcript notation for an internship experience you must still request an experience in Handshake. You will also be required to write a short reflection paper at the end of the semester. Once you submit your experience request in Handshake, you will receive further instructions from the University Career Center.

Please note: You cannot earn retroactive Transcript Notation for internship experiences.

I am an international student, can I engage in an internship?

International students may engage in experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, during any academic term as long as the experience has been approved as relevant to their degree program.

I am an international student, are there additional requirements? What about Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a structured educational program which combines classroom learning with productive work experience in a field related to a student’s academic program. F-1 students may be eligible for CPT.

CPT workshops are MANDATORY for all students applying for Curricular Practical Training. Your workshop requirements depend on your program of study.

• NSM students must complete the ISSO CPT workshop online in iComet or in-person ISSO workshop.*

*Due to the COVID-19 emergency, all face-to-face CPT workshops are cancelled. Please complete your workshop requirement online.

Graduate students are not allowed to participate in an internship (CPT) in the same semester they are working as a Teaching/Graduate Assistant or a Research Assistant

See this ISSO site for more information: https://isso.utdallas.edu/employment-and-internships/is-employment/cpt/

References:

NACE Position Statement: US Internships

School of JSOM

School of BBS

UT Dallas University Career Center 

The University Career Center and the School of Natural Science partner throughout the year to provide COMET Treks for interested students. 

COMET Treks provides an opportunity for an in-person or virtual meeting (ranging from 1 hour to 1 day) for NSM students to connect with alumni, employers, and friends of UTD.

This is a great way to explore potential career paths, learn about companies you may want to work for, provide networking experiences and can help broaden students’ understanding of different industries both locally and around the world.

• In-person COMET Treks allow students to tour company facilities, meet with leadership, and learn about potential job and internship opportunities.
• Virtual COMET Treks allow students to meet with leadership, and learn about potential job and internship opportunities.

Scheduled Treks

Specific dates will be updated on this webpage as they become available:  https://career.utdallas.edu/experiential-programs/treks/

The University Career Center and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics partner to provide career externships for students. These are typically short-term (usually 1 week) shadowing experiences in which a student follows a professional to observe the day-to-day activities in their workplace. As an extern, you’ll gain an insider’s perspective of your chosen field, make connections with professionals in the industry, and assess if this is really what you want to pursue post-graduation.

The Explore the World of Work (EWoW) Program provides students with professional networking and job shadowing experiences in their chosen career fields. Undergraduate and graduate students are matched with UTD alumni and employers in various careers across all industries and academic disciplines. Students will have the opportunity to network with and shadow employers in their desired career field through informational interviews, informative company presentations, and working alongside employees on different projects. 

The Explore the World of Work Program occurs during the week of Spring Break. Employers choose the length and dates of the experience, ranging from three to five, happening over Spring Break. EWoW events allow companies to host more students and enable students to network while they are on a break. 

The benefits received are invaluable. Not only will students gain real-world career knowledge and experience, but they will also expand their career network. Some students find their networking has led them to find a lifelong mentor, an internship, and even a full-time employment offer. 

Currently, we are conducting this program with both online and in-person options. If companies operate in person and choose to do so, they can host students at their facility. Additionally, if companies are working in a virtual capacity, we have many options for connecting with students.

For more information, about eligibility and selection criteria see this page: https://career.utdallas.edu/experiential-programs/externship/