Internship FAQs

Most students complete their short-term internships in the summers following their first and sophomore years. It may also be possible to complete them over a winter break.

Although most students choose to complete their internships close to home, since they typically take place in the summer, or over winter break, students may stay on campus during either of these periods to complete their internships. There is a fee to stay on campus during the summer, but there is no cost during winter break.

The short-term internships require a minimum of 120 hours.

In pre-internship courses (INT010 in the first year and INT020 in the second year), led by Internship Faculty, students learn how to conduct a search, including crafting professional resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. In addition, they learn about available resources, including a searchable database of past internship sites, and an online internship/job board exclusively for them. Many students use their personal networks in the search process as well. Additionally, the staff of the Internship & Career Center can assist students in their search.

Dedicated Internship Faculty in each school are our students’ main point of contact throughout the internship sequence. They teach the pre-internship courses in the first and second years, advise on resources, vet potential sites, and guide their students through applying for and completing internships.

Endicott values the learning experience of internships and therefore does not require interns to be paid. The primary purpose of the internship, which is a required part of the academic curriculum, is to provide a learning experience of substance in a professional setting. Compensation is a matter left entirely to the supervisor and the intern.

Internship courses (INT100 during the first short-term internship and INT200 for the second) include assignments such as creating a Learning Agreement with the internship site supervisor, and a reflective essay about the internship at the conclusion of the experience.

Students earn 2 credits for the successful completion of each experience, combined with the course work in the pre-internship courses (INT010 and INT020) and the courses taken during the internships (INT100 and INT200).

The Learning Agreement is used as a tool to help the student articulate objectives and goals as well as a way for the student and site supervisor to outline the student's internship responsibilities. The agreement should be signed by the student and the site supervisor. The student should submit a final copy of the Learning Agreement to their internship faculty (with the understanding that it may be amended at a future date if necessary).

Students usually complete the semester-long internship the fall term of their fourth year at Endicott, or occasionally during the spring term of their third year. Students wishing to do it in their third year should speak to their internship faculty and department chairs as soon as possible.

Internship Faculty in each school continue to work with students on all aspects related to their senior internships, during junior and senior years. They provide resources and guidance in researching, locating appropriate internship sites, and completing the final internship experiences.

Endicott values the learning experience of internships and therefore does not require interns to be paid. The primary purpose of the internship, which is a required part of the academic curriculum, is to provide a learning experience of substance in a professional setting. Compensation is a matter left entirely to the supervisor and the intern.

The internship session corresponds with the start and end dates for classes in any given semester or school break, as per the Academic Calendar. Students may begin working before the start date or continue working after the end date; however, this time may not be counted as a part of the internship unless necessary to meet the minimum time requirement by arrangement with their Internship Faculty. Students are expected to honor all time commitments they make to their site supervisors.

Students are required to work four days a week. In some cases, particularly with co-ops, students may work five days per week.

Students are required to attend a one-day weekly seminar on campus. Students are at the College all day when they are attending the seminars. Students who are approved for distance semester internships take the seminar course online. Faculty leading the seminars assign academic coursework to be completed by the student throughout the semester. For more detailed information, please review the Student Internship Handbook.

Students earn a total of 12 credits for the successful completion of both the work portion and the seminar portion of the internship.

The Learning Agreement is used as a tool to help the student articulate objectives and goals as well as a way for the student and site supervisor to outline the student's internship responsibilities. The agreement should be signed by the student, the site supervisor, and the faculty supervisor. It is the responsibility of the student to discuss the Learning Agreement with their site and faculty supervisors. The student should submit a final copy of the Learning Agreement to the faculty supervisor early in the semester (with the understanding that it may be amended at a future date if necessary).

This course is designed to integrate the practical experience with the student's academic experiences. Three primary goals are: 1) to help students conceptualize the relationship of their studies to their internship experiences and chosen professional fields, 2) to help students understand the organizational structures of their sites and their roles within those structures, and 3) to monitor student progress by providing a place for students to discuss their internship experiences as well as develop communication techniques and strategies for dealing with positive and difficult situations.

The Semester Internship Seminar is led by a member of the faculty experienced in the students' academic majors as well as the types of industries or organizations where students are working. During the course of the seminar, students are required to do or participate in activities such as group discussions, papers, readings related to their chosen internship/career field, and critical incident journals.

The senior internship is a fundamental component of the program of study at Endicott College and is the reason that most students select Endicott over other colleges. The faculty-supervised internship experience provides the integration of theoretical learning in the classroom with real world application in the workplace. The full-semester internship is essential to the senior academic experience, which includes career preparation and a culminating thesis or capstone project. The internship, if successfully completed, carries 12 credit hours that are required to complete graduation requirements. Because this is a faculty-supervised internship, which includes site visits and regular class assignments, as opposed to non-credit bearing experiences as offered at some institutions, the College charges normal semester tuition charges.

To help ensure a successful experience for the intern and for the site, supervisors are asked to:

1. Assist their intern with formulating learning objectives and goals, and sign off on those goals.
2. Orient their intern to the company's work environment and culture, such as expectations for professional behavior, arrival and departure times for work, dress, personal phone calls, time off for appointments, etc.
3. Help their intern to feel comfortable at work by introducing them to other employees inviting the intern to eat lunch with you and other staff, and making sure they have all the resources they will need such as a desk, access to a phone, and a computer.
4. Provide a structured work experience, by giving them specific tasks and timelines with clear performance criteria. Schedule a regular check in to discuss their progress on assigned work and projects.
5. Take on a mentoring role for your intern, by answering questions and providing guidance and feedback when needed. Help them understand the specifics of your department, the company, and the professional industry or field.
6. Communicate with the Internship Faculty (or 480 faculty for senior internships) about any problems you are unable to resolve with your intern.

This would be the Internship Faculty for 100 and 200-level internships, or the 480 faculty member for senior internships.

The 480 faculty member would like the opportunity to meet with each student and their supervisor at the internship site. Within the first two weeks, the faculty member will contact the site supervisor to arrange a formal site visit, when possible, or an online meeting (such as by Zoom).

A Supervisor Evaluation form will be emailed to all site supervisors toward the end of the internship. This evaluation plays an important role in the final grade of the student. Supervisors are asked to share evaluation feedback with the intern. Students are required to complete evaluations of their internship experiences and sites as well.