Internships

Common characteristics of an internship

• Three–six months or more
• Part or full time
• Paid or unpaid
• On or off campus
• Academic credit
• Non-credited experience

For-Credit Internship Information

A Hope College internship involves:

• An academic course with deep learning in an applied setting for which students receive a grade and academic credit listed on their transcript
• A professor who:
  • Oversees the internship
  • Makes contact with the onsite supervisor and student
  • Assigns and evaluates readings and written assignments
  • Meets or communicates with the student regularly to stimulate reflections about vocation and calling
• An applied experience onsite at an outside employer
• Three hours onsite per week over the course of at least one semester or summer, along with time invested in course meetings and writing, for each credit earned
• An on-site supervisor who conducts regular meetings with the student

Internship Search Steps

Before scheduling an internship appointment, try to accomplish as many of these steps as you can:

• Draft a résumé
• Decide if you want credit for your internship (some majors require an internship for credit to graduate)
• Research internships on Handshake
• Decide where you would like to intern geographically
• Decide which semester(s) would make the most sense for your schedule (we recommend planning at least a semester or two in advance)
• Schedule a meeting with Boerigter staff via Handshake
• Begin applying for 20+ internship opportunities with tailored résumés and cover letters or letters of inquiry
• Practice interviewing with a mock interview or online practice through InterviewStream on Handshake

Off-Campus Internships

With support from the Boerigter Center and the Fried Center for Global Engagement, you can earn internship credit through domestic and international off-campus programs.

Learn more about off-campus internships 

Faculty Resources for Teaching Internship Courses

Access all faculty resources for teaching internship courses via Google Drive 

• Internship syllabus examples
• Readings
• Site and student expectations

Micro-Internships

Micro--nternships are short-term projects at external organizations, typically involving 20–60 hours of work.

• For students, micro-internships provide a way to gain some hands-on experience and display your skills to a potential employer. While we strongly encourage summer or semester-long internships and other experiential learning activities, micro-internships can serve as a supplement to further enhance your résumé.
• For employers and alumni, micro-internships may be an optimal way to accomplish small projects in your organization without the formality of hiring new staff or a consulting firm. In addition, it’s a great way to get to know a Hope student that you may want to invite back for future opportunities.

Hope College has partnered with Parker Dewey to post and find micro-internship opportunities. Create an account and get started.