Internships
Southwestern University student interns are skilled and motivated.
Through Southwestern's internship program you may test, groom and recruit full-time candidates while furthering your organization's success. We invite you to sponsor Southwestern students in internship positions. They possess determination, effective communication skills and strong academic preparation.
Help students explore fields of interest and clarify their majors.
Through internships, students customize their college experiences and gain a competitive edge in the job market. Knowledge is gained related to the major, graduate studies and career goals. In addition, students earn practical employment experience that may be added to a resume. Plus, students learn to build a network of professional contacts, mentors and references, which are valuable for lifelong career goals.
Southwestern students are smart and versatile.
Students receive enriching classroom and laboratory experiences because they are able to work one-on-one with faculty dedicated to undergraduate education. A broad-based, liberal arts and sciences curriculum is at the heart of Southwestern's academic programs. Additionally, pre-professional programs are offered in athletic training, ministry, engineering, medicine, dentistry, law and education. General education requirements at Southwestern provide a well-rounded education that fosters skills most valued by today's employers and graduate schools—problem solving, communication, cross-cultural understanding and global awareness.
Components of an Internship
Internship Site Supervisors
These individuals provide support and feedback to guide the student in achieving his/her learning goals. In providing an experiential learning environment, the employer should expose the intern to "cutting-edge" techniques and new developments in the field. In addition to training for specific job duties, other valuable skills such as writing, research, computer expertise and communication should be enhanced through the internship experience. Liaison and supervision by a faculty member and by a primary supervisor at the work site is necessary if the student seeks full academic credit. This ensures coordination between the academic program and the work experience.
Academic Internship Credit Policy
Internships for academic credit require significant academic work from students beyond on-site hours -- such as keeping a journal, writing, research, classroom meetings and presentations. This academic component, supervised by a faculty member, is part of what distinguishes academic internships from part-time or full-time employment, volunteer work or non-academic internships. Internships during the regular academic year average 10 to 15 weeks and usually follow the academic calendar. The length of summer internships varies but is normally at least six weeks. As part of all academic internships, students receiving three hours credit must work a minimum of 120 on-site hours during the academic term.
Set up an Internship
If you would like more information about sponsoring internships, if you wish to develop an internship program with Southwestern University or if you have an existing internship program, please contact:
Maria Kruger, Internship Coordinator
(512) 863-1671 (512) 863-1270 fax
internships@southwestern.edu
