Internship Information

What should I expect during my internship?

Students work alongside professionals at the business and are mentored by supervisors. Often students are assigned to work on special projects that allow them to put into practice the concepts and theory learned in the classroom. The level of responsibility they enjoy as an intern surprises many students. This opportunity offers much more than a work-study position or part-time job. What is done during an internship will vary based on the amount of experience you bring to the internship and your willingness to take on added responsibilities. Though assignments vary from internship to internship, you are encouraged to take on more challenges and responsibilities with each new internship.

How do I find an internship?

Plan early and start early. Be sure that you have a resume and are ready to apply, because some internships are only open for a very short time. Interns with some of the larger employers are recruited very early in the year, so investigate the hiring process of the companies in which you are most interested.

• Check our current opportunities to see which internships we're advertising.

• Follow UW Tacoma's Career Connections blog.

• Keep an eye on UWTBIZ and UWTACCTG listserves - positions are posted through the Business school e-mail lists as they arrive.

• To find out which companies advertise internships at the University of Washington Tacoma, visit the Career Development & Education, or search HuskyJobs.

• Try using internship-specific websites like Internmatch.com.  Or, search internet sites like Indeed.com or Simplyhired.com, and visit “niche” career sites like idealist.org or makingthedifference.org.   Students seeking international internships can find great opportunities by using sites like iE3 Global. 

• Learn more about your desired industry and job searching in general by visiting sites like WetFeet and Vault.

• The Career Center at UW Seattle has created Finding Jobs & Internships and Internships: Who, Why, & Where! Take a few minutes to browse and take advantage of the other resources and information they've compiled!

• Identify potential employers and career opportunities based on your interests. Career Development & Education provides a list of web resources sorted by career field here. Contact the employer directly or through your personal contacts to inquire about potential internships. Many employers throughout the country list their internships on their web sites, for example:

Weyerhaeuser
Russell Investments
Moss Adams
Deloitte
Boeing

How can I sign up for academic credit?

Students are eligible to do an internship for credit after completing two (2) quarters and taking three (3) core courses in the Business program. Undergraduate credits earned for internships may be used to fulfill general university elective credits.

• Read the Internship Procedures and Forms

• Download and complete the Internship Application (pages 6-8 of the Internship Procedures and Forms packet).

• Obtain appropriate signatures from the site supervisor.

• Submit completed and signed documents to the Business School office in Dougan 401 no later than the first day of the quarter the student will be earning the credit.

Once submitted, the documents will be reviewed by the faculty leader. If approved, an adviser will e-mail an add code.  Students are responsible for making sure that the appropriate documents are completed and submitted in a timely fashion. The internship forms are considered your application to participate in the internship program within the Milgard School of Business.

How do I earn credit for an internship?

To earn academic credit, you must register for the internship course, TBUS 468.

If you wish to do the internship for academic credit, please download the Internship Policies and Forms. You will receive an add code to register once you have turned in the appropriate forms. Turn the signed and completed forms into the Business office (Dougan 401).

Keep in mind that you should make all arrangements to apply for the credits prior to the start of the quarter. It is against policy to grant academic credit for work already completed. Also, you cannot apply for internship credit for your current job.

What are the time commitments per credit?

You may take an internship for 1 - 5 credits and apply a maximum of 10 internship credits towards your degree. The time commitment to earn credits are:

• 1 credit = 30 hours of work during the quarter

• 2 credits = 60 hours of work during the quarter

• 3 credits = 90 hours of work during the quarter

• 4 credits = 120 hours of work during the quarter

• 5 credits = 150 hours of work during the quarter

Can I be paid?

Of course! That does not mean unpaid internships have no value - they do. Non-profit internships often do not pay, yet they provide some extremely rewarding experiences.

What are the required assignments I'll complete in TBUS 468?

The assignments required in TBUS 468 are meant to help you analyze and communicate your experience. Daily journal entries allow you to reflect on the experience as it is happening and keep track of everything you are doing - it is hard to remember it all at the end! The 5-10 page paper gives you the chance to explore in depth how your experience connected to the classroom and the competencies of the Business Administration degree.

You and your on-site supervisor will also be given opportunities to assess your progress by completing the Intern Evalution and Supervisor Evaluation forms.

Resources for Employers

Please use our Internship Information Sheet to describe your internship's job duties and requirements.  We'll use your responses to write an internship announcement which will be distributed to Business students and posted on our website, so please be as detailed as possible!

For more information, check our our Info for Employers page.

Internship Opportunities

• Internships for Business students

• UW Tacoma Internship listings

• UW Tacoma Career Center Internship Resources

• UWTBIZ/UWTACCTG: Business School listserves

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