Interested students from every concentration in the Business Administration program are welcome to apply. Certain qualifications are required. If you are interested in an internship, we highly recommended that you start to plan for an internship early in your academic career. In order to graduate on time, ensure that you properly plan the process of company or organization selection, interviewing, course selection and other academic requirements. Since internship credit for business administration majors is granted only in programs’ free elective category, ensure that you leave enough free elective credits for this experience.
Through the Internship Program, we strive to create a positive experience for both you and the host company or organization. The departmental Internship directors, in consultation with you and other faculty, are responsible for approving host organizations. Internship sites located at considerable distances from the University are not recommended. If you are aware of a company or organization that wishes to participate in the program, have that company submit a detailed job description to one of the directors for approval. This job description must be submitted one semester in advance of the internship assignment.
The Internship Program is structured to give you an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom to the activities of the corporation. Considerable care is taken to ensure that your work experience is clearly related to your coursework and major field of study. It is hoped that the internship experience will enhance your total university experience by forging a link between conceptual and applied knowledge of the major field of study. Ideally, the training and experience that you gain as a result of the internship can be valuable in two ways. First, the experience could give you a competitive advantage when searching for a permanent position. Many employers seek students with a higher education who have also acquired meaningful on-the-job training prior to graduation. In some cases, internships can lead to full-time employment with the host firm. Second, the internship experience can enable you to see various career opportunities and to clarify your own career objectives.
Before you apply to the Day Internship Program, contact Dr. Michael Greenwood in Sanders 104-S, Internship Director, for a full review of your academic records.
The internship application process should be completed at least one semester prior to placement. You are encouraged to visit the Internship Office to discuss the program and application process. Timely submission of all required documents will maximize the possibility of successful placement as an intern.
Procedures
- Complete an Internship Program Application Form (PDF).
- Submit the completed application form along with a curriculum check sheet and a résumé to the Internship Director. If you need assistance with writing a résumé, contact the Career Services Office.
- Review the listings and descriptions of available internships.
- When your internship file is complete, arrange for an interview with the Internship Director. Successful entry into the internship program is based on specific selection criteria.
- If you are approved for an internship, the Internship Director sends a letter of introduction and a copy of your résumé to the company or organization you are applying to for internship.
- Arrange to meet with the appropriate supervisor at the company or organization you have applied to.
- If selected for internship by the company or organization, a “contract” letter will be sent to both you and the company or organization involved.
- Communicate with your advisor and ensure your course scheduling provides for timely graduation.
- Meet with the Internship Director before your internship starts to review the requirements of the internship and to answer any questions you might have.
- You must communicate with the Internship Office at least once every two weeks, by telephone or in person.
- Schedule one visit, at the end of the semester, for the Internship Director to meet with your immediate supervisor.
- Submit your internship report to the Internship Director at least one week before the last day of regularly scheduled classes of the semester.
- Schedule your exit interview with the Internship Director to take place during final examination week.
Note: The success of any internship rests primarily with the intern. It is expected that the intern will demonstrate good judgment and keep the Internship Director informed on a regular basis.
For additional information regarding the application process, contact the Business Administration Internship Office in Sanders 104-S.
Student qualifications for the Internship Program are as follows:
- Applicant should be preferably a second-semester junior or a first-semester senior. Exceptions to this criterion are permitted, but on a selective basis.
- An overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or better is required along with a 2.5 minimum in business courses. However, the GPA is a guideline and not meant to disqualify a student who exhibits other qualifications.
- Receive the recommendation of Business Administration faculty.
- Receive the approval of the Internship Director.
Internship Candidates are required to submit a completed application form, personal résumé, and current degree evaluation to the Internship Office. After reviewing these documents, an interview will be conducted by the Internship Director.
During the interview, the program requirements will be discussed thoroughly, including a complete explanation of internship assignments, procedures, administration, and grading. All internship candidates must agree to these requirements in advance of placement. Following approval for internship, a letter of introduction and a copy of the student’s résumé will be sent to the host company or organization selected. It is then the student’s responsibility to secure an appointment for a job interview with the company. The host company selects the student of its choice for the internship position. All companies selected to participate in the Internship Program must meet predetermined requirements deemed necessary by the University and the Business Administration Department.
Following the selection of the student by the host organization, a contract letter will be sent to both the student and the company for review. Once agreed upon, the student must sign the contract and return it to the Internship Office. These documents will become a part of the intern’s permanent file.
Internship job descriptions are posted on the Business Administration bulletin board.
Companies selected to participate in the program are pre-screened and meet the criteria as a host company. Keep in mind that companies and organizations should be located within a reasonable distance of the University in order to facilitate faculty visitations.
Each intern will be under the overall supervision of the Director. Regular communication between the intern, host company, and Internship Director will be required. The ultimate responsibility to complete the program and properly communicate with the Internship Office rests with the student.
Internship Requirements
- Mid-Term Evaluation: 25% of grade.
- Final Evaluation: 25% of grade.
- Weekly Journal Entries: 25% of grade.
- Internship Report: 25% of grade.
- Exit Interview
Performance evaluations (PDF) (50% of total grade) must be conducted by the employer at the mid-term and end of the semester. The Internship Director will conduct at least one site visitation at the end of the semester. Grading of the internship report and performance evaluations will be consistent with the standards set forth in a regular classroom. In addition, such evaluations will reflect the academic policies of Fitchburg State University and the Business Administration Department. An exit interview with the Internship Director, though ungraded, is a formal requirement of the internship and must be completed before a grade is reported to the registrar. Time and date will be arranged for mutual convenience of the Internship Director and the intern at the end of the semester.
Internship Grading Policy
The Internship Program uses the Fitchburg State University grading scale.
Student interns will prepare an internship report. The purpose of this paper is as follows:
- To enable the student to communicate about the internship experience
- To provide the student with an opportunity to reflect on how the internship assignment integrates and complements the completed academic coursework at the University
Professionalism in document presentation and content is expected. The document format to be used for the report is as follows:
- 12-cpi font
- Double-spaced lines
- 10-15 pages in length (excluding cover page, table of contents, endnotes, references and résumé)
- 1-inch margins
The topical components to be covered in the internship report are specified in the following outline:
Internship Report Topic Outline
- Cover Page
- Table of Contents
- Description of Internship Assignment
- Type of firm and industry
- Functional area and position held
- Job profile and responsibilities
- How job and functional area are interrelated with other jobs and functional areas in the firm
- Self-Assessment of Internship Assignment
- Knowledge and skills required for job
- Which (and how) university courses prepared student for internship assignment
- Self-assessed performance evaluation
- Value of experience to personal and professional goals
- Report on other career opportunities in field
- Supervisor-signed Weekly Time Sheets (PDF)
- Summary and Conclusions
- References
- Updated Resume (Inclusive of Internship Activities)