Internships

An internship is an opportunity for a student to transfer knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to a professional setting while under the supervision of professionals. Students who take advantage of internships gain first-hand experience in their field of study, acquire marketable skills, and begin to establish professional networks.

Internships are a key element of a student’s preparation for a career in the arts or communication fields. Due to this, internships are an integral part of the Emerson College experience for both undergraduate and graduate students. A student can earn academic credit for an internship if he or she meets eligibility requirements and completes the internship approval process.

Transfer knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to a professional setting while under the supervision of professionals. You'll gain first-hand experience in your field of study, acquire marketable skills, and begin to establish professional networks.

Locations for Internships

Internships can be done almost anywhere in the world, although Boston, New York City, Los Angeles*, and Washington, D.C. are the most common locations for Emerson students.

*If a student wishes to earn credit for an internship in Los Angeles, he or she must be enrolled in the program offered through the International Study & External Programs Office.

Finding an Internship

As a student, you will not be placed into an internship. It is your responsibility to find and secure your own opportunity. However, Career Services has many resources available to assist you such as eHire, our online internship database and resource library.

The Search

Before you start looking for opportunities, you should think about why you want to do an internship and what you hope to learn. These goals can be about the type of work you would like to do, what kind of employer you want to intern with, geographic location, time commitment, etc. Use these goals to guide your search.

Remember to start your search early to allow yourself time to look, interview, and make a decision. Sites will typically start recruiting for interns in July for fall, October for spring, and March for summer positions. Some internships have a deadline almost a year in advance.

If you're looking for an international internship or volunteer experience, read our International Internships fact sheet to help guide your search.

Academic Credit

If you want to earn credit for your internship, you will have to go through the internship approval process. Your timeframe for searching for an internship should take this into account.

Applying for an Internship

Applying for an internship is similar to applying for a job. You will need to create materials to communicate your interest and employability to employers (i.e., résumé and cover letter). You will send in your application materials to different employers and then you will have an interview. To schedule a mock interview or to have your résumé or cover letter reviewed by a career counselor, contact us.

During the interview, you want to evaluate the nature of the internship and the employer to determine if it is a good match. If all goes well, you will receive an offer from the internship site. At that point, you will want to review your thoughts and feelings about the internship and site to make a decision about whether you want to accept the internship offer. Here are some questions you can factor into your decision:

Does the internship provide:

• Meaningful work experiences?
• Intellectual stimulation?
• Opportunities to work independently?
• Exposure to outstanding colleagues?
• Recognition for achievements?
• A supervisor whose personality suits yours?

Does the organization:

• Have a good reputation and image?
• Invest in improving its products or services?
• Engage in practices you feel uncomfortable with?

Frequently, students will apply to multiple internships so they have multiple internship offers to choose from. 

Starting Your Internship

An internship provides you with a chance to begin establishing your professional reputation. Remember that your internship site is full of potential employers, colleagues, or competitors. If you plan to work in the industry, you will see these people in the future.

Read our Advice for Interns fact sheet for tips to help guide you through the internship experience.