Internships and Micro-Internships
Definition of an Internship
An internship is any carefully monitored work or service experience through which students can pursue intentional learning goals and reflect actively on what they are learning throughout the experience.
During an internship experience, the student should be guided by a mentor skilled in the area in which the intern is working. An internship is designed to be:
- An opportunity to promote a student’s academic, career, and personal development.
- An experience that involves learning activities, such as observation, reflection, evaluation, pursuit of learning objectives, and assessment.
- An opportunity to develop a future full-time hire for a career-track position.
- A part-time or full-time commitment.
- A paid or unpaid assignment. However, to support equitable experiences for students, UNLV recommends paid internships for all students.
- A duration of three to six months, typically aligned with semester or summer term.
Types of Internships
Internships for Credit
Where possible, academic credit is a preferred method of ensuring supervised experiences and standard learning outcomes are a part of a meaningful internship experience. Academic credit should be awarded for internships based on UNLV’s unit of credit definition. Generally, one unit of credit is considered equivalent to 3 total hours of time spent on the internship and applicable coursework per week over a 15-week semester. In addition to working with a UNLV faculty member as part of an internship course, the intern should work with the site to establish goals, objectives and learning outcomes for the internship, be assigned a mentor/supervisor on site and follow a weekly schedule of projects, meetings and tasks.
Internship assignments are generally made after the student has obtained 60 credits while enrolled in courses.
Students should get approval for their credit internship the semester or summer prior to the experience or before the end of the add/drop period for the semester.
Extracurricular Internships
Many viable internship experiences do not align with the academic calendar or necessitate credit for a meaningful experience. Students seek out these experiences whether or not credit opportunities exist. In addition, for our students to be competitive for sought after career positions in top companies/organizations, multiple internships or career related experiences are desirable and recommended. These opportunities can be obtained through Handshake, networking events, or personal/academic connections.
Note: Students should work with their site supervisor to establish meaningful learning objectives related to their course of study and future career goals.
Credit and Unpaid Internships
The Fair Labor Standards Act provides a checklist for determining if a “for profit” organization can legally offer unpaid internships. A primary focus on learning is a necessary condition for an unpaid internship, i.e., “ The extent to which the internship is tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.” However, credit and paid internships are not mutually exclusive. The ideal opportunity is for students to receive both pay and credit.
Micro-Internships
Micro-internships are short-term, paid, professional assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. These projects enable students and alumni to demonstrate skills, explore career paths, and build their networks as they seek the right full-time role. Unlike traditional internships, micro-internships are year-round opportunities that typically require 10 to 40 hours of work per project, with some extending up to 200 hours, and are often completed within one week to two months.
At UNLV, students can explore micro-internship opportunities through the Parker Dewey platform.
UNLV College/Department Internships
There are several internship programs available on campus. Please check with your individual department to learn more about possible internship opportunities in your field of study. Examples include: