Internships

Every business major completes an internship as a graduation requirement. This practical, hands-on work strengthens resumes, confirms career interests, and often leads to full-time employment.  Most internships are well paid.  Students can earn up to four units of academic credit.  A majority of internships are completed in the summer but some occur during the school year.  Internships are available in accounting, finance, information systems, law, management, marketing, and general business operations at a variety of organizations, including large corporations, small businesses, federal/state governments, hospitals, and other nonprofits. 

Hear some interns tell their stories on Instagram:
Courtney at PwC
Isac at Slalom Consulting
Sienna at LLU
Nyasha at AH

Internship Process

Read the syllabus for detailed guidelines that should be followed carefully.  Also, check out the Internship Q&A below.

Steps:

1. Find an Internship.  If you need help, see the end of this page for more information.
2. Internship Pre-Approval Form (online form): Due before internship registration to ensure the work will qualify.  You should get email approval within 24 hours, along with further instructions.
3. Handshake Profile:  When you have received pre-approval, create your profile on Handshake, the website used to register for your internship.
4. Internship Registration:  For a short consultation on the registration process, please contact Danielle in the Student Development Center (509.527.2664, danielle@setniker@wallawalla.edu). Once you've spoken with Danielle, you will complete the Experience Request via Handshake.  Next, the Experience Request is approved by your internship work supervisor via an email from Handshake (may need to check junkmail).  When approved, it is routed to the Academic Records Office, which will automatically enroll you in the internship for the credits specified.
5. Financial Clearance:  Financial clearance is required in order to finalize registration.  If you earn credits, tuition per credit is applied at the normal rate.  If you don't earn credits, an internship fee is applied.  Either way, financial clearance is needed.
6. Learning Objectives Form (Word file):  Due no later than two weeks after the internship start date.  Please email to Dr. Toews.
7. Weekly Progress Report (Excel file):  Due at 60 hours and 120 hours of documented experience.  If you don't accumulate 120 hours by the end of the quarter, you will receive an "IP" grade (In-Progress) that will remain in place until 120 hours have been documented, at which point the grade will be changed to an "S" grade (Satisfactory).
8. Self-Evaluation Form (Word file):  Due at end of internship or when 120 hours have been accumulated.
9. Employer Evaluation:  Completed via Handshake.  Interns do not need to do anything for this step other than possibly reminding their work supervisors to complete the online evaluation.

Questions?  Read the Syllabus or contact Dr. Toews, Assoc. Dean and Faculty Advisor for all business-related internships.

Finding an Internship

Many students obtain internships through recruiters who either come on campus or recruit virtually.  Many others find their own internships by learning of business-related work from a relative or family acquaintance, or maybe by just knocking on doors.  An increasingly popular way to find an internship is through online internship databases.  You will want to check out the internships listed on Handshake, Indeed, LinkedIn, InternJobs, Monster, ZipRecruiter, InternshipFinder, USAJobs, SimplyHired, or CEI.  Also, a list of local opportunities is regularly emailed to business students.  In addition, students can receive help by attending WWU-sponsored job/internships fairs.  Finally, you can make an appointment with Student Development Center  to receive customized help in searching for internships (career@wallawalla.edu, 509.527.2313, lower level of Village Hall).

Internship Q&A

A. WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP?
Internships provide real-world work experience related to the major.  Work experience can occur in a variety of businesses, governments, or nonprofit organizations of any size.  Although many students learn about internships from on-campus recruiters, many others find their own internships, perhaps for a small business of a friend or family member, or for a large organization that posted the internship online.  Most internships are paid, although some have been on a volunteer basis; however, laws limit the work non-paid interns can do in for-profit businesses.

B. AM I REQUIRED TO REGISTER FOR AN INTERNSHIP?
All students seeking a four-year business degree are required to register for an internship. The internship will appear on the academic transcript as if it were a class.  Internships are available but not required for two-year degrees, minors, and Automotive Management or Aviation Management majors, but internships are required for Information Systems majors.  Internship requirements may be waived for students who have significant and verifiable work experience in a business-related area prior to enrolling at WWU, as determined by the School of Business Dean or Associate Dean. 

C.  IN WHAT INTERNSHIP CLASS SHOULD I REGISTER?
Students can choose from six internship areas: accounting (ACCT490), information systems (CIS490), finance (FINA490), general business (GBUS490), law (LAW490), management (MGMT490), and marketing (MKTG490). The internship prefix should align with the nature of the work.  If an internship will not closely relate to one of these functional areas, use the GBUS490 prefix (general business).  For BBA students, the internship area does not have to be the same as the concentration earned.

D.  WHEN SHOULD I REGISTER FOR AN INTERNSHIP?
Ideally, registration should occur before the quarter in which the internship will occur.  Most students complete internships in the summers between the junior and senior years, between the sophomore and junior years, or even between the freshman and sophomore years.  Although most internships are done during the summers, some are done during the school year via an on-campus, off-campus. or online job.  While multiple internships are encouraged, registration for only one is required for graduation.

E.  CAN ACADEMIC CREDIT BE EARNED FOR AN INTERNSHIP?
Zero to four credits can be earned, but the only time students should earn credit is if they are behind in the credits needed to graduate on time.  The requirements for completing the internship are the same whether credit is earned or not, but tuition is charged per credit earned because these credits are replacing those that otherwise would be earned by taking a class.  Most students complete internships for zero credit so that tuition is not charged.  However, a fee is assessed for zero-credit internships to help pay for the Handshake website and faculty/staff oversight. Therefore, financial clearance is needed before registering for internships, regardless of the credits earned. (For financial questions, contact Student Financial Services at 509-527-2815).

F.  HOW MUCH WORK TIME IS REQUIRED IN AN INTERSHIP?
A minimum total of 120 hours of documented work experience is required, regardless of the number of credits earned (0-4 credits).  For example, the following would meet the requirement: working three, 40-hour weeks, or working twelve, 10-hour weeks.  A letter grade is not given for internships; rather an “S” for Satisfactory will appear on the transcript.  If the internship is not completed by the time quarter grades are due, an In-Progress (IP) grade will be assigned that will be replaced with an “S” grade when all requirements are met.  Therefore, if students don’t accumulate 120 hours in the quarter, they can continue applying hours from future quarters until the requirement is met.  An IP grade can remain outstanding for a maximum of 12 months.