Internships Course
Participating in Internships
Gaining experience while in college through internships and co-ops — as well as research, volunteer and service activities — gives students opportunities to apply academic concepts in practice. It also allows the exploration of possible future occupations. The learning and skills acquired in such experiences help students become more competitive candidates in the workplace.
Another benefit is the development and enhancement of transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, ethics, social responsibility and teamwork. Students can enroll in one of two BBS internship courses, depending on individual needs, interests, experiences and career goals.
Students are responsible for securing their own internships and co-ops. Students may use different resources to identify potential openings including Handshake through the University Career Center. Career consultants are also available to assist students with implementing an effective job search, including reviewing resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and preparing for interviews.
Both classes require students to identify at least three specific learning objectives with their supervisors. The supervisor will sign-off on the Learning Objectives Form with the student. The intent is for students to show that they are learning and applying new things to their current positions for at least 8 hours per week. The employer and organization may require more hours than the minimum.
Students meet individually at least two times during the semester with the instructor to discuss their overall experience and progress towards the learning objectives. The academic assignments include completing two memos on assigned topics, maintaining a weekly journal, and completing a final project. Students and the supervisor both complete evaluations about the overall experience at the end of the semester.
CLDP/CGS/NSC/PSY/4394; SPAU 4396 Field Internship
(3.0 credits, Credit/No Credit)
For this course, students intern on a volunteer, unpaid basis in a local setting for a minimum of eight hours per week. In addition to their work in the position, students follow a syllabus and complete assignments related to their experience.
CGS/CLDP/PSY 4395 Cooperative Fieldwork
(3.0 credits, Credit/No Credit)
Students who are currently employed in a setting related to their major may be eligible to receive credit for their experiences through the co-op course. Students may work in paid positions in for-profit business settings, schools, government agencies and non-profits. Students are required to work for at least eight hours per week. The employer may require more hours than the minimum. In addition to their work in the position, students follow a syllabus and complete assignments related to their experience.
Contact Mickey Choate at either mickey.choate@utdallas.edu or (972) 883-4270 for additional information on the above two courses.
Deadline Dates
Fall ’24: The deadline was August 12.
Spring ’25: January 13 is the deadline to be approved for either the Internship or Co-op Fieldwork class for Spring ‘25. Please allow sufficient time in advance to apply and interview for internships and co-op positions. It also takes time to develop the proposed learning objectives with supervisors in order to have a position approved as a co-op.
Requirements for BBS Internship Courses
- Students must be undergraduate juniors or seniors
- Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5
- Students must secure their own field placement
- Students must begin working at their placement site during the first week of the term
- There is no retroactive credit awarded
- As representatives of UT Dallas, interns must conduct themselves professionally at all times
Registration in a BBS Internship Course
Students are registered by the instructor after approving the setting, position, and proposed learning objectives. Email an overview of the experience along with the three proposed learning objectives to Mickey Choate at mickey.choate@utdallas.edu to begin the approval process.
