Internships and professional development

An internship is a short-term learning experience that allows students to take the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom and apply them in a professional setting. Internships provide students the opportunity to learn from professionals and explore potential career options in a wide variety of disciplines and industries. An internship should be recognized as a professional development opportunity where the student is directly supervised and mentored by a staff member at the organization. Interns are given responsibilities beyond basic administrative or clerical tasks, rather focusing on more project-based experiences.

The ideal timeline is that students should begin searching for internships 6-9 months in advance of their preferred start date. For summer internships, most employers begin recruiting students in September / October of the year before, so be prepared to apply early in the academic year! It should also be noted that students do not have to wait until their junior and senior year to apply for an internship. Most employers typically recruit juniors and seniors, but students can participate in an internship at any point during their college career.

Check out upcoming events and look at resources with ASU’s Career and Professional Development Services.

Student with approved internships and submission of completed documentation may enroll in HON 484. Students in HON 484 will attend mandatory, live, course meetings during the semester specified on the ASU Class Search page. Specific HON 484 assignments will vary based on the instructor teaching the course. Grading is based on the following general course elements: course attendance and participation, discussion boards, presentations, and written reflections. Students are expected to stay in regular contact with their internship supervisors and meet all internship expectations agreed upon for the duration of the internship.