Planning for your internship or field experience

At Northland College, students may do an internship or field experience at any class standing, but about ninety percent of all internships are completed during the junior or senior year. Great internships can be highly competitive, and students must have completed advanced courses, be able to obtain references from professors and/or previous supervisors, and have demonstrated a strong work ethic to be considered for a position. Some internships have a minimum GPA requirement, such as a 3.0, to participate, while others require volunteer or previous introductory work experience.

Students may pursue opportunities locally or elsewhere and may receive pay for their experiences. Internships done elsewhere are typically completed in the summer. For more information about summer internships, please read our Summer Internship FAQ fact sheet. In the local region, there are diverse opportunities available with state and federal governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, tribal governments, municipalities, on-campus, and others.

Many of the best internship opportunities are unpaid or include a small living stipend. Unpaid internships provide compensation in the form of training, education, and references. Research shows that for many students, unpaid internships pay off in the long run by helping them land jobs after college. Students do unpaid internships by working a second job during the summer, using savings from previous work, or asking for assistance from family and friends to support them as they gain experience. Northland College also distributes annual Unpaid Internship Awards based on faculty recommendations. In the past, students have received awards for internships with National Geographic Society, Paws for Freedom, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, and the Farm to School Program.

Planning ahead is important. Students must successfully search and apply for the opportunity and arrange all necessary paperwork before the add/drop deadline of each semester. Talking with your advisor a year or at the very least, a semester before you plan to do one of these experiences is recommended.