Business Internship Program

An internship is defined as a semester-long, supervised work experience related to a student’s major or career goal for which the student earns academic credit. The work experience may be part-time or full-time and may be paid or unpaid.

Ship has a well-established Business Internship Program, which started in 1972, that provides opportunities for on-the-job experience while gaining college credits. While participation is not mandatory, students earn one full credit hour to every equivalent of a 40-hour workweek they finish. Students can receive a maximum of 9 credits.

The benefits of participating in an internship include:

• Applying academic knowledge and skills to on-the-job experiences
• Communicating and interacting with professionals in the world of work
• Developing professional self-confidence
• Clarifying career goals through exposure to a variety of career opportunities
• Earning money for university and personal expenses
• Building a network of professional contacts
• Completing graduation requirements (general or free elective credit that does not apply to your minor or major electives for graduation)
• Returning to the university with renewed interest and a new perspective on learning

Who Can Apply for Internships?

Juniors and seniors (with over 60 credits) and sophomores (with 45 credits and a 3.0 GPA or better), who are in good academic standing, are eligible to participate in the Business Internship Program. You should acquire an internship within a company or organization that is related to your academic major. Internships can be taken for 3, 6, or 9 credits. Credit earned through the internship program may only be used as a general or free elective credit that does not apply to your minor or major electives and may not be used as a substitute for major course requirements.

Internships must be approved by the respective department chair and internship director.

Internship Opportunities

Internship opportunities include family businesses, franchises, small businesses, and corporations where there is a need for entrepreneurial-minded individuals. Internships often turn into job offers, according to post-graduate surveys of Ship business students.  Find your internship opportunities.

Participating Companies

Shippensburg University has long recognized the need to prepare its students with more than academic knowledge and skills. Since 1972, the John L. Grove College of Business has offered a Business Internship Program that adds practical work experience to student classroom preparation. We extend our appreciation to the following list of some of the organizations that have provided internships for our junior- and senior-level business students during the last few years. In addition, the university participates annually in the Capital Region Internship Fair and sponsors an annual con-campus Career Fair, which enable our students to network with approximately 100 organizations at each event.  Past Internship Employers