Who is eligible for an Internship?
Management students become eligible for an internship in either the Junior of Senior year.
It is not only necessary that you have already completed most of your required MGT courses,
but you must also have completed all the Principles courses before
contemplating an internship.
Is a summer or school-year internship preferable?
Neither is necessarily better but summer internships generally present a better
opportunity for several reasons. For example, sponsoring companies generally structure
internships more carefully and also students are better able to manage their time because
the internship does not conflict with regular coursework.
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What kind of position qualifies for an Internship?
The position must offer a genuine opportunity to contribute and develop in one or more of
the core management functions (planning, organizing, and controlling). Two ideal and common
kinds of opportunities are a rotational type of program where the intern cycles through several
departments and a project assignment where the intern investigates a problem, develops a program
of inquiry, collects and analyzes data, and proposes a solution. Generally an internship must be
developmental.
Does the internship have to be local?
No, but be aware that you will be required to attend two (2) on-campus meetings. For
summer interns, these meetings will be scheduled to accommodate the scheduling needs of interns as soon
as practical. Attendance at these meetings will be mandatory and absence for any reason will affect your
internship grade.
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Are there any other requirements?
Yes. See the Management Internship Syllabus. Also you must "check in" via email to the supervising
instructor once every two weeks. In the communique, you should informally present your progress and any
concerns/problems that might be developing. It might help you during the internship, and also in jogging
your memory when you are preparing your internship report, to keep a journal. (Better managers make it a
habit to document their own learning for both clarity and insight.)
What is preferable, a six-credit internship or two business elective courses?
It depends on what kind of internship experience is actually provided and how prepared
you are to showcase your managerial talent/abilities. Also, an internship can strengthen your resume, especially if you have
no other professional experience. In general, a solid internship is more valuable than two more business electives while a
non-productive internship opportunity ends up being a very discouraging waste of time. Note that students who complete
internships overwhelmingly believe that internships should be mandatory for all management majors!
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Can I volunteer for an organization and still get internship credit?
Yes. Internship credit does NOT depend on whether a job is paying or non-paying, or on
whether the organization is profit-making or not-for-profit.
Where can I find an internship?
We post internship opportunities and job leads on the department's Bulletin Board as
soon as the Management department is notified of such job openings by sponsoring organizations. The Management department's
bulletin board is located on the left side of the office entrance. Other resources that students have found helpful include
online internship websites, the university's career development center, WCU alumni members, family members, friends, "Temp"
employment agencies, and organizations in which you may be currently active.
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If I register for a six-credit internship this summer, do I qualify for WCUPA's free room and board deal?
Yes, for the Summer I semester.
I'm currently working. Can I get internship credit for my current job?
It depends on whether or not your current job meets the criteria specified in Question
# 3 above. If you are serving in a supervisory or managerial capacity, we (you!) can generally work with your organization
to negotiate a project that will enable you to fulfill the qualifications. Under no circumstances will we approve academic
credits for a pposition where you serve primarily as administrative or operational support. As a Management major, you know
the difference.
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I'm interested in an internship. What do I do now?
It's simple. Start your search for a qualifying internship early. Make and develop the
appropriate networking contacts (emails addresses, telephone numbers, resume, cover letter, company visits, etc). Contact
the Professor in charge of supervising the internship as soon as you identify prospects and/or job leads that you intend to
pursue. Call (610) 436 2304 to inquire about name of the professor that will be supervising Management internships for the
semester that you are considering doing the internship. For the summer 2003 semester, the supervising professor will be Dr
Rodriguez, whose office is located at Anderson 308 and can be reached via email at rrodriguez@wcupa.edu. You may also
contact either the supervising instructor or the career development office with help on resume preparation.
After securing a commitment from the sponsoring organization, you MUST formally apply for the internship course as detailed in the
Management Internship Syllabus. Registration for internships will be made by Management department personnel if and when
the particular internships opportunity is approved. Approval is not automatic and should therefore not be taken for granted.
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What about timing for a Summer 2003 internship?
You need to have the entire application, acceptance, and registration process completed before
May 16th 2003. Generally for the summer internships, the necessary paperwork should have been started
by the beginning of May.
If a sponsoring organization has questions about the specific details of WCUPA's requirements, can I have them contact the Supervising Instructor
Absolutely. Have the contact person call the Management department at (610) 436 2304.
For summer 2003 internships, contact persons are requested to call Professor Rodriguez at (610) 436 1095
or send him an email at rrodriguez@wcupa.edu
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