In other departments internships are elective courses. But internships offer students other advantages as well. An internship provides an opportunity to explore various career choices as well as to gain real work experience in a chosen field. Internships help students who are transferring to make career decisions about areas of major study. Students develop crucial job search skills and make valuable professional contacts for future employment.
Internships often lead to employment.
Finally internships allow students to apply classroom theory to real work situations and demonstrate abilities in critical thinking, group interaction, written and oral communication and quantitative skills, as well a technical and professional skills. Internships may be either paid or unpaid. Unpaid internships often offer opportunities to explore new career directions and to gain new work skills that would not normally be available at entry level. Students should always ask about compensation. Students should also remember that if they are employed in their field of study they can earn internship credits for their employment.