During internships, students learn by taking on responsible roles as workers in organizations and by observing and reflecting on daily activities at the work site. Some internships involve participating in a formal program, while others are established through personal or informal contacts between a student or professor and the sponsoring organization. The internship may or may not be for credit and may or may not be paid. Credit will not be given for work experience alone. All internships must involve a formal attempt to integrate the student's work experience with his or her academic interests.
Students can usually complete one or two internships without affecting their graduation dates.