Internships combine classroom learning with paid or volunteer practical work experience and are taken for academic credit. They also provide the opportunity to clarify career goals and establish contacts for jobs after graduation. Local, state, national, and international internships are available. Interns are required to take at least one academic credit in an x98 (198, 298, 398, …) course number. Registering for internship credit is extremely important, as this is the only way in which interns are covered by the Montana University System's (MUS) intern liability insurance policy.
To be eligible to apply for internships, a student must be pursuing a degree program and be in good academic standing. Some departments require a minimum number of hours taken in their department or at The University of Montana before a student is eligible for an internship.
- Register with Internship Services. You can do this by completing an online Student File Registration on our website or manually completing one at our office.
- Set up an appointment with an Internship Coordinator in our office. We can assist with internship searches, resumes, cover letters, and job applications.
- Search for internships on the Griz eRecruiting website. If you haven’t already done so, you need to follow the steps on Griz eRecruiting to “Set Up Student Account.” After registering, you will be able to access the system in approximately 24 hours.
- You can apply for advertised internships (follow application procedures outlined in the position announcement on Griz eRecruiting), or develop your own with assistance from the employer, faculty, and Internship Services staff.
- Search for international internships on the IE3 Global Internships website http://ie3global.ous.edu.
- Search for many other national internships on http://www.internships.com (password for UM students is "Griz").
- Meet with your department's faculty internship advisor to make sure the position qualifies for internship credit and gather information to complete the Online Learning Agreement (Learning Agreement Information Sheet PDF). The advisor will determine the method of evaluation and number of x98 internship credits you can earn (a maximum of six "x98" internship credits can be counted toward Unviersity graduation requirements), and will assist you in developing learning objectives for this internship (developing learning objectives is often a joint effort among the students, employer, and faculty).
- Let your employer know they will be receiving an email to approve your internship.
- Create a job description from the employer and upload the file to the Online Learning Agreement. If not available, type your duties into a field on the Online Learning Agreement.
- Make sure you understand academic assignments your faculty internship advisor may require in conjunction with the internship.
- If needed, have faculty internship advisor complete Override or Drop/Add Slip (depending upon time in semester). For questions regarding course request numbers (CRN), contact the Registrar’s Office.
- If needed, turn in Override Drop/Add Slip to Griz Central to register for class. Business students can register through Cyberbear.
- If you do not have a GRIZ eRecruiting account, you will need one to complete the Online Learning Agreement for your internship.
- Complete your Online Learning Agreement.
- When your Online Learning Agreement is completed, your faculty internship advisor, work supervisor and the internship office will receive an electronic copy of your Online Learning Agreement for their approval.
- When your Internship is approved, the work supervisor and student will receive an electronic evaluation at the end of the internship via email.
- If you will be enrolled less than full-time as an intern and have any form of financial aid, check with the Financial Aid Office for further information.
Your internship will be more positive if you have clearly defined goals, if you take part in employer's staff activities, and if you get sufficient communication and feedback from your supervisor.
Our staff conducts a limited number of on-site visits each year. We may also be able to facilitate conflict resolution with your supervisor. We may be able to provide advice on housing, organization of the internship, and other areas of concern. Please feel free to call us if we can help in any way.
