Student FAQs
How can I participate in the C&BA internship program?
Complete an application at http://cba.ua.edu/students/internships/requirements.php and turn it in with your resume to Students Services in 10 Bidgood or fax it to 205-348-7538. You DO NOT need to await a response. Proceed with your internship search when you turn in your application. Your application WILL be approved if you meet the requirements detailed here. Your application and resume are for C&BA records, whether or not you are seeking internship course credit, and will not be distributed.
Since this program allows internship self-selection, no placement will be made for you. You must apply to each internship you find that is of interest according to its individual instructions—via CrimsonCareers, on the company web site, etc.
By the semester of your internship, you must be a C&BA major enrolled into the upper division with 60 or more earned hours and a 2.5 GPA minimum. You must register an online CrimsonCareers account to view the list of internships, see below, “Where is the list of available internships?”
The internship is simply a class outside the classroom, designed to be compatible with your other classes. It is a 3-hour C&BA course elective. A minimum of only 10 hours per week is required for your participation during any semester. If your internship is paid and you wish to work more hours, you may do so as your schedule permits.
How long does an internship last?
Unless otherwise specified by a company’s recruiting materials, your internship should begin with the start of classes according to the UA academic calendar, http://registrar.ua.edu/calendar/, and end with the last week of classes. Summer internships must span the full summer term—both Summer I and Summer II sessions. Variations in the dates of your internship tenure may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
What if I’m not seeking course credit?
You may select "no" in the appropriate spot if you are not seeking course credit for the internship. The "no" option exists for students who want to participate in the C&BA internship program but who have already taken a 492 (internship) class for credit or for students who do not need a business elective and seek to avoid paying summer tuition for it. Although you may work in more than one internship, only one 492 course can count toward the completion of your degree requirements.
Often companies prefer a UA partnership (for credit or not) as a means of accountability. Even if you do not need the 3-hour business elective, you have the option to enroll for the internship if you are eligible. It will appear on your official academic transcript.
For regular jobs through UA, visit https://jobs.ua.edu/ and click "student job opportunities" on the left, then "student positions." Some of these may be eligible for internship credit. Also, discuss regular jobs and/or your post-graduate career options with a Career Center consultant in 250 Bidgood, 348-2691. Many other general questions may be answered too at http://www.career.ua.edu/index.asp.
When should I intern?
By the time you begin an internship, junior or senior standing will be a prerequisite to enroll for the 492 internship elective. For some students, cost determines when to take an internship. UA tuition for spring and fall semesters is charged at a flat rate for full-time students—whether you are taking as few as 12 hours or as many as 17 hours. So, part-time internships during spring and fall semesters cost no extra if adding the 3-hour internship will keep you between 12-17 total semester hours. Summer internships span both Summer I and Summer II terms (10 hours minimum weekly) and are charged according to UA summer tuition rates. More at http://www.cost.ua.edu/.
Unless otherwise specified, employers do not have a preference for when you intern as long as you have the maturity and the upper-division classes to assist you on the job. The benefit to working an internship earlier is that the experience could help you solidify your academic and/or career path, and give you time to take another internship before you graduate if you so desire. You may earn course credit, though, for only one internship. After the internship term, neither you nor the internship employer is under any obligation to accept or to offer a job, respectively.
Are the internships paid? Can I earn pay if I am taking an internship for academic credit?
Any monetary compensation is between you and the employer, but not all internships are paid. Yes, you can earn pay and academic credit at the same time and paid internships are encouraged. Some internships that do not pay an hourly wage may offer other perks, such as mileage reimbursement, free admission to company events, stipends, etc.
Regardless, the good work experience and positive relationships and contacts you build during your internship can pay off in the form of job references and professional resources. In addition, the experience can strengthen your resume and boost your interpersonal and professional skills and your marketability.
Where is the list of available internships?
If you are looking in a certain location, try a Google search, such as “Dallas, TX internships” or specify your interest, such as “Dallas, TX sports internships” and explore the leads your search returns. CrimsonCareers, The University of Alabama’s online recruiting management system, also allows you and employers 24/7 access. There you can easily register, search internships and jobs, send online inquiries, and manage multiple resumes, cover letters, and related documents. See http://www.career.ua.edu/students/companies_recruiting.asp for a list of companies that have recruited on campus in recent years. Click their web sites to search for internships and apply as instructed. Then, contact me to inquire about course credit for the internship, for which you will need a registration permit from me.
Once you loginto CrimsonCareers and register an account,you will be prompted to upload your resume—get resume help in 250 Bidgood, the C&BA Career Center satellite office (348-2691). To create your account, go to http://career.ua.edu/crimsoncareers.html and click on CrimsonCareers and click the “Getting Started: Student Quick Start Guide” PDF under “Student and Alumni Login” and follow the step-by-step instructions. Within 24 hours, you will receive e-confirmation that your account has been activated. Because your resume is in the system does not mean that anyone has seen it. To apply to individual postings, you must submit your uploaded resume to each one of interest, as well as turn in to 10 Bidgood your C&BA application and resume as a record of your participation in the C&BA internship program.
After you login to CrimsonCareers, go to “Hire Now Postings,” select “Job Search” from the drop-down menu and select “Internship” under “Position Type” and select “Undergraduate” under “Classification.”Leave blank the other fields and click “Search.” Each entry you click will provide thorough details of the job description and application methods (if other than “submit resume” on the left-hand bar).
Below is an example of what you might say in your optional self-referral student message when applying via CrimsonCareers:
"I am a double major in business and communication and this position very much interests me. I would welcome an interview at your earliest convenience, and I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration."
Always follow up with a phone call within five business days to inquire about the status of your resume/application and request an interview. Interviewing for an internship does not obligate you to accept it if an offer is made. Once you accept an internship, however, you will not be eligible for other internships that may arise during the same semester.
What can I do now to get a head start?
Attend relevant career fairs and events, http://career.ua.edu/students_alumni.html. Use Google or other online search engines or sites such as those at http://career.ua.edu/documents/handouts/Internships.pdf to research internships now. Some very competitive, high-profile internships have application deadlines that are months in advance of the start date. See also http://www.career.ua.edu/documents/handouts/Employer%20Research.pdf. Even companies posted on CrimsonCareers often require that you also apply on their web sites, which you will know if there is an “online application address” listed. Begin your research now, http://www.career.ua.edu/resources/websites.html.
In addition to pre-approved C&BA internships posted for your review on CrimsonCareers, you may discover local businesses of interest too at http://www.tuscaloosachamber.com/, http://www.hooverchamber.com/. For sports in particular, see http://sportmanagement.ua.edu/experiences.html or http://www.ua.edu/athletics.html for divisions that may offer internships or consider an internship arrangement with you.
The internships listed in CrimsonCareers are by no means exhaustive, and I encourage your proposals for internships you find through your own searches or contacts. It will benefit you to determine your options (beyond CrimsonCareers) before committing to an internship. Go to http://www.career.ua.edu/resources/websites.asp for a list of internship web sites, or use a search engine such as Google.
For internships abroad, see http://international.ua.edu/programs/index.html. For FAQs about the annual London/Dublin summer internship, visit our placement partner's web site at http://www.eusa-edu.com/students/faqs/index.asp. The username is "eusa" and the password is "students."
Can I earn credit for an internship I find on my own? What about for a related part-time job?
Again, I encourage your proposals for internships you find through your own searches. To propose an internship for academic credit that is not listed in CrimsonCareers, provide me the company web link and the name, email address, and phone number of a contact and I can provide info to him/her on how we can partner.
For any employer of interest who is not yet a partner with UA’s business internship program, I will be glad to contact him/her for you to inquire if s/he will agree to mentor you in an internship experience—formal or not. Or, to call on your own, below is a phone “script” that you may adapt for your use:
“Hello Mr./Ms._________:
My name is (your name) and I am a University of Alabama business (your class standing) in (your major). I found out about (name of company) through (how you found out) and wondered if you have an internship program or if you would like to partner with the one we have at The University of Alabama. I can earn course credit for an approved on-the-job “class outside the classroom” in which Ican put into practice what I have learned about (your major) and work alongside professionals.
The upcoming fall internship semester will span August 20-December 5, during which time I must work at least 10 hours per week. May I refer my internship coordinator to you for more details about UA’s business internship program?
Thank you for your consideration.”
When I follow up, I request from the employer an email describing the anticipated projectsor intern assignments foryou, including your hourly wage, number of work hours per week, and job location. The duration dates should follow UA’s academic calendar or a comparable duration.
What happens once I accept an internship offer?
When you accept an internship offer from an employer, email me at kwheel@cba.ua.edu or phone me at 205-348-4537. Once I confirm your participation eligibility from your C&BA internship application, which I cross-check against your academic record, I will notify you (and your employer) via email that I have issued for you a registration permit and explain how you can enroll for the 3-hour C&BA internship elective course through myBama.
I will copy the email to your employer, so make sure that you understood and accepted a definite offer. If you chose not to seek course credit on your internship application, I will simply email you and your employer a confirmation of your mutual participation in the internship program and make known to you both my availability to mediate any questions or concerns during the semester. Once you have a permit, there is no capacity limit for enrollment and the permit is valid until UA’s course “add” deadline.
How do I enroll for my internship?
See above. You will not be able to enroll for the 3-hour C&BA internship course elective until I issue for you a registration permit. First you must interview with employers, accept an internship offer, and notify me. Then I can issue for you a registration permit for the appropriate internship course elective. These sections have no capacity limit, but are closed until you have the assigned registration permit to add the course in myBama. Administrators cannot register for you. You must manage your ownwebregistration with your user name and password in myBama.
If your internship will be 40 hours per week during a fall or spring semester, plan to register for co-op credit to keep you onrecord as a full-time student while you are away from campus working full time. You will also need a registration permit to add this course via myBama. The 12-hour co-op “course” is a place holder to preserve your student status and costs the same as a one-hour class. See http://www.cost.ua.edu/.
If you are enrolled in an internship and/or co-op, the course(s) will appear on your official academic transcript.
What is required of me during my internship and how will I be graded?
Your pass or fail grade will be based on the criteria that follow: completion of a 10-hour-minimum weekly work schedule, compliance with rules, guidelines, and professional conduct set forth by your internship employer and by The University of Alabama, a final internship paper (due at the end of the semester for those seeking credit), and satisfactory performance evaluation(s) by your employer that will include assessment of your attitude, punctuality, initiative, quality of work, and adaptability. You will also have the opportunity to evaluate your internship experience. The internship “class” will meet once during the semester. An absence is permitted for students whose internships are located more than 60 miles from campus.
Are there international internship opportunities?
For annual internships abroad, see previous brochures at http://international.ua.edu/overseas-study/pdf/London_2008.pdf and http://international.ua.edu/overseas-study/pdf/Dubin_2008.pdf. For FAQs about the annual London/Dublin summer internship, visit our placement partner's web site at http://www.eusa-edu.com/students/faqs/index.asp. The username is "eusa" and the password is "students."
A few international leads include http://fita.org/, http://jobsinlogistics.com/, and http://www.atlantaaircargo.com/, http://www.aitc.ua.edu/, and http://www.ifc.org/careers/.
How does a co-op differ from an internship?
Cooperative education is an academic program in which you alternate periods of full-time study with periods of full-time employment. At work, you earn a competitive salary and may receive benefit packages in addition to valuable on-the-job experience. You maintain your full-time student status while at work (scholarships and financial aid are deferred to the next academic term) and have priority registration status each semester through graduation. Most co-op employers require two or more work semesters prior to graduation, and summer-only employment is NOT compatible with co-op.
FMI, see http://coop.eng.ua.edu/prosempwhatiscoop44.htm. To participate in the next co-op interview day, complete before October the application materials at http://coop.eng.ua.edu/prosstudapp44.htm#prosstudapp44. Deliver them to Naomi Powell (348-8549 or npowell@eng.ua.edu) in Houser Hall Annex across the street from the rear movie theater entrance of the Ferguson Center.
What’s the best way to reach my internship coordinator?
By email, always include in your subject line your name and intern employer or what the message is in reference to, such as “Kristi Wheeler-Griffin: UA Student Services business internship.” Please also adjust your message composition options to “include original message in a reply” so that I can quickly reference our correspondences.
To meet one-on-one, please schedule an appointment through Student Services in 10 Bidgood or at 348-4537. Whenever you come for an appointment, always verbally notify the reception staff in 10 Bidgood first, but there is no need to sign in for an internship advising appointment. Go to http://career.ua.edu/documents/handouts/Internships.pdf to conduct some preliminary research and come prepared to discuss your options. I look forward to working with you. You may address me as "Kristi" or "Ms. Wheeler-Griffin." I very much look forward to working with you.