Undergraduate Internship FAQs

NLU has a separate set of guidelines and requirements for using a current role as an internship. Internships with a current employer are evaluated on a case by case basis. The purpose of an internship is to provide an experience that advances and compliments the academic and professional concepts and skills you have been learning in your classes. If your current employer is in a field that compliments your program of study, and they are able to create an experience that is consistent with National Louis University's standards for an internship, then you may submit for evaluation.

In order to receive credit for an internship with a current employer, a student must:

1. Develop a project or experience in collaboration with their supervisor which differs from their normal responsibilities and aids in furthering their career interests.
2. Document the project or experience in a proposal using the Career Bridge template, and submit the proposal with the internship application in Handshake

Please keep in mind that an internship with a current employer is something that is intentionally and thoughtfully designed well in advance of enrolling in CAR 490.

NLU will accept some positions not typically associated with internships if:

1. The work to be completed for internship credit has a defined start and end date
2. The work to be completed for internship applies or expands knowledge or skills learned at National Louis University.
3. The work to be completed for internship credit is done so under the supervision of a professional in the field.
4. The site-supervisor is able to track and approve hours worked and complete intern performance evaluations. Such roles will be assessed on a case by case basis to ensure your career interests are best represented.

There is no requirement to intern within your academic major, however it is in your best interest to pursue an internship that aligns with your career aspirations, while gaining exposure to working in a professional setting. If you are majoring in Criminal Justice because you aspire to be a police officer, then it will be most beneficial for you to focus your search within the field of Law Enforcement. Alternatively, if you aspire to work in security or state government, your search will likely differ from that of an aspiring police officer, and you may find yourself in an internship not traditionally associated with a Criminal Justice major. That's ok! Ultimately, prioritize your career interests when searching for an internship.

The requirement for internship is that students actively intern for every week in which they are enrolled in CAR 490 (10 weeks) and earn a minimum of 100 hours. Accumulating 100 hours alone does not satisfy the requirement; you must intern for 10 consecutive weeks regardless of total hours earned.

Only hours worked while taking CAR 490 are counted towards the requirement. Some students might secure internships with organizations that offer 6 month or even year-long internships, which far exceeds NLU’s required length. These opportunities are great experiences and you are encouraged to take them, but credit for hours worked will only be given while you are enrolled in CAR 490.

If your internship is longer than 10 weeks, it can begin before the start of the term and/or finish after the end of the term. Internships cannot begin after the start of the term or finish prior to the end of the term. Remember, you must be interning for all 10 weeks that you are enrolled in CAR 490.

Absolutely! National Louis University encourages and promotes paid internships.

The Career Bridge believes a key component to experiential learning involves exposure to new and challenging experiences, and so recommends that students explore opportunities of which they have no affiliation. However, interning with a company which also employs a family member does not necessarily preclude the approval of an internship.

• No student may intern for a company owned or managed, fully or in part, by a family member.
• No intern may work under the supervision of a family member
• No intern may work under the supervision of an employee that works at the direction of a family member
• Any familial ties must be disclosed in the application process