1. How do I apply to the Credit-Bearing Internship Program?
Our program has eliminated the application step to make the process easier for you. All School of Management students, based on academic performance, will be evaluated and set up in BizLink at the beginning of each academic year. Studets will be contacted by email regarding eligibility to participate. See Earn Credit for more information. Start dates for your internship search are as follows:
2. Can I earn credit for an internship I find on my own?
Maybe. You are more than welcome to search for internships though networking contacts, community engagement, career fairs or other events. Internship opportunities found outside of our program need to be pre-screened for credit before you accept the offer.*
Present the internship description to CBIP staff for evaluation. You may choose to refer your supervisor to the CBIP Director or to our employer BizLink page. Internship descriptions must follow the format outlined in our Internship Description Guide.
*We retain the right to reject an internship site or experience when the internship does not meet standards of academic credibilityor poses an unsafe or unethical work environment for you.
3. Are students paid during credit-bearing internships?
Students may earn credit and receive pay at the same time. On average, just under half of our internships are paid.
The CBIP staff always encourages employers to pay although we cannot require it. We suggest an average pay for undergraduates as $10-$12 per hour, and for graduate students, $15-$25 per hour. Employers will offer what they want, however.
If you are participating in an unpaid internship, you may choose to discuss reimbursement of certain logistical costs with your supervisor after you receive the internship offer (bus fare, mileage, parking, etc.). Some students have successfully negotiated partial or full summer tuition reimbursement for the internship credits. For best results, do not ask the employer about this during the initial interviews. Instead, wait until an offer has been extended and do not ask multiple times.
We complete academic registration for approved CBIP students within university drop/add deadlines. Afteryou accept an internship offer, complete the following steps:
If you found your internship through BizLink, log in to the system and click "Report My Internship" from the home page.
If you found your internship on your own, obtain a detailed description of the internship position from the employer. Provide them with the Internship Description Guide for assistance. Then, log in to BizLink, click on "Report My Internship" and complete the CBIP Main Form.
CBIP staff will review all internship reports for approval.
Once approved, we will contact your employer and instruct them to complete the Management by Objectives Contract (MBO).
Coordinate with your employer because both you and the employer are required to read and sign this form. Submit the completed MBO to the CBIP. Note: Do not ask an employer to complete the contract until you have accepted an offer.
We complete course registration for you and then send you an e-mail confirmation. The course will appear on your UBLearns account.
Additional academic registration steps for international students:
Obtain an offer letter from your supervisor, presented on company letterhead, including the following:
Start and end dates of internship
Number of work hours per week (not to exceed 20 hours during fall and spring semesters or 40 hours during summer)
Your supervisor's name and signature
Bring your offer letter and completed MBO to our office. When completed, you will be provided with proof of registration and an advisor letter required by ISSS, which you will take to 210 Talbert to begin the CPT authorization process. There is no cost for CPT.
Is there anything else I should know?
An undergraduate student may only exceed 18 credit hours for a credit-bearing internship if an override is granted by the undergraduate office. CBIP staff will contact the undergraduate office on their behalf. There is no guarantee the request will be approved.
MBA students are not permitted to exceed 18 credit hours during a semester to participate in an internship.
After graduation, alumni are not permitted to participate in internships found in our BizLink system.
5. If I complete a summer credit-bearing internship, do I pay summer tuition?
Yes, a credit-bearing internship is linked to actual academic credits. You must pay tuition upon the semester of enrollment. This is the case for any course taken within the SUNY system.
6. Can I complete more than one credit-bearing internship?
Undergraduate students are allowed to apply a maximum of six credits (two internships) toward the total number of credits needed to graduate. HR internships can be counted directly toward the concentration area; all other internship registrations are considered elective credit.
Graduate students are allowed a maximum of three credits (one internship) to count toward the total number of hours needed to graduate. Any other internship credits will be considered above and beyond what is nesessary.
Students in F-1 visa status in the School of Management are permitted a second internship/second CPT only under special circumstances. When continuation of a work project is requested by the employer, a new internship description must be submitted and reviewed by CBIP staff for approval.
Students may participate in only one credit-bearing internship at a time.
8. Can I receive an internship requirement waiver?(MBA students only)
Full-time MBA students are required to complete one credit-bearing internship before graduation. To qualify for a waiver, you must have prior professional experience consisting of at least one full year of post-bachelor, full-time managerial experience in a relevant setting.
Résumés must be submitted to the CRC when requested in order that the CBIP director can review and make decisions. You will be notified in the fall semester of your first year if you qualify for a waiver.
Students waived from their internship requirement are allowed to "void" their waivers upon their own request. CBIP recommends that no waivers are voided until an actual internship offer has been made and has been accepted.
9. What if something goes wrong or I have a problem during my internship?
Please contact a CBIP staff member to schedule an appointment. Oftentimes with a bit of coaching you are able to manage the problem or to open up more productive lines of communication with your supervisor. Only when we feel there is dire need would we intervene for you, and your concerns are treated with the utmost respect.
If you become ill, have an accident or encounter any other problems that prevent you from continuing your internship, we must know as soon as possible after the event. Just as with regular courses there are ramifications for early withdrawal such as an "R" on your transcript, an incomplete, or worse, a failing grade.
10. Am I required to register my internship for credit?
Domestic students participating in paid internships are not required to register for credit, but have the option if desired.
International students must be registered for credit in order to request work authorization, regardless of paid or unpaid status.
Legally, for-profit companies cannot offer unpaid internships unless they are offered for academic credit. If you are working as an intern in a for-profit company and are not paid, you must register for academic credit. Not-for-profit organizations often prefer students to be registered for credit during internships as well.
Insurance coverage: as long as you are registered for a course, you are covered under your student health insurance during your internship.
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