Internships and Experiential Learning

The Internships and Experiential Learning (IEL) team operates within the Career Resource Center (CRC) and is part of a collaborative effort to build relationships with employers to develop relevant internship opportunities for School of Management students. Members of the CRC’s graduate advisor team are available to assist MS students in regard to their internship and job search strategies. IEL is also supported by a School of Management faculty committee that participates in policy decisions.

Master of Science programs present both opportunity and challenge in regard to internship participation. Because these programs are designed for maximum effectiveness within certain parameters, the timing of the internship search and participation for MS students requires careful planning. Internships are found in a variety of ways: through networking; attendance at career fairs and other on-campus events where employers are present; using social media sites such as LinkedIn; by applying directly to company websites; and by using our online recruitment database called BizLink. MS students are encouraged to develop an alternate plan in the event an internship is not obtained.

All MS Students

  • Must consistently earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 to participate in internships. Students on academic probation are prohibited from participating in internships.
  • Can participate only in an internship that corresponds directly to their academic curriculum.

International Student Requirements for Internship Participation

  • International students are required to obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization prior to the start of an internship. Registration for academic credit corresponding with the internship is necessary to request CPT. A new I-20 is then issued by ISSS, verifying the CPT work authorization.
  • International students cannot begin their internships until a new I-20 is received, and are not able to circumvent CPT or the academic credit required to obtain it.

MS in Accounting

Students in this program enter by way of our undergraduate accounting program here at UB or from another U.S. university, and can participate in credit-bearing accounting internships in the fall or spring. Academic registration for internships is equal to a maximum of three elective academic credits, enrolled during the same semester as the internship occurs. Internships will not satisfy AACSB requirements. A minimum of 150 hours of internship participation is required, as well as assignments as outlined in the IEL syllabus. Internships are graded pass/fail. MS Accounting students seeking academic credit for internship participation work directly with IEL staff.

MS in Finance

Students admitted to this in this program in the fall (August) can participate in finance internships in the summer between second and third semesters or in the third semester itself. Students admitted to this program in the spring (January) must check with IEL for the correct timing of internship participation. Academic registration for internships is equal to a maximum of three elective academic credits, enrolled during the same semester as the internship occurs. Only one three-credit internship may count toward graduation requirements. A minimum of 150 hours of internship participation is required, as well as assignments as outlined in the IEL syllabus. Internships are graded pass/fail. MS Finance students seeking academic credit for internship participation work directly with IEL staff.

MS in MIS

Students in this program work directly with the MIS academic department faculty and staff for all facets of the required practicum registration as part of their academic capstone. A minimum of 50 hours of practicum participation is required to earn 1 academic credit. Internships take place in the spring semester or in the summer (which requires a graduation date extension).

MS in Supply Chain

Students in this program participate in robust industry-based projects as part of the academic curriculum, and do not participate in internships. These projects must not be referred to as internships on resumes; acceptable terms include the following, based on the nature of the project: supervised research, integrated project or industry project.

Awards

Each year, the outstanding achievements of select employers, alumni, and student interns are celebrated during an awards reception attended by the School of Management Dean, faculty and staff, and guests.

Complete information regarding the program can be found here.