College of Arts and Sciences

Internship Masthead

Internships by Department. Where to Apply. What Our Graduates are Saying. WIU Career Fairs.

Internships: Opportunity Knocking

Academic internships add real-world experience to a college education. Internships are a working collaboration between the student, Western Illinois University and the internship site. A liberal arts degree can be greatly enhanced by an internship, which in turn creates networking skills and stronger bonds between students, the community and Western Illinois University.

The College of Arts and Sciences has 16 departments that offer undergraduate and graduate internships. Each department's criteria is different, so please consult your academic advisor for additional information. 

For information about internships University wide, please go to Career Development Center.

Why are Internships Important?

Internships are key for students who wish to build strong resumes and acquire skills and knowledge not available through the traditional classroom.

According to Penny Loretto, Internships Expert, "Internships are a proven way to gain relevant knowledge, skills, and experience while establishing important connections in the field." For full article click here.

Allinternships.com, says that, "Aside from a college degree, real life experience is the key to succeeding in today's job market. But you may be asking yourself how you can gain this "real life experience" - the answer is simple: internships! Internships help you gain knowledge about general work functions and learn more about industries and fields that may be of interest to you. Many times an internship will allow you to explore and create work experiences tailored to your specific interests and goals."

Derek Thompson, senior editor at The Atlantic, writes, "But when employers recently named the most important elements in hiring a recent graduate, college reputation, GPA, and courses finished at the bottom of the list. At the top, according to a survey by the Chronicle of Higher Education, were experiences outside of academics: Internships, jobs, volunteering, and extracurriculars." For full article click here. The Chronicle of Higher Education also reported, "An internship is the single most important credential for recent college graduates to have on their resume." For full article click here. 

Experience.com wrote that internships are important for four reasons: technical experience; resume building blocks; post-grad contacts; and one foot in the professional world. For full article click here

Internships, paid or unpaid, provide students with essential skills that will translate into job opportunities. The links below provide the necessary information to start a successful internship search.