What is an internship? 

Internships and practicums allow you to work for organizations and programs to gain experience.  

Internships and practicums can: 

• Be paid or unpaid 
• Done for course credit or for no course credit 
• Be in-person or virtual 
• Be local, national, or international 

Internships and practicums completed for course credit: 

• Must have a qualified supervisor (determined by the industry) 
• Must be approved by HHP Internship director if they are being done for course credit 
• Must meet academic requirements of 45 hours of service/outreach for 1 hour of academic credit 
• Students need to be in good academic standing with the University of Iowa 

Why do an internship? 

Internships are a fantastic way to get experience in careers that match your academic and personal goals. This allows you to try out your professional interests and build on your classroom knowledge with industry experience.  

How to find an internship? 

While securing an internship can at first seem like a daunting task, following these four simple steps makes the process easier for everyone. Remember, internships are found by students, not handed out by faculty.   

HHP Resources to find Internships:

• Check out the latest listing of Internship and Practicums that recruit UIowa HHP Students HERE!
• HHP Student Group on LinkedIn is another great option to see experiences shared.
• HHP Department Page is a great way to see how our group is working with the community! 
• Watch Be Internship Ready Webinar with HHP and Pomerantz Career Center

Step One: Find Your Passions.  

• I have joined clubs at the University of Iowa that seem interesting and fun. 
• I have taken a skills assessment test to learn about my strengths, weaknesses, and passions.  
• I have researched potential careers, discussed options with my academic advisor, and communicated with professionals in my future job field for advice.  
• I have chosen a major that aligns with my values and future career goals.  
• I have created a LinkedIn page to start building my network and to learn about opportunities that I could seize.  

Step Two: Build Your Skills. 

• I have completed coursework that aligns with my goals and helps to prepare me for my future career.  
• I have volunteered at places that help me get hands-on-experience. 
• I have created connections through LinkedIn and listened to LinkedIn Learning Videos.   

Step Three: Identify Your Opportunities. 

• I have researched internship opportunities on HHP Wiki page.  
• I have spoken with my academic advisor about credit versus noncredit and paid versus nonpaid internships. 
• I have updated my LinkedIn page with a picture, biography, resume, and achievements.  

Step Four: Continue Your Pursuit.   

• I have three professors, previous bosses, or professionals to serve as references or to write recommendation letters on my behalf.  
• I have applied to several internships and provided the needed documentation (ex. resume and cover letter).  
• I have prepared for interviews for each respective internship.   
• I have a system for tracking completed applications and interviews. 
• I have landed my dream internship!  
• I have emailed Professor Erin Litton about registering my internship for course credit.