{"id":394,"date":"2024-06-05T18:04:13","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T18:04:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/career\/?page_id=394"},"modified":"2026-07-27T08:10:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T08:10:41","slug":"internship-definitions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/career\/internship-definitions\/","title":{"rendered":"Internship Definition and Policies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-block accordion expandable-group expandable-group-lightblock\" id=\"newExpandable\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headinginternship-definition\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsenewExpandableinternship-definition\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsenewExpandableinternship-definition\">Internship Definition<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsenewExpandableinternship-definition\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headinginternship-definition\" data-bs-parent=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Career Development Center supports the following definition of an internship.&nbsp;<strong>Please note that this may be different from other academic departments on campus.<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience&nbsp;and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths;&nbsp;and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.<\/em>&nbsp;<em>Additionally, in a formal, structured program with faculty supervision, there is the&nbsp;opportunity to improve the curriculum and impact academic research<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This definition closely mirrors the definition by the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/naceweb.org\/internships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Association of Colleges and Employers<\/a>&nbsp;published in their&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/naceweb.org\/about-us\/advocacy\/position-statements\/position-statement-us-internships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Position Statement on U.S. Internships<\/a>. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingpaid-vs-unpaid\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsenewExpandablepaid-vs-unpaid\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsenewExpandablepaid-vs-unpaid\">Paid vs. Unpaid<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsenewExpandablepaid-vs-unpaid\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingpaid-vs-unpaid\" data-bs-parent=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In April 2010 the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, redefined its standing on unpaid internships with specific regard to for-profit&nbsp;organizations. There was a 6-part test in which all conditions had to be met in order for it to be unpaid with a for-profit organization.&nbsp; This resulted in numerous lawsuits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In January 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division updated its policy with a 7-part &#8220;primary benificiary test&#8221;. The DOL states, &#8220;Courts have described the &#8216;primary beneficiary test&#8217; as a flexible test, and no single factor is determinative. Accordingly, whether an intern or student is an employee under the FLSA necessarily depends on the unique circumstances of each case.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additional Information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"is-style-compact-list wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/whd\/regs\/compliance\/whdfs71.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fact Sheet #71<\/a>: Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.naceweb.org\/public-policy-and-legal\/legislation-and-regulations\/new-guidelines-for-internships-the-new-unpaid-intern-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Guidelines for Internships: The New Upaid Intern Test<\/a>\u00a0&#8211; the National Association of Colleges and Employers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingcareer-center-stance-on-unpaid-internships-with-for-profits\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsenewExpandablecareer-center-stance-on-unpaid-internships-with-for-profits\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsenewExpandablecareer-center-stance-on-unpaid-internships-with-for-profits\">Career Center Stance on Unpaid Internships with For-Profits<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsenewExpandablecareer-center-stance-on-unpaid-internships-with-for-profits\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingcareer-center-stance-on-unpaid-internships-with-for-profits\" data-bs-parent=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We encourage all employers to pay their interns; having students work without pay puts lower socioeconomic students at a disadvantage. If you are a for-profit entity recruiting unpaid interns through Handshake, you&nbsp;<em>must&nbsp;<\/em>include a thorough description of how the position meets the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/whd\/fact-sheets\/71-flsa-internships\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">US Department of Labor&#8217;s 7-part beneficiary test<\/a>. The Career Development Center maintains the right to deny any posting deemed not in the best interest of our students.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingcooperative-education-definition\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsenewExpandablecooperative-education-definition\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsenewExpandablecooperative-education-definition\">Cooperative Education Definition<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsenewExpandablecooperative-education-definition\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingcooperative-education-definition\" data-bs-parent=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the definition of Cooperative Education (Co-ops) and how are they different from internships?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooperative Education is similar in definition to internships in that both are a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom&nbsp;with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Both&nbsp;give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.Additionally, in a formal, structured program with faculty supervision, there is the opportunity to improve the curriculum and impact academic research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Are Co-ops Different from Internships?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A co-op position:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"is-style-compact-list wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is always paid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always involves multiple semesters &#8211; minimum of two, usually three semesters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is always for academic credit. The credit is given for the learning, not the work. Thus experience must be related to the student&#8217;s major of study and future career&nbsp;goals. Future terms must build on experience gained from the first term with increased&nbsp;responsibilities and increased opportunity for learning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>May be alternating or parallel.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Alternating<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; Student alternates semesters of full-time work with full-time study. Alternating&nbsp;students maintain their full-time student status while working. Students may take&nbsp;classes during their working term if their work schedule allows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parallel<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; Student works part-time while enrolled in classes full-time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does MTSU Offer Co-ops?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The University has co-op credit courses.&nbsp; The Career Development Center will post co-op positions.&nbsp; The awarding of academic credit is arranged between the student and the academic department. The CDC does not award credit. MTSU does not have a separate Co-op Office.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingwhy-should-i-hire-interns\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsenewExpandablewhy-should-i-hire-interns\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsenewExpandablewhy-should-i-hire-interns\">Why Should I Hire Interns?<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsenewExpandablewhy-should-i-hire-interns\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingwhy-should-i-hire-interns\" data-bs-parent=\"#newExpandable\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NACE cite&#8217;s the current conversion rate for interns at 66.4%- imagine how much money is saved in training and onboarding costs! Consider starting an internship program to help find future employees, increase your visibility on MTSU&#8217;s campus, and help give students the a jumpstart to their career. Logon to app.handshake.com now to post your internships with MTSU!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"is-style-compact-list wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naceweb.org\/talent-acquisition\/internships\/intern-conversion-rate-climbs-fueled-by-jump-in-offer-rate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Intern Conversion Rate<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naceweb.org\/talent-acquisition\/internships\/key-strategies-for-converting-interns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Key Strategies for Converting Interns<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-394","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=394"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":995,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/394\/revisions\/995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/career\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}