Internships

Internships are available during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters on a part-time (8-20 hours per week) or full-time (30-35 hours per week during summer). Matriculated undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply.

Some projects may require related coursework and a specific class standing (i.e. sophomore, junior or senior.) We recommend that you apply as early as possible.

• Explore a career field of interest
• Learn new job skills and gain experience
• Demonstrate related experience on a résumé
• Discuss experience at a job interview
• Obtain references from professionals in the field
• Develop contacts for future employment
• Become better prepared for a competitive job market
• Earn possible academic credit

To discuss internship procedures and resources, academic credit options and the application process, schedule an appointment with our staff through Navigate Student.

To explore internship opportunities, login to Handshake.

In applying for unpaid internships, in particular at for-profit businesses, it is important to do your best to make sure that the opportunity is one that will primarily benefit you the student, rather than the business or organization. This is because you are there to receive education and training. But you should also know that it is unlawful for for-profit businesses to use unpaid interns to displace regular, paid employees. Keep in mind that: the purpose of a bone fide internship is “to integrate classroom learning with practical skill development in a real world setting” (per NY case law).

There are a number of factors to consider, in determining whether the unpaid internship will primarily benefit you:

• What will your duties be? This is tricky but the more routine tasks you would be assigned, the more it suggests the employer is using you to replace a paid employee. Of course, any internship (like many a job!) comes with its share of “menial” or routine tasks, but you want to inquire about the nature of your responsibilities and the content of your internship; you want to come away from the experience with a solid understanding of the workings of the organization.
• What training and supervision will be available to you on site? The more formal or organized, the better. The more your training resembles the type you would receive in an educational environment, including clinical and other hands-on training provided by educational institutions, the more legitimate the internship opportunity.
• Does the internship accommodate your academic commitments by corresponding to the academic calendar?
• Has the business made it clear you will not be paid? You can accept payment (including compensation for work, reimbursement for expenses or a stipend in lieu of reimbursement for expenses you incur), but before you accept the offer, you need to be clear whether or not you’re being paid.
• Has the business promised you a job at the end of the internship? A business is not permitted to induce you to accept an unpaid internship with the promise or suggestion of a paid job to follow the internship.

For-Profit businesses have become increasingly aware of the legal risks associated with unpaid interns. They may require you to receive academic credit for the unpaid internship, but the award of academic credit does not necessarily insulate businesses from liability; it is one factor among many that courts would consider in determining if an intern was really an employee and therefore should have been paid. Still, the more an internship is tied to your formal education program by the receipt of academic credit or by integrated coursework, the better it is for you while also being helpful to the business.

Unpaid internships in the public sector and for non-profit organizations are less regulated but you should still try your best to ensure yourself a genuine learning experience.

In addition to this critical question of whether the opportunity is properly characterized as an unpaid internship as opposed to employment for which you should be compensated, there are additional considerations you should be alert to.

• Is this a safe business environment, or is the internship provider seeking to opt out of responsibilities it would have for your personal safety? For example, are they seeking a waiver of liability if you were to be injured on their premises?
• Are you incurring any liability or risk by virtue of the internship experience, and if so, are you properly covered? For example, if you are being asked to have direct patient contact in the allied medical professions or any conduct which could involve risk to others, you should be aware that students are not indemnified or defended by CUNY in connection with liability for their conduct. If the internship placement does not indemnify and defend you for your conduct in connection with the internship experience, you may need professional liability insurance in the event of any claims by patients or others against you.
• Will your status as an unpaid intern be consistent with any other obligations or status you have? For example, certain activities may be inconsistent with certain student visa statuses which do not permit the visa holder to work. (E.g., F-1)
• Are you familiar with what policies and procedures apply to you in this internship – both at the internship placement, and with respect to your continued status as a CUNY student?