/College of Business
College of Business

Undergraduate Academic Internship

BUS 488 Internship Course

Real-World Experience with Academic Value

An academic internship is a form of experiential education that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skill development in a professional setting. Eligible students may earn academic credit; a faculty sponsor oversees the experience. The internship is usually the length or equivalent of an academic term, usually part-time, and either paid or unpaid. An integral component of the experience that distinguishes it from other types of work is one or more forms of structured and deliberate reflection based on predetermined learning objectives.


BUS 488 may count for the EXP+ Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) requirement and/or one of your specialization electives.

Register for BUS 488 Read Internship FAQs

 

Two people focused on a task

 

Real-World Experience with Academic Value

 What You Need to Get Started

  • Minimum overall GPA of 2.5
  • Completion of at least one semester at Stony Brook University

If you are unsure if you meet BUS 488 eligibility requirements, please contact a College of Business Undergraduate Academic Advisor.

Registering for BUS 488

Your Roadmap to Earning Credit

1. SECURE AN INTERNSHIP

Internships may be on or off-campus, paid or unpaid, and may be found through Handshake, the Career Center, or other outside sources.

If you need assistance finding an internship, please schedule an appointment with one of the Business Career Coaches through Handshake.

You will need contact information for the supervisor you are reporting to at your internship. This site supervisor will provide a position description that outlines your responsibilities and expectations for work performance, and will provide training, mentoring, and supervision of your work on site.

 

2. SECURE A COB FACULTY SPONSOR

You are responsible for obtaining a CoB faculty member who believes your internship is worthy of academic credit and is willing to work with you throughout the term. They will approve your learning goals, and assign and assess academic work necessary to help you reach them. The faculty sponsor will issue your final grade, limited to S/U.

 

3. CALCULATE YOUR INTERNSHIP CREDIT HOURS

  • 1 credit = 50 hours (approx. 4 hours/week)
  • 2 credits = 100 hours (approx. 8 hours/week)
  • 3 credits = 150 hours (approx. 12 hours/week)

 

4. SUBMIT YOUR EXPERIENCE THROUGH HANDSHAKE

The experience will go through an approval process where both your faculty sponsor and site supervisor approve the internship details.

Access HandshakE

 

5. ENROLL FOR BUS 488

Once your experience is approved, you will receive an email with permission to enroll in BUS 488 through SOLAR from the College of Business.

Internship Frequently Asked Questions

 Your Undergraduate Internship Questions Answered

When it comes to graduate business education, Stony Brook University's College of Business offers unmatched value and opportunity. Discover how we stand out, not just in terms of cost and reputation, but also in the tangible benefits you'll gain for your future career.

You may look at listings on Handshake, visit the Career Center, attend a College of Business  Career Fair, or find an internship on your own. The internship can be on or off-campus. 

No, you must secure an internship first and will enroll in BUS 488 once the experience is approved in Handshake. Please see the “Registering for BUS 488” section above.

We suggest reaching out to a faculty member in the College of Business with whom you previously took a course or already have a working relationship, and asking them if they would be willing to be your faculty sponsor for BUS 488. 

If you are a student in the College of Business and the internship relates to your CoB courses of study, you will want to select BUS 488, as it may count for both your EXP+ Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) requirement and/or an elective under your area of specialization. EXT 288/488 should be used for other internships that do not fall under the area of business.

Please contact Stony Brook University's Visa and Immigration Services at vis@stonybrook.edu to find out if you are eligible for CPT or OPT before requesting the BUS 488 experience through Handshake.

No, each internship can only earn up to 3 credits per semester.

Yes, BUS 488 may be repeated (up to 12 credits including any EXT 288/488 credits).

The semester in which the internship ends is the semester you will select when creating the experience in Handshake.

It depends on your faculty sponsor and site supervisor, as approvals are sent one after the other. Please submit the experience as soon as possible to avoid any potential delays or late fees when registering for BUS 488.

Ensure the email address is correct and have your supervisor check their spam folder for an email from Handshake. If still unable to locate the approval email, please contact us at cobundergraduate@stonybrook.edu.

Once the internship is approved by both your faculty sponsor and site supervisor, the College of Business will have a course section created and will issue you permission to enroll, which may take a few business days. You will receive an email once you are able to enroll.

For BUS 488 to count towards a specialization elective, it must be worth 3 credits (150 hours). Each internship can only count for one elective towards one area of specialization. 

Have Any Questions?

From registration steps to finding the right fit for your career goals, our team is ready to support your journey. Don’t hesitate to ask — we’re here to help you succeed.

Email: cobundergraduate@stonybrook.edu
Phone: (631) 632-7171
Address: Harriman Hall 109, Stony Brook University