The Stony Brook University Career Center offers more than 2,000 internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students every year. This section of our website contains information and resources to assist you in identifying and securing this important aspect of your university experience.

Types of Internships 

Internships can be paid or unpaid, full time or part time, with academic credit or not, and occur during the semester or during the winter/summer breaks.

Paid Internships

Includes hourly wage, stipend, travel allowance, or even a salary. Compensation reflects the policies and practices of the organization and industry culture, not the quality of the candidate.

Unpaid Internships

Often the norm in some industries, nonprofits and public service agencies. Some corporate employers do offer unpaid internships, but be careful – for-profit organizations have a responsibility to pay interns if the position meets federal guidelines.

Internships for Credit

Some academic departments at Stony Brook require an internship; others may allow you to count your internship for credit towards the major. Credit-bearing internships require faculty sponsorship and require academic work to earn a grade, which is noted on your transcript.

Non-Credit Internships

A faculty sponsor is NOT necessary for a non-credit-bearing internship.

Internship Eligibility 

Stony Brook University expects its students to be in good academic standing before endorsing a student’s application for an internship. It is unwise for a student to expect that an internship will replace a course requirement or be undertaken solely to remain a full-time student.

An internship (full time/part time) is a real world experience related to your career interests. It may, but does not have to be, related/connected to your academic major or minor. Internships (credit and non-credit) can be done during the academic semester and/or summer. Students at Stony Brook University can register for credit through their department or through the Career Center.

"It is too early for me to think about internships. I’m not a junior/senior yet."

It is never too early to think about internships. In fact, there are internships that exist solely for freshmen and sophomores. With a faculty sponsor, sophomores can earn EXT 288 credit for approved internships.

"An internship requires long hours and will conflict with school."

During the academic year, part-time internships with flexible hours are the norm. An internship can range from 4 hours per week during the semester to 40 hours per week during breaks.

AT-A-GLANCE ELIGIBILITY requirements for EXT 288 & EXT 488

GPA minimum = 2.5

For EXT 288: Completion of DEC A and at least one semester at Stony Brook

For EXT 488: Completion of 57 credits prior to start of internship

TRANSFER STUDENTS:  You MUST MEET with your ACADEMIC ADVISOR for degree progress review. Your academic advisor will confirm that you meet eligibility requirements and will discuss with you how the internship contributes to your degree progress.

JOINT DEGREE applicants:  You must discuss with faculty in your UG & GR departments to determine if credit will apply towards your graduate or undergraduate degree.

Internships For Credit

Most academic departments at Stony Brook have an internship course for their majors. For example, business majors would register for BUS 488, psychology majors for PSY 273 or PSY 488, environmental studies majors for ENS 488, English majors for EGL 488, journalism majors for JRN 488, etc.

The University limits the total number of all internship credits to 12.

Students who are engaged in a career-related internship outside the major department may also apply for credit (e.g. a PSY major with a marketing internship). To receive academic credit outside your major department, you must still have a faculty sponsor, but you will register for a Career Center EXT course.

EXT 288 Internship: This is a sophomore-level course designator that is used by faculty to endorse a lower-level internship experience. This course is not repeatable. Prerequisites: Minimum GPA 2.5, one prior semester of attendance at Stony Brook, completion of DEC A, first course; acceptance by a faculty sponsor, permission of appropriate department and the Career Center. 0-3 credits, S/U grading

EXT 488 Internship: This course is used to support upper-division internships. It may be repeated. Prerequisites: Minimum GPA of 2.5, U3 standing; one prior semester of attendance at Stony Brook, acceptance by faculty sponsor, permission of appropriate department and the Career Center. 0-6 credits, S/U grading

* EXT 288, as a lower division course, does not satisfy EXP+; only EXT 488 satisfies EXP+

Credit vs Non-credit Internships

Credit Student earns academic credits (typically 1 – 6)  and may incur tuition charges (e.g. summer) Internship may be paid or unpaid Requires well-defined position description Internship must be approved by the University Academic departments approve their own internships Career Center approves EXT 288/488 internships Student secures a faculty sponsor Credit requires 4 hours per week for each credit hour (3 credits=min of 12 hrs per week) Specific agreement forms, midterm & final evaluations Graded: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory or letter grade  and included on official university transcript Greater commitment for employer & student

vs. Non-Credit Student does not earn academic credit Internship may be paid or unpaid Requires well-defined description No review/oversight by the University No faculty involvement No minimum hour requirement No agreement form required; evaluations recommended No grade or transcript notation Commitment may vary

EXP+ requirements 

EXT 288/488 Internship Program

Registering for Internship Credit 

Handshake is the Stony Brook University employer database, containing thousands of employer records. Handshake is the first resource you should use to identify employers and apply for internships. Hundreds of opportunities are posted every semester.

In fact,  Handshake is used for ALL employment – part-time jobs, work-study, on-campus employment, community service positions, gap-year opportunities, and full-time post-graduation positions. For help using  Handshake, stop by the Career Center during business hours.

The mission of the Stony Brook University Career Center Cooperative Education Program, in partnership with employers and faculty, is to provide students with paid, degree-enhancing, professional work experience. 

Benefits of co-ops:

• Encourage student growth by providing opportunities that link classroom theory with world-of-work practice in various industries
• Empower students to make informed career decisions and move toward achieving an advantage in a competitive job market, while earning academic credit
• Provide the practical foundation needed to gain admission to the top graduate schools

How does a Co-op Position Differ from an Internship?

While an internship may be paid or unpaid, a co-op position is always a paid position and students are required to enroll in an academic course for variable credit. Co-ops are high-level positions that allow students to directly apply what they have learned in their coursework and gain industry experience.

  Co-op Structures & Registration  

Structure of Co-op at SBU

Parallel Co-op Program

Stony Brook’s co-op program is a parallel program (not alternating). During the academic year, students will be enrolled as students full-time and co-op part time. Summer and winter breaks will be free for full-time co-op.

•          Students may participate during any academic semester (P/T) and summer/winter breaks (P/T or F/T).
•          Duration: co-op requires a minimum of two work terms, but could extend to multiple semesters.
•          Co-op is closely integrated with the course curriculum, and has faculty oversight with academic credit (0-6).
•          Time commitment: 4-20 hr\ours per week during an academic semester; 4-40 during summer/winter break.

Traditional Co-op Program

SBU students are eligible to participate in a traditional co-op opportunities. Students interested need to verify their academic requirements with a specific academic department, campus housing and financial aid eligibility.

Please see Financial Aid & CO-OP document for more details on resources for students considering co-ops.

Student Eligibility

•         57 credits completed
•          GPA: 2.5 minimum for undergraduates
•          Enrolled at SBU for at least one semester before co-op
•          Final approval is pending employer and faculty standards

Registering for Co-op

Co-op is always tied to academic credit. Requesting academic credit for your co-op means that you are willing to do the academic work necessary to earn the credit. You will set academic goals for your co-op with your faculty sponsor, and the degree to which you meet those goals will be evaluated and graded.

To register your co-op for EXT credit:

1.     Obtain a FACULTY sponsor (the Career Center can help you identify someone).
2.      Report your internship on Handshake following the steps outlined here for Spring 20018.

If you have any questions about registration for a credit-bearing internship or co-op, please call Urszula Zalewski at 631.632.6810 or email Urszula.Zalewski@stonybrook.edu .

Student/Employer/Faculty Responsibilities

Student Responsibilities

•         Develop a resume that will effectively present your interests/experience to prospective employers.
•          Register your co-op with the Career Center to obtain permission to receive credits and enroll in a course .
•          Make every effort to adhere to your employer's work standards and employment policies (for example, dress codes, rules regarding attendance, lunch hours, breaks, etc.)
•          Carry out your responsibilities competently and professionally.

Employer Responsibilities

•          Provide a hands-on learning environment.
•          Provide supervision for the co-op student.
•          Provide challenging positions with increasing levels of responsibility.
•          Provide appropriate training.
•          Complete mid-semester and final evaluations.
•          Equitably compensate students.
•          Periodically review and discuss student progress.

University Responsibilities

•          Work with employers to develop learning outcomes.
•          Provide academic oversight during the co-op term.
•          Review student progress throughout the co-op term.
•          Prepare students for success prior to the co-op experience.
•          Be available for consultation if problems arise.

·          Debrief student & employer experiences at the end of the co-op term.

Timeline to Apply

The recommended timeframe to search for a co-op is listed below. Following these recommendations will ensure there is ample time to secure the co-op opportunity, and allow you to stay competitive in the pool of candidates. Some employers recruit much earlier than others.

For a Co-op During	Search During
Fall Semester (September - December)	March - April
January Term	August - November
Spring Semester (February - May)	October - December
Summer Term (June - August)	January - April

Handshake is the first resource you should use to identify employers and apply for co-ops.

For help using  Handshake, stop by the Career Center during business hours.

Stony Brook University employs more than 4,700 students in more than 6,800  jobs across our campuses on an annual basis. The student employment program managed by the Career Center offers:

• Hundreds of student employment positions on campus: student assistant, graduate assistant, federal work-study, research assistant, and more
• Collaborations with more than 360 academic and administrative hiring departments
• Handshake: application and recruiting database where students search and apply for on-campus positions: <Jobs & Internships<Job Type<On Campus Student Employment
• Training and professional development workshops
• Meaningful learning and development opportunities
• Enhanced student employment practices across the campus

For more information, see the On-Campus Student Employment website.  With additional questions, please emailsbucareercenter@stonybrook.edu.

On-Campus Student Employment

Community service can help you build skills and grow as an individual. Volunteer experiences are available to meet a variety of interests and skill sets. There are many ways you can give back to the community while being a student and also in the future as an experienced professional. 

Service-learning integrates classroom instruction and reflection with meaningful community service to enrich the learning experience and strengthen communities. The Career Center connects employers with academic and administrative departments to work with students on projects that benefit the agencies and community. Some exemplary SBU service-learning projects are coordinated with several community agencies and students from the College of Engineering & Applied Sciences, College of Business, Campus Residences and others.

Community Service & Service Learning Site

There are a variety of ways employment can meet your needs throughout your career development. Depending on your career interests, financial needs or time available you may be interested in searching for employment ranging from seasonal to permanent. All year round students and alumni of SBU can find positions in Handshake to suit their employment needs.

Gap-year opportunities are experiences that take place after graduation, often before applying or attending graduate school. Gap-year opportunities can foster professional, academic, or even personal growth.

View and apply for employment and gap year opportunities in  Handshake!

 

Student groups are a great place to build skills. You do not have to be the President of a student organization to build leadership skills. There are over 400+ student organizations to meet a variety of interests, ranging from cultural to professional and everything in between.

Student Clubs & Organizations

Interested in studying or building experience abroad? Visit the following resources for more information:

Peace Corps

Study Abroad & Exchange

Ever wonder what it would be like to work in a particular career? Shadowing can give you insight into a particular  job, employer or industry. Shadowing can help you make connections in your field of interest or can help you explore potential career paths. Shadowing opportunities are not always marketed, but can be created or found through networking. 

Ever wonder what is would be like to work for a particular employer? The Career Center offers several events each year that give students an inside look at selected employers. Such events can be found in the Events section of Handshake.