Internships, Co-Ops, and other Field Experiences

Gaining hands-on experience outside of the classroom through an internship, co-op, or other field experience provides an opportunity to apply the skills you've learned in classes real world settings. Not only will you have a chance to test your abilities in an applied setting, you will gain invaluable experience solving new problems and networking with professionals in your area of expertise. Practical experiences both build up your resume and provide you with stories to tell in interview settings, while instilling confidence in you to put your best foot forward for your career.

Students can engage in field experiences any time while at UMass Amherst, but typically begin in the summer between their sophomore and junior years. If you are looking to seek credit for an internship, you need to have completed 45 credits before obtaining internship credit.

Absolutely! Hands-on experiences outside of the classroom are open to all students. It is important to note that if you are an international student engaging in a paid experience, you must check with the International Programs Office (IPO) regarding work authorization allowed under your specific immigration status; please review the IPO guidelines for CPT approval at https://www.umass.edu/ipo/iss/curricular-practical-training-cpt .  Call the IPO for assistance at 413-545-2710. Students with a J-1 visa will need work authorization for both paid and unpaid experiences through AT approval.

Not all field experiences can be translated into credit.

• Internships: Depending on your degree program, an internship may be done for credit (typically the number of credits is assigned by a faculty sponsor based on the academic work being completed and the amount of time spent on the internship site). Speak with an advisor in your department for more information.

• Co-ops: Co-ops are full-time experiences that involved being placed on a special status with the University. While completing a co-op, you will not receive academic credit.

• Practicum/Clinical Experiences: A practicum or clinical experience is built into your degree program, and will always be for academic credit.