Business Internship Programs

The College of Business at Northern Michigan University encourages students to explore internship opportunities during their junior or senior year. Internships help students better understand the differences between various jobs and functions within organizations, and also gives them a better sense of how a business or organization operates.

Student internships can take place during the fall, winter or summer semesters, and can be with companies or organizations located both within or outside of the state; students can be employed on a full-time or part-time basis. Over the years, College of Business students have participated in internships with hundreds of companies across the United States, including IBM, Kohler, Harley-Davidson, and KPMG. In some cases, our students have been offered full-time employment by the firm who held their internship.

Below is a list of positions currently available. Some students have also found InternInMichigan.com helpful as they look for internships in southern regions of Michigan.

For Current College of Business Interns:

Log Sheet

For-Credit Internships

Please note: Not all positions may qualify for academic credit. If you are interested in taking any internship for academic credit, you are advised to contact one of the following Assistant Department Heads PRIOR to accepting any position:

For majors in Accounting, Finance and Information Systems
Dr. Stacy Boyer-Davis
sboyerda@nmu.edu
906-227-1239

For majors in Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Dr. Brian Zinser
bzinser@nmu.edu
906-227-1810

Available Internships by Major

What is an internship?

Internships are structured practical work experiences, sponsored by companies and organizations, and are designed to help students understand the complexities of the business environment. The intent of the College of Business Internship Program at Northern Michigan University is to provide students with an opportunity to earn academic credit while gaining work experience in a business, governmental or other institutional setting.

College of Business internships for academic credit are paid internships (100 hours of internship experience = 1 credit) and must be approved prior to the beginning of the actual internship work or experience. Additionally, tasks assigned to the student should correspond to the student's educational background. The College of Business internship coordinator must approve all internships sponsored by employers in order to ensure standards of quality in the work experience are maintained. Students are eligible to earn from 1-4 credit hours for internship experience. (Note: Computer information systems majors can earn up to 8 credits).  

*It is important for the student to recognize that when internships are taken for credit, the student will be responsible for the tuition to cover the cost of the credit.

Eligibility and Applying for Internship Credit

Students that meet the following standards are eligible to take for-credit internships:

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
  • Admitted to the College of Business (except BCIS majors)
  • Junior or senior standing in respective major

Typically, students who are both eligible for, and want to apply for internship credit should first obtain a paid internship from a business or organization, and then (prior to actually starting the internship work) apply for academic credit. Applications for internship credit should be submitted a minimum of one month prior to starting the internship.

In order to apply for internship credit, students must complete the internship application, and submit the application and all of the documents included on the Internship Application Checklist to:

  • Accounting, Finance, Information Systems and MBA: Dr. Stacy Boyer-Davis, sboyerda@nmu.edu
  • Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship: Dr. Brian Zinser, bzinser@nmu.edu 

If approved for academic credit, students are registered for the appropriate level of credit. Students are responsible for a series of bi-weekly reports throughout the internship, as well as some reporting requirements at the end of the internship. Internship credit is graded on a pass (S = satisfactory) or fail (U = unsatisfactory) basis.

Additional Required Information

  1. Unofficial NMU transcripts
  2. Resume
  3. Employer letter indicating job duties, rate of compensation, and contact information

Internship Program Application Checklist

Please make sure you have the following items completed when you submit your internship materials to Dr. Stacy Boyer-Davis, sboyerda@nmu.edu for Accounting, Finance and Information Systems OR Dr. Brian Zinser, bzinser@nmu.edu, for Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship.

___ 1. Completed internship application form (see internship application form)
___ 2. Copy of your current resume
___ 3. Unofficial copy of your NMU transcript
___ 4. Memorandum / letter from the company you are doing the internship with, delineating the tasks, job responsibilities, rate of compensation, etc. that will be part of your internship (i.e., this should be a 1-2 page letter or memo from the manager / supervisor you would be working with during the internship).
___ 5.

Complete contact information for the manager or immediate supervisor you will be working with during your internship; this information should include:
      Full Name
Job Title
Mailing Address
Telephone Number
Fax Number
Email Address
___ 6. Estimate of the number of hours you will be working (as part of the internship) per week, times the number of weeks you will be working. Note: the number of hours you will be working is used to calculate the number of credits; as a general rule, 100 hours of paid internship experience equates to 1 credit. (e.g.,300 hours = 3 credits).
___ 7. Rate of compensation

Student Responsibilities

The internship experience allows the students to see their profession in a more realistic light. Working side-by-side with professionals outside the classroom helps the student to develop a sense of responsibility and confidence in their abilities. Listing an internship, as an example of professional experience, on their resume helps the student in their job search upon graduation. In some cases, students are offered employment by the firm that held their internship. Upon returning to classes after an internship, many times students are more interested in research, have a better idea of course work they wish to study and are very participative in-class sessions.

 

Employer Responsibilities

Through the College of Business Internship Program, employers may successfully screen students for permanent employment upon graduation. Employees who have previously worked with the firm are productive more quickly and are more likely to remain with the firm for a longer period of time. Short-term projects may be able to be completed without the need of hiring permanent employees. In addition, intelligent students may bring new tools and ideas into the workplace, providing present employers and employees with ongoing education.

The employer will be responsible for providing a meaningful work experience for the student.  Skills the student possesses should be utilized by assignment to appropriate tasks. Supervision and guidance must be available to the student in a professional environment. A document outlining the job duties and level of supervision of the student is required for students applying for internship credit and must be approved (along with the other documents submitted by the student as part of his or her application for internship credit) by the College of Business internship coordinator prior to the student beginning the internship.

The employer will sign bi-weekly status reports written by the student in order to verify their accuracy. At the end of the internship, the employer will complete an evaluation of the student, his/her performance, and the strengths and weaknesses of the academic program. The College of Business internship coordinator should be contacted in the event of problems that occur with the student.