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Internships

As employers place less emphasis on GPA and more on real-world skills, internships have become essential to career preparation. They bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry expectations, helping students develop the competencies that a technology-driven workforce demands. All Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing are encouraged to pursue opportunities to gain practical experience. 

Internships help students:

• Apply classroom learning in professional settings.
• Clarify career interests and strengths.
• Gain exposure to tools, timelines, and team environments.
• Build a professional network.
• Strengthen résumés and job interviews.
   

Internships Lead to Better Offers

More than 70% of employers plan to maintain or increase intern hiring, according to NACE’s . Those without internships face tougher competition in the job market.

• Internship experience is the top factor employers use when choosing between equally qualified candidates, according to . 
  Paid interns average more job offers and higher starting salaries than unpaid interns and non-interns, according to .
• Over two-thirds of 2024 graduates nationwide completed at least one internship, the highest rate in six years, according to NACE’s . 
• 57% of graduating seniors said their institution prepared them very or extremely well to enter the workforce or to pursue additional education, according to that same survey.

The New Career Currency

The value of internships goes beyond skill-building. Less than 40% of employers say GPA is a primary screening tool. Instead, they prioritize academic rigor, internship experience, and evidence of career-ready skills. Researchers identified eight career readiness competencies – skills that can be gained or improved through internships -- that hiring managers say are often missing from recent graduates. These include:

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Professionalism
• Critical thinking
• Leadership
• Artificial intelligence literacy

Career Readiness Starts at ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´

Experiential learning is part of the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan, a five-year strategic initiative focused on student success. Known as ExCel, which stands for Experiential Centered Learning, the QEP encourages students to apply what they learn in the classroom in real-world environments.  ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ students have access to a variety of resources to help identify and secure internship experiences:

University-wide Tools:

• job board
• section via the ¹ú²ú¸£Àû×ÊÔ´ Center for Career & Professional Development
• website and through the State of Florida
• through the Center for Career & Professional Development
• resources

Labs and Experiential Learning

• Department-sponsored research and internship opportunities
• – Cybersecurity and incident response experience
• – Hands-on training tracking global threat actors
   

Where Students Intern

Learn How to Get Course Credit

Students who secure internships may be eligible to earn academic credit toward their degree. Full details on eligibility, requirements, and next steps are available in Canvas: