The center’s focus on theory and application equips you with a solid foundation of business principles enhanced through real-world experiences that prepare you to lead in fields related to professional selling, business communication, and sales-related technology.

As a professional selling major, you’ll benefit from a broad range of potential careers in industries such as:

  • healthcare
  • pharmaceuticals
  • consumer products
  • financial planning
  • insurance
  • industrial products
  • business services
  • retail
Job Search

Top businesses frequently contact the Center for Professional Selling to fill full-time and internship positions. These industry leaders often recruit seniors, either one or two semesters from graduation, and look for individuals who have engaged in sales competitions, experiential learning opportunities, or are members of Pi Sigma Epsilon.

To position yourself for one of these rewarding, influential job opportunities, you should engage in an internship your junior or senior year. Many companies offer internships as a way to gauge a student’s potential and fit with the organization. Therefore, treat internships as an extended job interview—the first step toward a fulfilling, well-paid career.

To participate in an internship that fulfills academic requirements, follow these steps: 

  1. Complete the required prerequisite courses.
  2. Search for an internship several months before your ideal start date to give you enough time to find a position that meets your educational objectives and personality.
  3. Ensure the internship meets the required length: Opportunities during the spring and fall tend to be either part-time (10-30 hours each week) or full time (40 hours each week), while summer internships are often full time.
  4. Obtain an Internship Eligibility Form from your respective department according to your area of study for your major or minor.
  5. Take the form to your faculty internship coordinator, Joseph Chapman, who will review your plans, oversee the educational aspect of the internship, and assign your final grade.

Contact Coordinator

Our students bring fresh perspective, technological savvy, and energy to your operation. Many companies employ interns for specific projects (analysis, research, marketing, operational, etc.), and it’s a great way to identify candidates for future full-time positions.

Unpaid internships are acceptable, but we suggest you offer students a fair salary during the internship period. Joseph Chapman, our faculty internship coordinator, is happy to discuss compensation options with you. If you’re offering an unpaid internship, every effort should be made for a quality experience.

We will work with you and the intern to agree on the duration of the internship to determine the amount of academic credit. When possible, internship length will conform to a Ball State semester.

The length of any internship varies based on your needs, but internships typically take place during the summer, spring, and fall semesters. Opportunities during the spring and fall tend to be either part time (10-30 hours each week) or full time (40 hours each week), while summer internships are often full time.

If you establish an internship with us, you will:

  • Provide the intern with carefully planned, varied assignments that enhances the educational experience.
  • Prepare a written job description (also referred to as a learning agreement).
  • Supervise the intern's work in a manner that gives value to the learning experience.
  • Explain work rules and standards of conduct to the intern.
  • Evaluate the intern's work and discuss the results with him or her.
  • Furnish reports, in a timely manner, that evaluate the intern’s ability, attitude, and performance and offer suggestions to improve the internship.

Interested in Creating an Internship?

Internship coordinator Joseph Chapman looks forward to reviewing the options with you.

Faculty mentor Joseph Chapman is your internship coordinator. His role is to approve students who qualify and counsel them on standards of professionalism, ethics, conduct, and appearance. He will be your channel of communication between you and the employer, when necessary, and provide evaluation feedback on reports and assign final grades.

Please note the faculty supervisor is not the same as faculty advisors, who guide students through major and course selection.

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Pi Sigma Epsilon

Open to any student interested in selling, sales management, and marketing, this active, national organization supports networking, professional development, and scholarships. Learn more.