Employers expect relevant professional experience, and we work hard to pair you with meaningful internships that align with your interests and career goals. Faculty advisors offer guidance, but it is your responsibility to line up internships with employers, who will make an offer directly to you.
The Process

Need Help? 

Ball State University’s Career Center can help you search for internships, review your resume, and provide interview tips and practice.

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. Complete the Internship Application. This will be sent directly to the Faculty Internship Coordinator for your indicated major.
  5. The Faculty Internship Coordinator will review your application, internship plans, oversee the educational aspect of the internship, and assign your final grade. This person will reach out to you with any questions or concerns about your application. (Please keep in mind that internship coordinators are not the same as academic advisors, who guide you through your major and course selection.)
  6. Once your application is approved, the Faculty Internship Coordinator will direct you to register for the associated internship course. NOTE: The internship course must be taken at the same time you are completing the internship experience.

Graduate or MBA Student? 

Internship information for graduate and MBA students can be obtained online or from the Miller College of Business Dean's Office.

Business internships are listed as 300-499 level courses. You are eligible for these courses once you have fulfilled the Miller College admission standards and meet the department-specific prerequisites, listed below.

Internships are also available to non-business students pursing a Miller College minor, or non-business majors pursuing a major that requires a specific 300/400 level course (and have met course prerequisites).

For more information, consult your department’s internship coordinator.

Requirements and Prerequisites

ACC 369: Internship in Accounting 

  • Accounting major
  • Complete Intermediate Accounting 1 (ACC 301)
  • Permission from the accounting internship coordinator

BUSA 369: Internship in Business Administration 

  • Business administration major
  • Permission from the department chairperson or internship coordinator

ECON 369: Internship in Economics

  • Economics majors or minors
  • Second-semester junior or senior standing
  • Complete Intermediate Microeconomics or Intermediate Macroeconomics (ECON 301 or 302)
  • Permission of the department chairperson

ENT 369: Entrepreneurship Internship

  • Entrepreneurial Management majors only
  • Complete ENT 241
  • Permission of the department chairperson or internship supervisor

FASH 369 and INFM 369: Internship in Fashion

  • Contact the Faculty Internship Coordinator for prerequisite details

FIN 369: Internship in Finance

  • Second-semester junior or senior standing
  • Complete Principles of Finance 1 (FIN 300)
  • Permission of the department chairperson

HOSP 369: Internship in Food or Hospitality Management

  • Hospitality and Food Management majors only
  • Complete Foodservice Sanitation (HOSP 147), Customer Service (HOSP 210), Lodging Management (HOSP 250), and Introduction to Event Management (HOSP 376) or Restaurant Management and Quantity Food Production (HOSP 400)
  • Documented experience of at least 300 hours in a food, event/meeting, or hotel establishment, and an additional 50 hours of customer service either directly or indirectly related to the hospitality industry, and an additional 50 service hours at the Maplewood Mansion Learning Lab.
  • Hours must have been accumulated within the prior 4 years.
  • Documented attendance of internship meeting prior to registering for the course.
  • Permission of HFM internship director or department chairperson

INAD 369: Internship in Apparel Design

  • Complete Draping (FASH 303) and Principles of Marketing (MKG 300)
  • Permission of the department chairperson

INTB 369: Internship in International Business

  • International business majors or minors
  • Permission of the department chairperson or internship coordinator

ISOM 369: Internship in Information Systems and Operations Management

  • Permission of the department chairperson

MBA 699: Internship in Business

  • Miller College of Business students or non-major with permission of the Miller College director of graduate studies

MGT 369: Management Internship

  • Human resource management majors
  • Complete Managing Behavior in Organizations (MGT 300) 
  • Permission from the department chairperson or internship coordinator

MKG 367 or 369: Non-paid Internship in Marketing or Professional Practice in Marketing 

  • Open only to marketing majors or minors.
  • Complete Principles of Marketing (MKG 300)
  • Permission of the department chairperson or internship coordinator

PMGT 369: Property Management Internship

  • Property Management majors
  • Complete ACC 201 (Principles of Financial Accounting 1), HOSP 210 (Customer Service), PMGT 275 (Marketing & Leasing Properties)
  • Permission of the department chairperson or internship coordinator

RMI 369: Internship in Risk Management and Insurance 

  • Permission of the risk management and insurance faculty
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. Our departmental respresentatives are happy to discuss compensation options with you. If you’re offering an unpaid internship, every effort should be made for a quality experience.
The employer, intern, and department must 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 that evaluate the intern’s ability, attitude, and performance and offer suggestions to improve the internship.

Interested in Creating an Internship?

Our faculty internship coordinators look forward to speaking with you about the options.
Faculty members who supervise internships approve students who qualify and counsel them on standards of professionalism, ethics, conduct, and appearance. They act as a channel of communication between the student and employer, when necessary. Supervisors also provide evaluation feedback on reports and assign and communicate final grades.
Please keep in mind that the following internship coordinators are not the same as academic advisors, who guide you through major and course selection.

Supervisors

  • master of science in accounting: Jason Stanfield
  • master of business administration: assigned faculty member with director acceptance, begin by talking to Allison Logan.

The Ball State Career Center also lists internships and helps you with preparing for the interview and job expectations

Available Internship Support

Starting Summer 2020, the Miller College is pleased to announce an internship support scholarship. Any Miller College of Business major who is completing an internship for credit is eligible to apply.

To apply, complete the internship scholarship application and submit all required documents to the Office of Student Success and Engagement (WB 147) by the following dates:

  • Fall Internship: July 1
  • Spring Internship: November 1
  • Summer Internship: March 1
    • For Summer Internship assistance, students will need to register for the internship when registration opens in mid-to-late March. A decision will not be made until course registration can be verified.

Submitting an application does NOT guarantee an award. Funding amounts will be determined by the available funds and the faculty internship coordinator.

Please contact the Office of Student Success and Engagement in WB 147 or by email at bizadvise@bsu.edu if you have any questions.

Internship Scholarship Application