• extend classroom learning through access to the resources of Hartford or another city, including study abroad;
• acquire experience in the working world, adding depth and relevance to classroom learning;
• gain exposure to different career fields and the jobs within them;
• improve job search and interview skills.

Internships are enormously popular at Trinity - close to 50 percent of students complete one or more before graduation. Whether exploring a potential career or studying more deeply in a specialized academic area, Trinity interns tap into the rich resources of the city and the region within an academic structure.

What is an academic internship?
An internship is a work experience, usually for one semester, that is part-time and unpaid. Student gain exposure to a profession or field and acquire in-depth knowledge of a particular subject. A student earns course credit by combining field work with a more traditional academic project under the direction of a Trinity professor.

Why do an internship?
Students do internships for a variety of reasons. As a form of independent study, an internship augments classroom learning and adds a new dimension to a student’s academic program, providing a different perspective on the material.

An internship is also an excellent tool for testing a career interest, giving a student first-hand experience in a particular field. This can be helpful in choosing a major, planning graduate study, seeking a summer job, or making career planning decisions. Internships can also help build a network of contacts, secure references for future jobs, and develop job search skills.

Internships yield many personal benefits as well. A student builds on his or her knowledge base through hands-on experience, working side-by-side with professionals. Many interns learn tangible new skills, from spreadsheet analysis to computer graphics, or have the opportunity  improve existing skills, such as speaking Spanish or writing business letters.

Eligibility/Course Credit

An internship may be undertaken during the fall and spring semesters by any matriculated undergraduate, with the exception of first-year students. Summer internships may also be arranged, but students are responsible for tuition fees determined by the number of credits taken.

The total number of internship credits that may be counted toward the thirty-six credits required for the baccalaureate degree is limited to three, no more than one of which may be earned through an exploratory internship (See explanation of "exploratory internship.")

Students returning from a semester or year away are advised to wait one term before arranging an internship, as it can be difficult to plan while away from Trinity.

Please note: Repeated internships at the same placement and with the same field supervisor will NOT ordinarily be approved for credit. A second internship at the same placement may be acceptable if the work is substantially different than that done during the first internship experience.

Where do Trinity students do internships?
Hartford abounds in internship opportunities. The city is corporate headquarters for major companies. It has offices of the major brokerage firms and numerous banks. As the capital of Connecticut, Hartford offers a variety of governmental, political, and legislative internships. Students interested in city issues have a wide choice of placements in social service agencies and community groups. Hartford is home to several large medical facilities, as well as a rich array of arts organizations and historical sites. Internship placements are available in law, journalism, communications, advertising, engineering, computer science, and many other fields. Over 200 placements are regularly listed in the Internship Office. Here are just some of them: