Gain hands-on experience before you graduate through the information technology internship program. Junior- or senior-level information technology students may enroll in the IT Internship course to receive college credit for a work experience with an industry partner.
Program Scope
- CGS 494: IT Internship counts as one three-credit-hour IT restricted elective course
- Interns enrolled in CGS 4941: IT Internship are charged UCF tuition and fees
- Interns typically work 10 to 20 hours per week and are paid hourly
- Projects are planned to last one semester, approximately 12 to 15 weeks
- Interns complete several short online assignments during the semester they are interning
- Students are responsible for applying and interviewing for their own internship position
Prerequisites
- Must be enrolled in the information technology major
- Must be a junior or senior with a cumulative UCF GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Must have successfully completed the following prerequisite courses:
- CGS 2545: Database Concepts
- CIS 3003: Fundamentals of Information Technology
- COP 3330: Object Oriented Programming
- COP 3502c: Computer Science 1
- MAD 2104 or COT3100: Foundations of Discrete Math
- Must be available to work off campus and possess reliable transportation
How to Find an Internship
- Sign up for an account with Handshake, UCF Experiential Learning’s career management tool.
- Use your personal network and your professional network of contacts to find additional internship opportunities.
- Search for internship positions on the HR or career sections of a company’s website.
- Post that you are “seeking an IT internship” on your LinkedIn profile headline and ensure your LinkedIn profile is compete and matches the information and dates listed on your resume.
If you would like assistance in locating suitable information technology internships, please schedule a virtual appointment with Madhvi Acharya at UCF Experiential Learning through your Handshake account or by calling 407-823-2667. UCF Experiential Learning maintains a list of companies who regularly hire UCF IT interns and may be able to suggest companies with positions that match your skills and interests. This office can also assist with critiquing your resume and cover letter, and prepare you for interviews.
How to Enroll in the Internship Course
If you meet all of the prerequisite requirements, have accepted an internship position and wish to receive academic credit towards your IT degree, please fill out the IT Internship Student Interest Form and submit it based on this chart:
| Semester You Wish to Intern | Earliest Day to Submit Form | Final Day to Submit Form |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall Semester |
June 1 |
First Day of Fall Semester |
|
Spring Semester |
Sept. 1 |
First Day of Spring Semester |
|
Summer Semester |
Feb. 1 |
First Day of Summer Semester |
For Industry Partners
Information technology internships also provide work that is value to organizations while providing students with real-world experience before they begin their careers. Internships fall into general categories: Internship projects and apprenticeships. Learn more in the FAQ below.
FAQ
What Is an Internship Project?
An internship project has a predefined objective that is to be accomplished by the end of the internship period. The project should result in a deliverable to the organization and should include a presentation or report of the results given by the intern. The work should expose the intern to real-world IT problems. The intern should be expected to make an individual contribution to the results of the project and present these to the organization. Organizations are encouraged to assign a mentor to provide such guidance and direction.
What is an Apprenticeship?
Not all work situations can be organized into an internship project. In an apprenticeship, the intern is assigned to work with an accomplished IT professional or mentor. The apprentice will work under direction of the mentor to provide assistance and support commensurate with the capability and current level of training in the specialty. At the end of the apprenticeship, the intern is expected to make a formal report of lessons learned and personal observations and recommendations relative to the assigned area of work.
How Long Does an Internship Last?
Internships are one semester in length, approximately 12 to 15 weeks. Ideally, internship projects and apprenticeships start and end on a semester boundary. This may not always be practical, so the start of an internship may vary based on work requirements, but its duration should equate to roughly one semester in length. If the scope of a potential project is longer than a semester, consider dividing it into phases so that it could be accomplished by successive internships. The initial internship project could address requirements, assessment, design and planning with a succeeding internship project to address a continuation of the work involving implementation.
How Much Should an Intern Work?
Students receive three credit hours towards their degree for an IT internship. As a general guideline, an intern should be expected to work roughly 10 to 20 hours per week on a schedule consistent with both work and educational requirements. A project may require more than one intern, but projects requiring a team larger than two or three interns are discouraged.
How Much Does an Internship Cost?
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) defines the term “employ” very broadly. The statute does not define what an intern is and does not provide an exemption from minimum wages or overtime for interns. The FLSA provides that if your company benefits in any manner from the use of interns, you are required to pay interns at least minimum wage. Organizations considering unpaid interns should check with their legal counsel regarding their responsibilities under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act as specific requirements need to be met to use unpaid interns. IT interns in Central Florida typically start in the $20-$25 per hour range.
What Qualifications Should an Intern Have?
Interviews and acceptance of an intern candidate are at the discretion of the hosting organization. Students must be actively enrolled in their junior or senior year of the IT curriculum and have a 3.0 grade point average or better to qualify as a candidate for internship. As such, interns are expected to offer any organization an able contributor right now and the opportunity to evaluate a prospective future employee. See student section above for more information.
How Do I Request an Intern?
To list an internship position, you’ll need to create an employer account in Handshake. Handshake is an online career services tool provided by UCF Experiential Learning. After creating a Handshake account, you can post internship positions and full-time opportunities and review resumes of students who have applied to your posting.
Contact
Fall and Spring Semesters
Josh Lazar
jlazar@ucf.edu
Summer Semester
Tom Nederost
thomas.nederost@ucf.edu