Unleashing Potential: A Guide to Internships at Old Dominion University

Internships serve as pivotal experiences in a student's academic journey, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. At Old Dominion University (ODU), the internship office and various departments are dedicated to providing students with comprehensive support in securing and maximizing these opportunities. This article explores the multifaceted benefits of internships, resources available at ODU, and guidance for students seeking to enhance their educational experience through practical work-based learning.

The Value of Internships: A Gateway to Future Success

Internships offer a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond the duration of the placement. They provide students with valuable skills, both practical and research-oriented, that prove beneficial in future endeavors. Prospective employers and graduate admissions committees often view favorably students who have successfully completed internships.

Relevant Experience: Internships provide relevant experience in a student's desired industry.
Career Confirmation: They help confirm a student's interests and career goals.
Hands-on Application: Internships allow for the hands-on application of learned concepts.
Skill Recovery: They offer a chance to recover skills from pandemic-related learning losses.

Blake believes the new office is also a way for the university to be innovative and entrepreneurial in meeting student needs. “Internships 10 years ago don’t look like they look today, especially after COVID,” she says.

Internship Opportunities Across Disciplines

Many higher ed professionals are focused on adding internship opportunities and increasing participation. Various departments at ODU support internship programs tailored to their specific disciplines. The Art Department, for example, encourages students in all three majors to research and pursue internship opportunities. These internships can be found through the department itself (though these are highly competitive) or through the Career Development Services. Similarly, students majoring in programs in Communication, Dance, and Theatre are required to complete a Senior Experience, which often includes internship components.

Navigating the Internship Landscape at ODU

ODU offers a range of resources to assist students in their internship search and preparation.

Departmental Support

Departments often have faculty coordinators who provide guidance and support throughout the internship process. The Art Department supports an internship program for students in all three majors. The department can provide leads, but the student must submit their resume and receive an internship offer formally by the organization before moving forward.

Career Management Center

The University's Career Management Center provides assistance with resume composition and other career-related services. At the conclusion of your internship, you and your supervisor will be asked to complete an on-line evaluation by the Career Management Center.

Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office (MICO)

MICO serves as the central unit for supporting work-based learning initiatives at Old Dominion University. They provide advising and support to students, collaborate with employers, and work with academic departments to expand work-based learning curricula.

Monarch Humanities Internship Academy (MHIA)

We recommend students look to local and online job boards as well as the Monarch Humanities Internship Academy, which is full of resources and job opportunities to help you get started. The department and MHIA can provide leads, but the student must submit their resume and receive an internship offer formally by the organization before moving forward.

Center for Career and Leadership Development (CCLD)

We recommend students look to local and online job boards as well as the Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office (MICO), Monarch Humanities Internship Academy (MHIA), and the Center for Career and Leadership Development (CCLD).

Read also: Your Guide to Nursing Internships

Securing Your Internship: A Step-by-Step Guide

Securing an internship requires proactive effort and careful planning. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process:

Compose a Resume: Your faculty coordinator or staff members from the University's Career Management Center may assist with this.
Research Opportunities: Research several potential internship opportunities, making note of application deadlines. Look to local and online job boards as well as the Monarch Internship & Co-Op Office (MICO), Monarch Humanities Internship Academy (MHIA), and the Center for Career and Leadership Development (CCLD).
Submit Your Resume: The department can provide leads, but the student must submit their resume and receive an internship offer formally by the organization before moving forward.
Secure the Position: It is the sole responsibility of the student to secure the internship position.

Internship Requirements and Expectations

To ensure a valuable and successful internship experience, ODU has established certain requirements and expectations.

Time Commitment

A minimum time commitment of 150 hours is required (approximately ten hours per week for fifteen weeks). Students are also able to register for fewer credits depending on the time commitment of the internship (1 credit hour per 50 hours worked).

Course Registration

Students will register for a course (COMM/THEA/DANC 368) but are not required to meet regularly with a professor or group of students; however, there will be opportunities for interns to meet one-on-one with the Current Internship Director, as well as their fellow interns in order to foster community. Students will register for a course (ENGL 368, 369, or 468) but are not required to meet regularly with a professor or group of students; however, there will be opportunities for interns to meet one-on-one with the Director or Coordinator, as well as their fellow interns in order to foster community.

Evaluations and Reporting

At the conclusion of your internship, you and your supervisor will be asked to complete an on-line evaluation by the Career Management Center. In addition, you will be required to submit to your supervisor and your faculty coordinator a final report and/or portfolio - contact your faculty coordinator for more information. Lastly, your supervisor will be asked to submit a letter of evaluation to your faculty coordinator.

Read also: Comprehensive Internship Guide

Student Responsibilities

Student interns are responsible for keeping track of their own working hours, writing brief reflections throughout the semester linking theories learned in their Major classes to applied experiences which are to be included in an end of semester ePortfolio.

Internship Opportunities in Specific Fields

ODU's location and connections provide access to a diverse range of internship opportunities. Here are some examples of companies and organizations that have offered internships to ODU students:

Video Surveillance Software Company: This company is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia is a video surveillance research and development software company. hires Interns for development of Video Surveillance Software to work closely with a dynamic team.
Booz Allen: Booz Allen is a leading professional services company that provides services and solutions in management, technology, consulting and engineering.
VB-IT: The VB-IT provides and supports communications, information, and technology solutions to enable city businesses, inform the community, improve, and promote quality of life and public safety.
FTI: FTI has been in the business of helping the Department of Defense (DoD) and other government agencies implement informed and wise decisions to solve difficult problems. In that time, FTI has developed numerous Decision Analysis Technologies to support our customers and their missions at all scopes and classifications. This is a paid internship based in Richmond, VA.
Governmental Relations Office: The Governmental Relations office hosts a General Assembly Internship program each year in which selected interns work closely with Virginia state legislators and their staff. Students develop professional skills while strengthening their political knowledge and gain a unique understanding of Virginia's General Assembly. The full time, paid internship is held from January-March of each year.
Department of Energy Office of Science National Laboratory:
JPMorgan Chase: JPMorgan Chase is one of the world's oldest, largest, and best-known financial institutions. They offer summer internship opportunities typically range from 10-12 weeks long, depending on the program.
Los Alamos National Laboratory: Los Alamos National Laboratory is one of the world's most innovative multidisciplinary research institutions.
Maxx Potential: Maxx Potential is an IT consulting firm with a focus on developing tech talent. The company provides high quality IT services through its unique paid Apprenticeship program.
MITRE: MITRE's teams are dedicated to solving problems for a safer world. MITRE works across government and in partnership with industry to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of our nation.
Norfolk Naval Shipyard: Norfolk Naval Shipyard's Pathway Internship is designed to attract talented students to federal public service. Citizen. Navy submarines.
PRA Group: PRA Group, through its subsidiaries, has grown to become one of the largest acquirers of nonperforming loans in the world, with thousands of employees worldwide.
Reliant Technologies LLC: Based in Norfolk Virginia, Reliant Technologies LLC provides IT consulting services to the Department of Defense.

Special Programs and Initiatives

ODU offers several specialized programs and initiatives to enhance internship opportunities.

DoD HBCU/MI Summer Research Internship Program

The DoD Historically Black Colleges and Universities & Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Summer Research Internship Program is an annual summer research program offered to current students and recent graduates who studied STEM disciplines at HBCU/MI. The program provides a bridge between classrooms and real-world experiences and aims to increase the number of minority scientists and engineers who choose careers with the DoD.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for International Students

Are you an international student eager to gain professional experience? The Monarch Internship and Co-Op Office approves Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Requests for internships and other work-based learning opportunities that are not required for academic credit. Please submit your CPT Request and Offer Letter as soon as possible. Our office needs approximately 10 business days to review and approve your internship before your CPT Request can be signed and submitted to Visa and Immigration Service Advising.

The English Department: A Case Study in Internship Integration

The English Department at ODU exemplifies how internships can be effectively integrated into a curriculum. An internship is an opportunity to gain work experience while receiving college credit for your major. It's typically a student's first big networking opportunity and often a turning point in their lives. Unlike a traditional classroom experience, an internship takes you off campus and places you into a workplace that prepares you for a career after graduation. Want to learn more? Reach out to the Director of Internships for English, Sarah M. Graduates will be immediately marketable in fields such as administration, analytics, bookselling, editing, education, journalism, and information design. Education in the English Department is writing intensive, ensuring that all coursework builds proficiency, not just knowledge. An English graduate's portfolio will span hundreds of pages and represent immediate evidence of thoughtfulness and competence. Students will be able to answer what they'll do in terms of what they have already accomplished.

Technical Writing Concentration

Through a focus on the fundamentals of communicating through writing and visuals, students in the Technical Writing Concentration are exposed to writing a wide range of document types for various audiences in a variety of contexts.

Creative Writing

Students will study the art and craft of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and take workshops devoted to one or more of those three genres.

English Studies

Students gain expertise in interpreting literary and other creative cultural texts to the grounding in all aspects of English Studies provided by the core requirements for the B.A. This program leads to eligibility for teacher licensure in Virginia.

The Future of Internships at ODU

ODU is committed to expanding and enhancing its internship programs to meet the evolving needs of students and employers. By fostering strong relationships with local and national organizations, ODU aims to provide students with a wide range of meaningful work-based learning experiences.

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