Student Resources

An internship is more than a job – it is an opportunity to learn through experience! By taking what you have learned in your courses out of the classroom, you have the chance to apply your knowledge and develop your skills in a workplace setting. An internship is a stepping stone to career success, where you can set objectives related to your goals and work under the supervision of an experienced professional to achieve them. By engaging in hands-on projects, making connections in your field, and exploring your intended career path, an internship can be the key to setting yourself up to launch your career after graduation! 

At FGCU, we consider a cooperative program to be a similar work-based learning experience to an internship, but much more immersive and a substantial time commitment. Participation is much closer to a full-time employment schedule, with students being fully integrated into a company for a finite amount of time. Often a semester in length, many students opt into taking an FGCU internship course alongside their cooperative program to continue making progress toward their degree, or they may choose to take fewer or no classes during their cooperative program in order to fully engage in this professional experience.

Internship opportunities are everywhere – if you know where to look! The three most common ways students find them are: 

1. Traditional Job Board and Career Fairs/Events: FGCU has its own job board that houses internship openings for any employer that contacts the university. It’s called Eagle Career Network, and you can log in here: www.fgcu.edu/eaglenetworks. In addition, we hold career events and career fairs, which can also help. Find the schedule here: https://www.fgcu.edu/careerservices/  
2. Use Your Network: You have many professional and personal connections that could potentially lead to opportunities. Remember that your network includes everyone you know and everyone THEY know, so reaching out to your friends, family, classmates, coworkers, professors, etc. can really help. You can do this actively and directly by drafting up an email or making phone calls to let them know what you are looking for, or you can start to even just drop it in conversation. For instance, if a family member or friend asks how school is going, it is totally normal to say “Great, I’m starting to look for internships in __________.” You never know who they know, and it could lead to a referral! 
3. Research & Inquiry: If there is no internship posting or you don’t have a connection, you can research employers who work in the field in which you are looking. Then you can send an inquiry letter asking about opportunities and attach your resume. 
Students find success in every one of these ways, so you are encouraged to use some combination of all three.  
 

Earning academic credit can only be done by enrolling in and completing an FGCU internship course concurrently with your internship. Many majors have their own internship courses within their department, and there is a university-wide free elective course option for any majors that do not under COE 3948 Professional Internship. To get started, you must contact your Academic Advisor as well as your Internship Coordinator for more information on your specific options. Not sure who to talk to? Please reach out to icp@fgcu.edu if you are unsure where to start!

We are always here to answer your Eagle Career Network questions! Please email icp@fgcu.edu including your name and UIN, or stop by McTarnaghan 229 for assistance. 

Eagle Career Network has so many features, so be sure to click through the navigation options on the left side of your homepage after signing in! You can search jobs and internships, upload your resume for easy applying and inclusion in resume books for employers, view and sign up for university career events, and search through the thousands of employers in our database. You will also find available internship scholarship applications and surveys, as well as the tools needed to track your internship hours (which can then be verified by your supervisor). 

The number of hours required depends on several factors, including your major and whether you have a required internship as part of your degree program. We recommend discussing your requirements or options with your Academic Advisor and an Internship Coordinator (if your academic department has one). If you are unsure who to contact, we are happy to help you! Just email icp@fgcu.edu and we will assist you in getting started. 

If you successfully complete an internship course at FGCU, the internship requirement for the Soar in 4 will automatically be considered met. However, you can still complete the requirement without taking an internship course! Simply fill out the “Soar in 4 Application for Non-Academic Internship Approval” on Eagle Career Network under the “Applications & Surveys” section, and the Internships & Cooperative Programs office will either approve your submission or contact you with any questions. 

Absolutely! It is always recommended to check in with your Academic Advisor and Internship Coordinator (if applicable) before assuming an opportunity will meet any requirements, but FGCU students frequently participate in internships all over the state, the country, and the world. Most internship courses are conducted virtually to give you the opportunity to intern outside of the local area if you so choose.