Internships

Get your Career Started with an Internship! 

An internship integrates practical experience with education in a structured, supervised work environment. Internships are available year-round and typically last one semester. They can be paid or unpaid; for class credit (consult academic or faculty advisor for approval) or not. Contact Career Services with any questions at 270.809.3735 or msu.careerservices@murraystate.edu.

The benefits of participating in an internship are vast. When you intern, you have the opportunity to do the following:

  1. Enhance your resume and be more marketable for the full-time job search

  2. Build your professional network

  3. Expand understanding about your chosen industry or field

  4. Develop general work functions and workplace etiquette

  5. Gain exposure to organizational culture, latest trends, technologies and practices

  6. Develop transferable skills: communication, time management, report writing, customer service, etc

ACCESS RECENTLY POSTED INTERNSHIPS FROM HANDSHAKE

Internship Resources

Parker Dewey Logo

The students of today are busy. This is where micro internships come in, specifically, our partnership with Parker Dewey; the leading clearinghouse of micro-internships throughout the country. These opportunities allow students AND alums to take part in paid short-term, professional, paid work experiences on their own time. Unlike a traditional internship, these paid opportunities typically range from 5 to 40 hours of work, and most can be completed remotely.

Through Micro-Internships, students can demonstrate their skills, explore career paths and develop their professional networks. Students can be selected for multiple Micro-Internships.

As the nation responds to the dynamic environment as a result of COVID-19, new Micro-Internship opportunities are being posted daily. Interested students are encouraged to:

  • Create an account

  • Fill out your profile as completely as possible

  • Review current Micro-Internship projects available

  • Apply to projects of interest

  • Continue to check the platform regularly for new opportunities

If you have any questions, please contact Career Services at msu.careerservices@murraystate.edu.

Internship Search

Government Internships

KY and Federal Government/Legislative Internships

Please contact Jordan Smith (jsmith3@murraystate.edu or 270.809.5706), Executive Director of Governmental Relations, to pursue an internship with one of the following opportunities:

Land Between the Lakes Intern and Apprentice Program

Land Between The Lakes’ internship and apprenticeship programs are designed to give students and recent graduates professional experience in a variety of areas including business, environmental education, history, recreation and leisure, wildlife science and safety. Contact them for more information about applying at 270.924.2000 or LBLInfo@usda.gov

VISIT THE Friends of LBL Website FOR MORE INFORMATION

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • Currently enrolled, degree-seeking at the time of appointment

  • 24 credits accumulated at a college or university

  • Earned at least six credits at Murray State University

  • Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher

  • Under an unrestricted baccalaureate admission status

  • Enrolled in the program concurrent with employment

  • Willing to pay for the course by the hour at an in-state rate

  • Work experiences may be paid or non-paid

ENROLLMENT CRITERIA

  • The minimum number of hours a student must work in order to receive three hours of credit is 300.

  • Courses numbered 488 are graded pass/fail

  • Courses numbered 489 are letter-graded

  • If taking other courses, no more than 12 credit hours of courses can be taken in addition to 3 hour co-op/internship

  • Individual departments may have more restrictive requirements.

PROCESS

  1. Meet with your Internship Course Advisor to express interest and inquire about opportunities

  2. Develop a resume and cover letter to use for application

  3. Utilize resources in Career Services to identify opportunities

  4. Network with friends, family, alumni and/or professionals in the field about positions

  5. Research companies/organizations of interest to determine application process and deadlines

  6. Interview for positions

  7. Once a position is secured, complete paperwork linked below so you can register for the class

Paperwork Process

  1. Obtain Internship

  2. Complete Internship Form and email, fax or bring to Internship Coordinator (Career Services) for signature

  3. The Internship Coordinator will email a signed copy to Student and Internship Instructor of Record

  4. Complete Job Description Form OR Additional Departmental Forms

State Authorization

If your internship is in another state, it may require State Authorization. Please contact the Distance Education Coordinator (msu.online@murraystate.edu) or State Authorization Coordinator (msu.sa@murraystate.edu) to inquire about compliance.

Forms

  • Internship Form: All students who plan to enroll in a for-credit internship should complete this form.

  • Job Description Form: All students completing a GUI 188 or 288 must complete this form. Departmental requirements may vary.

  • Student Evaluation: All students completing a GUI 188 or 288 must complete this form by the last day of classes of the internship enrolled semester. Departmental requirements may vary.

  • Employer Evaluation: All students completing a GUI 188 or 288 must request their Internship Supervisor complete this form by the last day of classes of the internship enrolled semester. (There will be exceptions when some employers have their own evaluation in place.) Departmental requirements may vary.

Disney College Program: (primarily for freshmen and sophomores)

Participants acquire useful, transferable skills by working in an entry-level role at one of Disney's theme parks or resorts and interact with people from around the world. Murray State students seeking GUI 188 or 288 internship credit are required to participate in Disney seminars, collegiate offerings and/or service opportunities. Please review the syllabus for 188 and 288 to understand academic expectations.

Apply for the Disney College Program.

Disney Professional Internships: (targets juniors and seniors)

This program allows you to apply for field-specific internships including finance and accounting, marketing and sales, merchandising, information management, media relations, entertainment management, contracts administration and resort/hotel/theme park operations, to name a few. 

Apply for Disney Professional Internships.

Learn More:

 

 

Contact Us

Office of Career Services

phone icon  270.809.3735

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location icon  100 Oakley Applied Science

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Office Hours & Appointments

Office Hours

Fall and Spring
Monday — Friday
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Summer
Monday — Friday
7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Walk-In Hours

Monday – Friday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Summer: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

Walk-In Appointments Available: Resumes, Cover Letters and Basic Questions

Scheduled Appointments

Please schedule appointments on Handshake or call us at 270.809.3735. Scheduled Appointments are required for Major/Minor Counseling, Career Assessments and Mock Interviews.

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