Find an Internship
Get started with your Human Ecology internship, from finding an opportunity and earning credit to understanding requirements and FAQs.
Student and internship criteria
Before you start applying, make sure both you and the internship meet the criteria below.
| What you need (student criteria) |
|---|
| Major & standing: You must be enrolled in one of Human Ecology’s seven majors and have Junior standing (54+ credits completed). |
| Prerequisites: You must complete INTER-HE 202 prior to enrolling in the Internship course. Note: It is important for CBMS students to take CNSR SCI 257, Interior Architecture to take DS 322, and Personal Finance to take CNSR SCI 275 prior to their internship as well. |
| Supervision: You need a supervisor at the organization (who is not a family member) to provide training, feedback, and professional mentorship. |
| Time commitment: You must be able to complete at least 150 hours of work over the course of the semester. |
| Independent project: You must be able to complete an independent project as part of your experience. |
| What the job needs (internship criteria) |
|---|
| Major alignment: The role must be directly related to your Human Ecology major and career goals and focus on skill development and professional growth. |
| Clear expectations: You need an official, clearly written job description outlining your specific responsibilities, which you will submit for approval to the Advising & Career Center. |
| Meaningful work: The internship must offer meaningful professional work and limit busywork to no more than 25% of your duties (i.e. direct sales, solicitation, cashiering, filing, or reception). |
| Timing: The internship must offer at least 150 hours of work which must happen during the exact same semester in which you are enrolled in the internship course. |
| Duration: The internship must last at least 12 weeks during a fall/spring semester, or at least 6 weeks during the summer term. |
Internship for credit: step-by-step
Schedule an appointment with your Career Advisor about six months before you plan to complete your internship. Your Career Advisor can help you map out a strategy, explore opportunities, and polish your application materials.
Apply, interview, and accept an offer that meets the internship-for-credit requirements.
Complete this form at least one week before the semester begins.
Have these ready before you start:
- Your official internship offer letter
- A detailed job description outlining your role and responsibilities
- Your supervisor’s name, title, phone number and email
Additional questions:
To be approved, internships should have a direct connection to your major. Please explain how this internship relates to specific concepts within your major’s curriculum. When possible, please refer to specific courses in which these concepts were learned. (Max. 500 Words)
How does this experience relate to your professional goals/career aspirations? (Max. 500 words)
Develop 3-5 learning goals that you would like to achieve while working at your internship site and taking the internship course. Examples include but are not limited to: theories/concepts you’d like to apply in you internship, specific skills you’d like to develop, building a network of contacts/professional community.
Additional questions for remote internships:
Why are you seeking a remote internship vs. an in-person, on-site internship?
Remote interns should have regular check-ins and correspond directly with their supervisor at least twice a week by phone, email or other virtual method. What will communication with your supervisor look like?
Remote interns should have regular feedback and supervision on their assigned projects. With your supervisor, discuss how feedback will be facilitated throughout your internship. Describe the feedback plan here.
Note: Let your supervisor know in advance that they will receive an email requesting their agreement and approval.
After you submit the verification form, your supervisor will receive an automated email to verify your role and their agreement with our expectations. Your internship verification cannot proceed until they complete this step, so please encourage them to respond promptly.
Once the Advising & Career Center approves your internship, it will be sent to Human Ecology Enrollment for processing. You cannot enroll in the course until processing on their end is complete.
Watch your email! Human Ecology Enrollment will send you specific instructions for enrolling in Inter-HE 601. Please wait for this email before attempting to add the course to your schedule.
Monitor your progress anytime using the Internship Status Checker.
Status Definitions:
Complete: Your internship is approved and enrollment instructions have been sent. Please enroll immediately, as your access may expire!
In Progress: Your internship is under review.
On Hold: Your internship is approved and currently with Human Ecology Enrollment for processing.
Get a head start on your internship! We strongly encourage all students to complete the Safety & Empowerment for Experiential Learning training before your start date. (UW NetID required).
This is a mandatory assignment in the internship course, so completing it early will save you time later. The training will help you:
- Learn how to advocate for yourself and others.
- Understand workplace expectations and professional boundaries.
- Recognize safe and appropriate workplace behavior.
Taking it global: interning abroad
Want to fulfill your internship requirement while exploring a new country? You absolutely can!
Interning abroad is an incredible way to learn how to adapt to a new culture, grow an international network, and build a standout resume – all while earning your required UW–Madison degree credit. The best part? Students in all seven Human Ecology majors are eligible to complete their requirement through an approved international experience.
Find your global fit
Whether you want to work full-time over the summer or balance a part-time role with classes abroad, UW Study Abroad has options designed for your major:
External internships: Found your own global opportunity? We’ll help you navigate the process to get it approved for credit.
UW Signature Internships: Exclusive, pre-vetted project placements set up specifically for Badgers.
Internship-focused study abroad: Combine traditional classroom learning with a part-time internship in your host city.
International student?
Learn more about studying and working abroad as an international student through International Student Services and be sure to connect with your Career Advisor to discuss your options before accepting a role outside of the U.S.
Internship sites around the world
Around 700 students in the School of Human Ecology participate in internships-for-credit around the world annually. This map showcases the internship sites students have interned at between Fall 2021-Summer 2025. To learn more about each internship site and employer, expand the map in the upper right hand corner to filter by major. Click on the icon on the map to view more information about the experience.
Map symbol key:
Personal Finance
Interior Architecture
Human Development & Family Studies
Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies
Community & Organizational Development
Textiles & Fashion Design
Design, Innovation, & Society
Prefer a list instead? View a Google Sheet of the internships included on the map.
Frequently asked questions
No. The official job title doesn’t matter as much as the work you are doing. When approving an experience for credit, we focus on how closely it relates to your major and career goals, your daily duties, level of responsibility, and the training provided by your employer.
Yes. You will enroll in a 3-credit internship course and complete regular weekly assignments concurrently with the work you are doing in your internship. You will earn a letter grade based on both your coursework and the successful completion of your required site hours. Note: You must commit to the full duration of the academic course, even if your actual internship wraps up a little early.
You may take the internship during the fall, spring, or summer terms, as long as you have reached Junior standing (completed at least 54 credits) before the course begins. You must take the internship course at the same time you are working in your internship. We do not offer retroactive credit for internships completed in the past.
The course is always worth 3 credits.
Yes. You may take the internship course up to two times for credit, provided your second internship is distinctly different from the first. We highly encourage completing multiple internships to build your resume, but remember that only one is required for your degree.
You must submit your internship verification form at least 1 week before the term starts (check the Office of the Registrar’s website for official term dates).
Because this is a “permission-only” course, you do not need to have your internship secured by your standard class registration date. However, you will need to have it secured by the time the term in which you’d like to enroll in the internship course begins.
Need an extension? Email us at careers@sohe.wisc.edu before the internship verification form deadline. Extensions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed.
Yes, standard tuition rates apply.
Fall/Spring: If you are already enrolled full-time, taking the 3-credit internship course will not change your overall tuition cost if you remain within 12-18 credits.
Summer: You will be charged for the 3-credit internship course if completing the course during the summer term, since summer term is optional. However, we offer Internship Scholarships specifically designed to help offset summer tuition and living costs for students looking to fulfill their degree requirement in summer. UW Summer Term offers scholarships for students enrolling in summer courses as well.
Yes! Remote internships are a great way to build your professional skills. To ensure you still get a highly supportive experience, the verification form will ask a few extra questions about how you will communicate and receive feedback from your supervisor remotely.
Tip: Check out our Virtual Internships Resource Guide for advice on succeeding in a fully remote role.
Absolutely! In fact, we highly encourage you to seek out opportunities where you are fairly compensated for your time. Getting paid does not disqualify you from earning academic credit. If you are considering an unpaid or underpaid opportunity, please take advantage of our year-round Human Ecology Internship Scholarships to help cover your expenses, or chat with your Career Advisor about your options.
Navigating work authorizations can add a few extra steps to your search. As an international student, to maintain your visa status, you are legally required to secure official work authorization before you begin any off-campus work in the United States.
To ensure you meet your internship requirement smoothly, please follow these essential steps:
- Wait for Official Approval: This is the most critical step. Do not begin working, whether paid or unpaid, until you have your new CPT I-20 that officially lists your approved employer and work dates in hand. Working without prior authorization is a violation of U.S. immigration law. Because policies can change and individual situations vary, always defer to ISS for official guidance.
- Consult International Student Services: Connect with ISS early in your internship search to understand the specific work authorization that applies to your visa.
- Understand Your Authorization Options: F-1 students completing a required internship will need to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) if you are planning to work off campus in a non-University affiliated role.
- Secure a Relevant Internship Offer: CPT is only approved when an internship is directly related to your major. Please work with your Career Advisor to identify internships that will meet our criteria before accepting an offer of employment.
- Get Your Internship Approved: Submit your internship for approval to the Advising & Career Center. You will need to include your offer letter and a job description outlining your internship duties and responsibilities as part of the verification process. Once approved, you will be granted permission to enroll in Inter-HE 601, the internship course. You must be enrolled in the internship course prior to completing the next step.
- Apply for CPT: Apply for CPT in Terra Dotta. You will need to include your offer letter, internship course enrollment verification, supervisor’s contact information, and a screenshot showing that an internship is required of your degree with your CPT application.
Ready to find an internship?
Check out our job and internship search resources and start searching for an internship that aligns with your career goals today!