Types of Internships

You are encouraged to use sites like Handshake, LinkedIn, or Indeed to find posted internship opportunities that interest you. 

Using job or internship sites such as these is useful, but it is important to note that not all companies will share their internships this way. You may also want to review the websites of companies you are interested to see what they have posted to their sites directly.

Creating your own internship may be your approach when you have specific organizations you'd like to intern with, but you are not finding posted internship opportunities at these organizations. 

Once you have an understanding of the type of internship you are looking for, use networks like LinkedIn to connect with ASU alumni or other professionals working in relevant organizations or industries, and request an informational interview to begin the conversation.

For questions or additional support on informational interviews, please schedule an advising appointment.

If you are a student who is employed full-time, there may be an opportunity to create a work variance internship within your current organization. The purpose of work variance is to allow the student to demonstrate effort on new responsibilities, projects, and assignments that significantly differ from their current job responsibilities. The student’s internship experience must build upon competencies and skill areas that they are not familiar with as part of their current position. Work variance also requires the student's internship work to be supervised by an alternative person who is not their current supervisor.

Work variance internships are most successful if your organization is somewhat flexible, can appoint a separate supervisor to oversee and provide feedback on your work, and has a need for special projects. In many cases, students are not working additional hours, but rather taking on additional project work that becomes part of their work day. 

All work variance internships will be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Tech Leadership Advisor, so be sure to reach out as soon as possible if you are interested in pursuing this option. 

Students may apply up to 6 credits of undergraduate research toward the Tech Leadership internship requirement. This is a great option for students who intend to pursue graduate studies or who are interested exploring academic research as a potential career path. 

Students must be supervised by an ASU faculty member, research scientist, principal investigator, or doctoral student, and the research project must be aligned with technological leadership topics and skillsets. 

To get started with this option, we recommend reaching out to specific research projects and programs that you'd be interested in getting involved with or searching for "research aide" job opportunities on the ASU Student Job Board. The Interplanetary Initiative also has a variety of exciting interdisciplinary research projects that students may be interested in working with.

All student research experiences will be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Tech Leadership Advisor, so be sure to reach out as soon as possible if you are interested in pursuing this option.

The ASU Global Experience Office offers a number of internship opportunities. Students may complete global internships by applying to participate in the following programs:

• Intern Abroad programs facilitate on-ground internship placements with vetted organizations in global cities like Berlin, Rome, Singapore, and Tokyo. These programs also assist with visa requirements, housing arrangements, and international insurance.

• Global Virtual Internship programs help students secure remote internship placements with organizations based in global cities like Barcelona, Dublin, Florence, London, or Sydney. Gain professional work experience with an international company—no travel required!

• MCLEAPS: Maricopa County Leadership and Education Advancing Public Service: MCLEAPS is administered through ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, and internships are open to all ASU students. Full-time internships are offered in fall and spring semesters. Participants receive a tuition and fee waiver, a stipend of approximately $5,000, and 12 undergraduate internship credits. Eligible students have completed 75 credits, have an ASU GPA of 3.0 or above, and are willing to work physically in the greater Phoenix area.

• Arizona Legislative and Government Internship Program: A competitive, university-wide program that provides an opportunity to intern full-time at a state agency, the Arizona State Legislature, the Governor's Office, or the Arizona Supreme Court during spring semester. Participants receive a tuition and fee waiver, a stipend of approximately $5,000, and 12 undergraduate internship credits. Eligible students have completed 75 credits, have an ASU GPA of 3.0 or above, and are willing to work physically in the greater Phoenix area.

• Policy Design Studio and Internship Program: Live and intern in Washington D.C. for the semester (fall or spring), study how policy is made, and earn 12 upper division internship credits. Intern at an organization of interest to you (options include, but are not limited to, the White House, Congress, courts, government agencies, lobbying and consulting firms, advocacy groups, media outlets, museums, think tanks, and nonprofit organizations). Eligible students have completed 75 credits, have an ASU GPA of 3.0 or above, and are willing to work physically in the Washington D.C. area.

• Capital Scholars Program: Similar to Policy Design Studio (see above), but takes place in Washington D.C. during summer term, and student can earn 6 internship credits. Eligible students have completed 75 credits, have an ASU GPA of 3.0 or above, and are willing to work physically in the Washington D.C. area.