Test drive your future career.

Real-World Experience

The more you can an augment your resume with real-world experience, the more you can differentiate yourself from the competition. Dean College has a variety of internship opportunities on-campus to help your gain this critical experience. During the internship, you will apply classroom theories and leadership experience to the real-world professional practice. An internship is work-based learning for academic credit and can be paid or unpaid. 

Internships at Dean College

All Bachelors' level students must complete both the internship preparation course, for one credit followed by at least one, 3-credit internship prior to graduation. Students are encouraged to complete up to five internships while at Dean. Credit is awarded through the internship course that runs simultaneously with the work-based experience. The online course helps students reflect on their workplace experiences, tying it into the academic learning objectives.

In addition, Dean's Summer LEAD Program offers students an opportunity to pursue a paid on-campus internship, even when school is not in session. 

Internship Placements

Company Company  Company 
Abilities First Adams Police Department  Bates College
92nd Street Y, Kaufmann Concert Hall Barnstormers Theatre Baysox
Beth Walsh Dance Centre Boston Ballet Boston Cannons
Boston Celtics  Bright Horizons Broadway Dance Center
Brockton Rox Camp Takajo Commonwealth Shakespeare Apprentice Program 
Dance Works Academy  East Side YMCA Eastville Comedy Club
Firehouse Theatre First Baptist Church Food Pantry  Gamestop
Hanover Theatre for Performing Arts Huge/Donahue Arts Gallery  Jetline Productions 
Inspirational Dance Kelly's Academy of Dance King Richard's Faire 
Kraft Sports + Entertainment Liberty Mutual  Livia Capital 
Mack 9 Music Group Mass Pirates Milford Performing Arts Center
Millenium Dance Complex Mooresville Community Children's Theatre New England Journal of History 
New England Revolution  Purple Turtle Productions R. Michelson Galleries 
Rhode Island State Senate Seven Hills South Shore Conservatory 
Southwoods Camp  Special Olympics Rhode Island   Stadium Theatre 
The Dance Studio; Orange, MA The Florida House The Un-Common Theatre Company 
U.S. Marshals Service  TJMAXX Distribution Center Waterfire Providence 
WEEI Westhampton BeaPerforming Arts Center Worcester Fitness
YMCA Hocomock    

How Employers Rank Dean College Students, According to SkillSurvey

College Credits and Work Hours

Dean College provides flexibility for students and employer partners regarding the internship hours and corresponding academic credits. Students can complete an internship worth 3 to 15 credits. This allows us to work with both students and employers to better satisfy mutually beneficial goals. 

Benefits for Students

  • Earn college credit while gaining real-world experience
  • Opportunity to "test drive" the career
  • Apply what is learned in the classroom to the actual work setting
  • Apply what is learned at work to the classroom
  • Learn new perspectives and skills from professionals in the field
  • Develop a "work ready" approach
  • Networking and resume building
  • Connected to an Internship class that helps connect the theory to practice

Your Next Steps

  • Define your goals. What do you want to do and where do you want to do it? How many credits do you want to earn (3, 6, 9, 12, or 15)?
  • Find your own internship opportunity through personal connections, online, or networking.
  • Work with faculty for potential leads.
  • Utilize the Career Planning & Internships office located in the Robbins Family Center for Advising & Career Planning, Campus Center 125.
  • Utilize Handshake, your online career and internship posting system. Students can visit Today@Dean for more information.
  • Search for a high quality, credit-worthy experience. Internships can be on or off campus and are learning opportunities to experience what it would be like to work in the career field of your choosing.
  • Find a unique experience. Dean College does not grant academic credit for a pre-existing job.
  • Paid or unpaid. Dean College will accept either. In some industries, it is challenging to find a paid experience, however, this does not make it less valuable. 

I found an internship, now what?

Whether you found the position on your own or through Handshake, it must be approved by your academic department.

Download the Dean College Internship Application Form. This form will need to be completed by you and signed by the Dean of your academic school, your internship employer, your Success & Career Advisor, and yourself.

Your Success & Career Advisor will register you for the Internship Class.