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 | Body Fit Training | 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 | Elite Sports Performance and Physical Therapy | Equinox |
| Firehouse Theatre | First Baptist Church Food Pantry | Gamestop |
| Hanover Theatre for Performing Arts | Huge/Donahue Arts Gallery | Jetline Productions |
| Inclusive Fitness | 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 |
| NBC Sports | 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 Beach Performing Arts Center | Western Mass Pioneers | Worcester Fitness |
| YMCA Hocomock |
How Employers Rank Dean College Students, According to SkillSurvey
skills students are highly rated in: equity & inclusion, teamwork and technology
of supervisors would work with students again
of students are rated as accomplished or advanced - 12% above the national average
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.