In today's fast-paced and continuously changing business world, there is no substitute for hands-on experience. Yet business students are rarely exposed to the world of real work where problems are complex, multidimensional, and often ethically challenging. Nor are typical business school students exposed to what it's really like to be a manager, to navigate effectively through office politics, to struggle with numerous constraints while being called upon to solve messy problems.

The MBA Internship at Providence College is designed to help our graduate business students bridge the gap between academic success and real-world experience. As an intern, students  will develop knowledge, skills, and experience directly related to career objectives, and in doing so, better prepare themselves for the real world of work.

At Providence College, the MBA Internship is required for all students who have not had the opportunity to obtain significant work experience. MBA students enroll in MBA 594: Real-Time/Real-World Experience: Business Internships, a 3-credit course that is part of the core requirements of the MBA curriculum. Working with the Internship Faculty Advisor, the student secures an internship placement at either a for-profit or a not-for-profit organization. Paid internships are preferable, but unpaid internships may count for academic credit as well. The internship requires a total of 400 hours of on-the-job experience (ideally completed during the summer but it is also possible to complete the internship experience over 2 to 3 semesters). Students meet regularly with their MBA 594 classmates and the Internship Faculty Advisor to discuss and evaluate their experiences in their internship. With the facilitation of the Internship Faculty Advisor, students will support and challenge each other through these experiences as they ask hard questions and seek new and creative solutions.  The internship uses engagement in the work world as a basis for learning, but just as critically calls upon students to reflect privately (through journaling) and collectively (through dialoguing with others) on their experiences.

It is our firm belief that the MBA internship will be a unique experience that will transform students' academic work into real-world experience. It is an exciting opportunity to network with business professionals, explore new possibilities, and witness first-hand the dynamic nature of the business world.