For this reason, companies that can afford to pay their interns will usually make a decision to go ahead and do so. Students looking to do an internship for credit usually need to have an academic sponsor to oversee and set criteria for the internship.

CharitiesUniversitiesGovernment agenciesReligious organizationsSome hospitals

Since the purpose of these organizations is not to make money, instead they focus more on providing a service. Interns generally do not get paid when interning at a nonprofit. Completing an internship in a nonprofit organization provides some very useful skills required by employers when seeking to hire entry-level employees in this field. Summer internships can be completed for credit but they don’t have to be. Getting credit during the summer can be helpful since it can lighten a student’s course load during the fall or spring semester, but the downside is that most colleges require tuition in order for students to receive credit. It is different from other forms of experiential education in that it requires that the recipient and the provider of the service both benefit in some way and are changed equally by the experience. These are very structured programs that require self-reflection and self-discovery along with gaining the specific values, skills, and knowledge required for success in the field. Co-ops and internships are both excellent ways for students to gain valuable knowledge and skills in their field of interest, plus they offer an opportunity to network with professionals already working in the field.