BEFORE YOU APPLY
Students in the Trulaske College of Business are required to complete an internship. While working at an internship
site, the student is enrolled in a course (BA 4500) that helps guide the student's professional development. Internships
are a chance for students to develop professional experience in the business world and hone their professionalism.
Internships must be approved before your start date to receive credit for BA 4500. This course is not required for
students in the Accountancy program. If you are unsure if your internship meets the requirements, feel free to contact
us at BA4500@missouri.edu.
INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS
• Significant, professional, business-related responsibilities comparable to those that an entry-level, full-time
college graduate would have in the organization. You are challenged with a major project, series of smaller
projects, or responsibilities that require advanced education.
• Face-to-face interaction with colleagues and clients (including virtual).
• Dedicated, experienced supervisor available for regular communication, feedback, and performance
evaluation. The supervisor must have experience and expertise in the area in which the student is interning.
• Regular interaction with a team of full-time business professionals within the company.
• Follow Department of Labor standards and University of Missouri policies.
•
Students may complete one of the following internship options. Internships can be paid or unpaid.
o
Domestic Internship:
8-16 consecutive weeks + 120 work hours.
o
International Internship:
Minimum of five consecutive weeks + 120 work hours.
•
Your internship must be active during the entire period of the course, and you must meet the 120-hour requirement
between the course start and end dates. Hours/weeks completed before or after the course dates do not count towards
this requirement.
• If using a qualifying internship at a business where you work now or in the past, students will be asked to
demonstrate new projects or tasks that meet the BA 4500 requirements.
• Entrepreneurial internships are evaluated based on mentorship, size, and phase in start-up (minimum of two
years as a registered business). Business plan, marketing plan, and financials for the business will be required.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
•
Fall
o
16-Week and 1
st
8-week: August 1
o
2
nd
8-week: September 15
o
Available May 1 – August 1
•
Spring
o
16-Week and 1
st
8-Week: January 1
o
2
nd
8-Week: February 15
o
Available October 1 – January 1
•
Summer
o
8-Week: May 1
o
Available December 1 – May 1
COURSE DATES
• Summer 2023
o 8-Week: June 5 – July 28
• Fall 2023
o 16-Week: August 21 – December 8
o 1
st
8-Week: August 21 – October 13
o 2
nd
8-Week: October 16 – December 15
• Spring 2024
o 16-Week: January 16 – May 3
o 1
st
8-Week: January 16 – March 8
o 2
nd
8-Week: March 11 – May 10
NON-QUALIFYING ACTIVITIES
But not limited to:
• Working on unskilled tasks the majority of the time (such as filing, copying, answering the phone, constructing
a database, and data entry).
• Social media account management.
• Working in a home-based business or the student’s family business.
• Family members cannot be the supervisor or business owner.
• Door-to-door sales or marketing, retail sales, or cold calling.
• Working in an industry or for a company that provides products or services that are not legal under federal,
state, and/or local law, such as marijuana and some CBD products.
FINDING AN INTERNSHIP
You are responsible for finding your internship. Many companies interview in the fall for summer internships.
Start searching early. Helpful resources include:
• Business Career Services
• Career Fairs
• Handshake
• MU Career Center
• Networking – Friends, family, mentors, LinkedIn contacts, etc.
• Office of Service Learning
• Trulaske Global Opportunities
BA 4500 APPLICATIONS AND APPROVAL
All BA 4500 internships must be approved. Apply for approval once you secure an internship, but well before the start
date. Application instructions are available at:
QUESTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
Please contact the Internship Coordinator at BA4500@missouri.edu or (573) 884–2007.