Office of Student Success

Internships & Directed Study

Obtaining an Internship

Step 1: Review the Internship Policies & Requirements governing internships for credit to determine eligibility

Step 2: Career development coaches are available for appointments to discuss the internship options

Step 3: Complete the Internship for Credit form

Step 4: Schedule an advising appointment with an academic advisor to review academic qualifications

Step 5: Meet with the appropriate Internship Coordinator to obtain permission

Note: International students must consult with CISS (STU 350) to determine requirements and eligibility for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Present the signed CPT form and offer letter to CISS, who will process the new I-20 in 3-5 business days

Forms

Internship for Credit Directed Study/Tutorial

Internship Policies & Requirements

General Policies & Requirements

  • All required work for an internship must be completed during the term of registration
  • Students are expected to work 20 hours per week for a minimum of 12 weeks, unless otherwise noted
  • Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0, unless otherwise noted
  • Graduate assistants must obtain permission to register for an internship course. Please email Associate Dean of Business, Heikki Topi, or bring the form to Morison 305
  • Entire application process, including faculty submission of student information to Registrar, must be completed no later than the add/drop deadline of each semester
  • Any courses dropped to accommodate internship course registration beyond the add/drop deadline of each semester are subject to published refund deadlines
  • Regular withdrawal deadlines and penalties apply once the student has been registered for the internship course through the Registrar’s Office
  • Regular grade reporting deadlines apply

 

Program-specific Requirements

Emerging Leaders MBA and Masters/MBA

Must complete at least two semesters in the Emerging Leaders MBA or Masters/MBA program

Evening/Professional MBA

Must complete all MBA foundation courses, plus two additional courses

Masters in Accounting
  • Completion of nine credit hours of accounting courses at the 600 -level or higher, and two semesters of grad coursework at Bentley or demonstrated academic understanding of accounting from undergraduate studies, at an intermediate or higher level
  • Must provide the names of two Master of Accounting faculty references
  • Must have a 3.0 GPA overall and in all accounting courses
  • May only do one one-credit internship and one three-credit internship in the Master of Accounting program
Masters in Business Analytics

May only do one one-credit internship and one three-credit internship in the Master of Business Analytics program.

Masters in Digital Innovation

May only do one one-credit internship and one three-credit internship in the Master in Digital Innovation program.

Masters in Finance

Must complete at least two FI courses at the 600-level or higher.

Masters in Marketing Analytics
  • Must complete at least two MK courses at the 600-level or higher for the three-credit internship.
  • May only do one one-credit internship and one three-credit internship in the Master of Marketing Analytics program
Directed Study

Students are limited to taking no more than two of the following to satisfy elective or concentration requirements: Global Business Experience courses, field-based directed study courses or credit-bearing internships. Individual programs may have further restrictions. Consult with a program director for details.

Preparation for Directed Study

Students interested in pursuing a directed study must prepare a syllabus in collaboration with the faculty member who will be supervising the directed study.

The syllabus should include the following:

  • A brief description of the investigation
  • Goals and objectives for the investigation
  • A required readings bibliography
  • Explanation of course deliverables
  • Percentage attributed to each course deliverable
  • Timeline for course deliverables and course completion
  • Faculty evaluation methods for deliverables

Students must also complete a Directed Study Petition and submit the proposed syllabus with the petition.

Once complete, supervising faculty and department chairs will be required to sign off on the merit of the proposal. If approved, the student will be registered for the approved course.

Deadlines for Directed Study

  • Requests for directed study must be submitted by the first day of the semester that the course will be taken.
  • Approval must be granted prior to beginning the study.

Cost of Directed Study

  • Current tuition is charged for each directed study.

Transcript Notation for Directed Study

  • These courses will be recorded on the transcript with a notation of the topic investigated along with a corresponding course number assigned by an academic department.
Three-Credit Internships

Field-Based Learning

Field-based learning is an important part of the graduate curriculum allowing students to gain valuable industry experience and networking opportunities. Students can explore interests, and use knowledge gained from coursework in their work environment.

Field-based options include

  • Internships
  • Courses with fieldwork projects
  • Global Business Experience courses

Students are, however, limited to taking no more than two of the following to satisfy elective or concentration requirements:

  • Credit-bearing internships
  • Field-based directed studies
  • Global Business Experience courses

A three-credit internship is subject to the policies governing field-based learning

  • All required work for an internship must be completed during the term of registration
  • MS and MBA students may only take a total of two field-based learning courses
  • A three-credit internship experience cannot be used to extend a one-credit internship; students completing both must clearly distinguish the two in terms of work responsibility and supervision
  • A student may not take a one credit and three credit internship in the same semester

Course Prerequisites

AC 701 Internship in Accounting Practice

Prerequisites: 3 AC courses at the 600-level or higher
Note: Students are expected to work 35 hours per week for a minimum of eight weeks

CS 701 Internship in Information Technology

Prerequisites: Not open to MSIT/MSDI students, they take CS 881

CS 881 CIS Internship

Prerequisites for MSIT/MSDI students: CS 602 and CS 605

EC 701 Internship in Business Economics

Prerequisites: none

ETH 701 Internship in Business Ethics

FI 701 Internship in Finance

Prerequisites: 2 FI courses at the 600-level or higher
Note: Students must work a minimum of 200 hours

FP 781 Internship in Financial Planning Practice

Prerequisites: 2 FP courses at the 600-level or higher
Note: Students are expected to work 35 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks

HF 790 Internship in Human Factors in Information Design

Prerequisites: HF 700 and HF 750
Note: Students are expected to work a minimum of 120 hours across one term

IPM 701 Internship in Information Process Management

Prerequisites: IPM 652 or GR 602

MG 701 Internship in Management

Prerequisites: none
Note: Students are expected to work a minimum of 200 hours across one term

MK 701 Internship in Marketing Practice

Prerequisites: 2 MK courses at the 600-level or higher
Note: Students are expected to work 12 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks

ST 701 Internship in Business Data Analysis

Prerequisites: ST 635
Note: Students are expected to work 15 hours per week for a minimum of 12 weeks

TX 781 Internship in Tax Practice

Prerequisites: 2 TX courses at the 600-level or higher
Note: Work 35 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks

One-Credit Internships

One-credit internship are subject to the following policies

  • All required work for an internship must be completed during the term of registration
  • Students are limited to a single one-credit internship
  • A one-credit internship experience cannot be used to extend a three-credit internship; students completing both must clearly distinguish the two in terms of work responsibility and supervision
  • All one-credit internships are 500-level courses; students should consult program guides for degree requirements
  • A student may not take a one credit and three credit internship in the same semester

Course Prerequisites

AC 590 Internship in Accounting Practic
Note: Students must work a minimum of 15 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks 

CS 590 Internship in Information Technology
Note: Students must work a minimum of 120 hours

FI 590 Internship in Finance
Note: Students must work a minimum of 200 hours

FP 590 Internship in Financial Planning Practice
Note: Students must work a minimum of 15 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks

HF 590 Internship in HFID
Note: Students must work a minimum of 120 hours

IPM 590 Internship in Information Process Management
Note: Students must work a minimum of 120 hours

MG 590 Internship in Management
Note: Students must work a minimum of 200 hours

MK590 Internship in Marketing
Note: Students must work a minimum of 120 hours

ST 590 Internship in Statistics
Note: Students must work a minimum of 120 hours

TX 590 Internship in Tax Practice
Note: Students must work a minimum of 15 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks

International Students

  • International students must meet immigration regulations in order to complete an internship
  • A student in F-1 status at Bentley is eligible to participate in practical training after he/she has completed one full academic year (fall and spring semesters) of full-time study in a valid visa status immediately prior to the CPT experience
  • During the Academic Year (Fall/Spring Semesters), CPT cannot be the only course a student with an F1 visa takes in their final semester; they must also register for an in-person, degree-counting course
  • Please visit CISS for more information about Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT)