BBA Internship Requirement

All Texas BBA students are required to successfully complete a professional internship as part of their degree requirements. The purpose of the internship course is to provide students with a format for reflection while they perform a professional internship.  The internship should enhance the student’s ability to achieve their personal career objectives. Students completing the internship course must work a minimum of 160 internship hours over the course of at least six weeks. Certain deadlines and other requirements apply.

Intended Outcomes

• Opportunities for students to put their academic learning into practice
• Integrated learning about how specific projects relate to larger business goals
• Greater understanding of business processes
• Increased professional skills
• Enhanced ability to recognize preferences and abilities and match them with appropriate career-related choices.

In addition to the required internship, the majority of BBA students complete multiple internships during their academic career. While most internships are conducted during the summer months, some students are interested in internship opportunities offered during the fall and/or spring semesters. Students conducting fall or spring semester internships, take courses at The University of Texas at Austin concurrently.

Employers with questions about the BBA internship requirement, please contact Shannon Hickson.

MPA Internships

MPA students have the option to intern during the spring and/or summer semesters. Graduate internship credit is granted for the completion of at least 320 hours of work that requires regular and rigorous use of knowledge and skills learned in the MPA program.

Internships for Students Taking the Traditional MPA Approach

Students taking the traditional approach to the MPA are not required to complete an internship.  Approximately one-third of students taking the traditional approach elect to intern.  Recruiting typically takes place in the fall for students taking the traditional approach.

Internships for Students Taking the Integrated MPA Approach

Students taking the integrated approach to the MPA (BBA+MPA) are required to complete a professional internship.  Internship recruiting generally occurs during a student’s first year in the MPA program, which is typically their junior year.  The internship usually occurs during the spring semester of a student’s second year in the MPA program, which is typically their senior year.

Fall Internships

Some industry and public accounting firms offer fall internships.  The length of fall internships varies.

Spring Internships

Most spring internships are completed with public accounting firms and typically last eight weeks.  Students in the Financial Reporting and Assurance Track work as interns during the first half of the semester.  Students in the Tax Track work as interns during the last half of the semester.  During the spring semester, students complete two intensive courses pre- or post-internship.

Summer Internships

Summer internships are predominately completed in industry.  The length of summer internships varies.

MBA Work Experience Requirement

The work experience requirement embraces McCombs’ philosophy that MBA students learn better when the educational experience encompasses both theory and practice. The work experience requirement is designed to give students an opportunity to utilize and build on the foundational skills that comprise the Core curriculum in conjunction with their elective courses.  As full-time MBA students engage in experiential learning, they will develop new skills and can demonstrate relevant expertise to prospective and sponsoring employers while completing their degree. Students also can use these work opportunities to make more informed career choices having had a chance to work in the area of interest for a limited period of time.
 
MBA students may fulfill the Work Experience requirement through the successful completion of one of the following curricular or co-curricular options:

• A summer internship (this may be paid or unpaid and must be a minimum of six weeks)
• A MBA+ Leadership Program consulting project (this must be a minimum of six weeks)
• An approved MBA Practicum, academic fellowship, program or course with an extensive work experience component; current pre-approved programs include: Venture Fellows, Marketing Fellows, MBA Investment Fund, REIT Fund, Social Enterprise Program, Curtis Meadows Junior Enterprise Fellow