Growth in Humanities Internships Includes More Paid Roles
Over the past three years, internship participation has increased each year among College of Humanities students, with notable growth in paid positions. While internships are not required for most Humanities majors, 46% of all Humanities students and an impressive 65% of Communication students complete at least one internship before graduation, according to recent graduation exit surveys. Many of these graduating students report securing employment either with the company they interned for or as a direct result of their internship experience.
This year, the increase in paid internship opportunities has been driven by the expansion
of the U Career Success Step-Up Funds and a strategic reduction in promoting unpaid
opportunities on platforms like Handshake and email announcements. These efforts have
resulted in a 6% increase in paid internships (fall 2024 over fall 2023), and paid
internships now account for over 50% of internships across the fall, spring, and summer
semesters.
This focus on paid opportunities is critical, as research by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) demonstrates that paid internships significantly improve students’ chances of securing full-time jobs and earning higher starting salaries.
Internship Spotlights
In Fall 2024, humanities students participated in internship opportunities with companies like Delta Airlines, Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, Intermountain Health and more.
Marissa Bond | Friends of the Children – Utah
“This internship has given me a better look into what working for a nonprofit to serve my community would look like. The experiences I am gaining from this will not only help me build my portfolio but will also give me direction for post-grad.”
Adam Cook | INDECO
“I was invited to participate in a two-week Junior Operations internship at Indeco, an international (Italian) manufacturer and distributor of demolition attachments to heavy equipment. During the two weeks, I interviewed employees from different departments to document their standard operating procedures.”
Cameron Curran | Utah Hockey
“Always reach out and dig for internships that interest you; there is definitely one!"
Daphne Garcia | Ban Law Office
“The soft skills necessary to be an advocate, such as people skills, have been strengthened by the hard skills I've learned in Public Speaking, Strategic Communication, Media Writing, Advocacy & Change, and Quantitative Communication Research."
Daniela Imbrett-Hook | Delta Airlines
“Don't be discouraged. Be open to different internship options, whether out of state, unpaid, or in a different role. See yourself as a valuable candidate and remember that the work you're doing now—creating resumes, practicing interviews, preparing pitches—is noticed by recruiters."
Nathan Le | Intermountain Health
“To students looking into other internship opportunities, he suggests to “just keep looking, keep submitting applications to jobs because the worst they can say is ‘no.’"
Alyssa Mott | Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind
“The classes I have taken so far have been great in my preparation for this internship; COMM 1130 - Media Writing walks students through the differences between academic writing and writing for a media audience."
Ashlyn Tolman | Women of the World
“When I found out about Women of the World, I was immediately drawn to work with them because they focus on helping displaced women right here in Salt Lake. I'm so grateful to be able to support their efforts and continue the work I've been doing on a more local level."
Tara Thompson | Insight
“I’ve learned how to use a lot of common software like Outlook, Excel, Webex, Adobe Acrobat, etc., which I hadn’t used before. I also learned a lot about remote work and professional environments."
Katie Turner | Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind
“Throughout this internship I have gotten to learn about and create accessible media, which has been super interesting. Working with deaf and blind students and teachers has been a really cool experience that has taught me so much."
These initiatives underscore the College’s commitment to equitable, career-advancing opportunities for its students. For more information contact Cameron Vakilian, Associate Director, Internships and Career Success at cameron.vakilian@utah.edu.