In the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, career preparation is embedded into the student experience. Through 4D Fridays, internships, faculty mentorship, and close collaboration with the Burwell Center for Career Achievement, CAHSS ensures students graduate with applied professional experience, clarity of direction, and confidence in what comes next.
[My] internship helped me gain insight into one of my potential career paths... [it] granted me the opportunity to see the inner workings of diplomacy and how all of the moving parts contribute to the smooth functioning of the Department of State.
Tom Dattilo, International Studies and Spanish
Internships for All
Internships are a core part of the CAHSS model. We also recognize that access matters. Our faculty are committed to supporting you by:
Partnering with alumni and community organizations to increase paid internship opportunities
Connecting students with placements that align with their academic focus and long-term aspirations
Every CAHSS student graduates with at least one internship or cooperative education experience and two résumé-ready accomplishments.
Career & Professional Development
CAHSS works in close partnership with the Burwell Center for Career Achievement to integrate career development into all four years of the undergraduate journey.
Through advising, skill-building workshops, employer engagement, and alumni connections, students develop the adaptability, analytical thinking, collaboration, and technological fluency employers value most.
University of Denver graduates consistently achieve first-destination outcomes above national and regional averages. More importantly, CAHSS students leave with direction, professional confidence, and the ability to translate their liberal arts education into meaningful work and impact.
Megan Chambers, Graduate Career Advisor
Megan Chambers (she/her) is the dedicated CAHSS graduate career advisor, and studied sociology (BA), art history (minor), and counseling (MS). She is passionate about supporting CAHSS graduate students with exploring and pursuing career paths in academia, nonprofits, education, the arts, government and other areas. Whether you need help with your resume/CV, finding an internship, planning a career change, practicing for an interview, or something else career-related, she's here to help! Email her at Megan.Chambers@du.edu or schedule an appointment on PCO.
Carolyn Sommers is the Associate Director in Career & Professional Development supporting undergraduate students in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS), including Exploratory students. In her words: "I’m on a mission to help people tell their stories; and, as a career coach, my approach is about holding space to help you excavate your narrative to connect the dots to what lights you up, leverages your talents, and honors your values and personality so as to help you identify possible pathways. Nature is where I come alive + feel most at home, so you’ll find me offering walking/rolling appointments, or meeting outdoors whenever possible. What is your dream!?" You can connect with Carolyn either via email (Carolyn.Sommers@du.edu) or schedule an appointment on PCO.
Awarding students with funds for participating in unpaid internships.
The Summer Internship Award Program is designed to increase the ability for students to participate in internship opportunities that are unpaid. The program will award selected undergraduate students with awards ranging from $2,500-$3,400. Check back here in February 2026 for how to apply to the program on Pioneer Careers Online.
Internships must be unpaid and a minimum of 200 hours during the summer of 2026 (small stipends might be accepted on a case-by-case basis)
Internships may be on or off the DU campus.
Students must be undergraduates. Applicants must be in good academic and disciplinary standing.
Students must be currently enrolled at DU full-time and must maintain their undergraduate status through the summer by registering as a full-time student in the Fall Quarter of 2026.
If the internship is outside of the U.S., the internship must be registered and approved through DU Passport.
Students enrolled in a 3/2 or 4/1 graduate program are not eligible if they have started their graduate work.
In order to give more students the opportunity for funding, previous award recipients of any of the Summer Internship Award Programs are not eligible to apply again.
College of Professional Studies undergraduates are not eligible.
It is recommended that students have already accepted and secured a summer internship by the application deadline.
Students who have not secured an internship by the application deadline may still apply but must be in active pursuit of an internship opportunity. Receipt of the award money will be contingent upon finding a summer internship no later than June 1, 2025.
Taking this internship for academic credit is optional. Students who would like to get academic credit for their internship must meet all eligibility requirements established by their academic department. Students are responsible for finding a faculty advisor in their academic department and obtaining approval to receive academic credit for their internship prior to the start of their internship.
Applications open: TBD. All applications must be submitted through Pioneer Careers Online by Spring 2026 - check back in February 2026 for specific application deadlines. All application items must be completed by the deadline in order for student applications to be considered. A selection committee will review the applications and essays and will notify students via email to let them know whether they have been selected to receive the award.
All resumes must be approved by reviewers in Pioneer Careers Online. The quality of the resume will be taken into consideration. This process often takes time with a few back and forth edits to ensure each resume is in the best possible shape. The amount of edits needed depends on the state of each resume. Please plan accordingly and submit all final resumes by the application deadline in Spring 2026.
If you have questions about your resume, or want someone review it before you submit, please click here.
Short Essay
Essays should cover a full description of personal experience, what the students hopes to gain through their internship and how it relates to their career goals.
In a 2-3 page essay (double-spaced):
Address reasons the student would like to participate in a summer internship, including what in their background prepares them for this experience. What types of growth and development does the student anticipate gaining through this internship? How does this experience relate to their career goals?
Students should provide a short description of their internship organization, what they will do at the internship, and their financial need for this internship.
Students should select two academic skills or abilities from the following list that they would like to develop through their internship and describe how they anticipate developing them.
Critical thinking: evaluating available evidence in order to make a judgment about a complex issue.
Written and/or Oral Expression: presenting clearly articulated ideas in effective prose and presenting clearly articulated ideas in an effective oral format.
Problem-solving: analyzing unresolved issues or situations and applying knowledge and interpersonal, creative, and cognitive abilities to implement an appropriate resolution.
Career & Professional Development is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (please click here to see the latest updates on DEI). How have the student's identities influenced them and their interests, if at all? Additionly, how might this internship experience help promote the voices of underrepresented communities, if at all?
Student Information Form
Students must complete the Student Information Form via Qualtrics to be considered.
Recipients are selected through a committee process with applications remaining anonymous. Recipients are evaluated on the quality of the essay as it relates to clarity of thought and expression, proper grammar and writing mechanics as well as addressing the content and skills listed in the application. Additional criteria which may be considered include prior academic performance and/or financial need.
Depending on the award origin (Career & Professional Development Award, the Denenberg Family Award, or the CAHSS Award), a student's major, department and GPA will be taken into account. Students will be considered for all awards for which they are eligible through this single application. No person shall be discriminated against in any condition of employment because of race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, or veteran status.
Sign an Internship Agreement for the Summer Internship Award Program.
Arrange to meet with Dr. Sarabeth Wolbrom in Career & Professional Development to sign the Internship Agreement and to review additional instructions (either virtual & in-person).
Submit a signed letter from the internship employer verifying the student’s unpaid status and the number of hours they will be expected to work (a minimum of 200 hours is required). This letter will be due by June 2026 (virtual signatures will be accepted).
Write a reflection paper upon completion of their internship and submit it by email to sarabeth.wolbrom@du.edu by the first Monday of the Fall Quarter 2025.
Go to the graduate admission application to submit your information. For information on admission requirements, visit the graduate academic programs page and locate your program of interest.
