In the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) we embrace a well-rounded liberal arts education. That includes opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge through hands-on experience and apply what they're learning in class to the professional world. From funding scholarships to help students secure crucial internships to incorporating experiential elements in classes, our faculty and staff help students expand their studies and prepare for their futures.
Internships provide valuable experience and network-building opportunities to students across the College. Students who participate in internships gain relevant, vital skills to employ in their careers and can demonstrate advanced career readiness during their job search. Internships are an increasingly important part of preparing for life post-graduation.
Along with DU’s Career Center we are working to make internships more accessible to students across CAHSS. We recognize that unpaid internships can provide critical experience and networking, but many students cannot afford to spend several months working without pay. To help meet our students' needs, we award scholarships to students taking unpaid internships each year. These funds enable students to say ‘yes’ to a career-relevant opportunity they might otherwise miss.
Our efforts include:
Funding scholarships that give students the financial freedom to take an unpaid internship in order to further their career goals.
Working with alumni and community partners to provide additional paid internship opportunities and help students connect to valuable internship experiences.
Check out the articles below for stories of students whose internship experiences have made an impact on their career paths.
Summer Internship Award Program 2025
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. Students may apply for the program beginning Monday, Feb. 3 on Pioneer Careers Online.
Internships must be unpaid and a minimum of 200 hours during the summer of 2025 (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 2025.
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.
University College 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 Monday, Feb. 3. All applications must be submitted through Pioneer Careers Online by April 11th @ 5 pm. 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 on April 11th @ 5 pm.
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 5:00 pm June 1st, 2025 (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.
Community-engaged learning opportunities combine hands-on experience with real impact on our communities. Partnerships with local organizations allow students to apply their skills and connect their studies to real-life applications. From service-learning components in courses to capstone experiences, our students are improving lives in Denver and beyond, and building networks to carry into their lives post-graduation.
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.
