Academics
Internships
Internships have become essential to career preparation. They bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry expectations, helping students develop the competencies that a technology-driven workforce demands. All Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing are encouraged to pursue opportunities to gain practical experience.
Internships help students:
- Apply classroom learning in professional settings.
- Clarify career interests and strengths.
- Gain exposure to tools, timelines, and team environments.
- Build a professional network.
- Strengthen résumés and job interviews.
Internships Lead to Better Offers
More than 70% of employers plan to maintain or increase intern hiring, according to NACE’s 2025 Internship & Co-op Report. Those without internships face tougher competition in the job market.
- Internship experience is the top factor employers use when choosing between equally qualified candidates, according to NACE research. Paid interns average more job offers and higher starting salaries than unpaid interns and non-interns, according to Job Outlook 2024.
- Over two-thirds of 2024 graduates nationwide completed at least one internship, the highest rate in six years, according to NACE’s 2024 Student Survey.
- 57% of graduating seniors said their institution prepared them very or extremely well to enter the workforce or to pursue additional education, according to that same survey.
The New Career Currency
The value of internships goes beyond skill-building. Less than 40% of employers say GPA is a primary screening tool. Instead, they prioritize academic rigor, internship experience, and evidence of career-ready skills. Researchers identified eight career readiness competencies – skills that can be gained or improved through internships -- that hiring managers say are often missing from recent graduates. These include:
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Professionalism
- Critical thinking
- Leadership
- Artificial intelligence literacy
Career Readiness Starts at USF
Experiential learning is part of the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan, a five-year strategic initiative focused on student success. Known as ExCel, which stands for Experiential Centered Learning, the QEP encourages students to apply what they learn in the classroom in real-world environments. USF students have access to a variety of resources to help identify and secure internship experiences:
University-wide Tools:
- Handshake job board
- Engineering and Technology Internship section via the USF Center for Career & Professional Development
- Internship Search website and Internships Listings through the State of Florida
- Career Fairs through the Center for Career & Professional Development
- Cooperative Education resources
Labs and Experiential Learning
- Department-sponsored research and internship opportunities
- ReliaQuest Labs – Cybersecurity and incident response experience
- Rapid7 Lab – Hands-on training tracking global threat actors
Where Students Intern
Learn How to Get Course Credit
Students who secure internships may be eligible to earn academic credit toward their degree. Full details on eligibility, requirements, and next steps are available in Canvas: