Put your major to work and apply your notes outside of the classroom through the Clemson University Professional Internship and Co-op Program. The UPIC program offers on-campus internships where students can work with Clemson faculty or administration in a University-affiliated paid position. Through this program, students can receive real-world experience and mentoring related to what they are learning within the classroom and what they hope to do post-graduation.
Students can apply for positions in the Summer, Fall and Spring on the Clemson JobLink board that can be accessed through the Center for Career and Professional Development’s website. Positions for the Summer and Fall are posted around mid-March, while Spring positions are released in mid-October, allowing students plenty of time to apply before starting a new semester.
By participating in UPIC, students are able to prepare themselves for the future while still enjoying their time as students. UPIC offers two types of internships, part-time and full-time. Part-time UPIC interns are expected to work 12-15 hours per week while full-time student interns are expected to complete 28 hours per week. All UPIC internships are located on the Clemson University main campus or affiliated locations, making them accessible to every student. The UPIC program is flexible and allows students to tailor their internship to their needs, creating a schedule that works best for them.
When sitting in class, it can be empowering to look ahead and see how the skills you learn will assist in the workforce. Participating in UPIC allows you to apply your knowledge to hands-on professional experience without leaving campus. Rebecca Whaley, a senior English major, found that her UPIC internship with the College of Science enhanced her skills in journalism beyond the classroom.
“I’m not just learning about journalism and taking a class on it, I’m actually doing it and learning more skills that I wouldn’t have gotten in a journalism class,” Whaley said.
The wide range of internship options from multiple departments gives students the freedom to explore various career opportunities to expand their skill set. For students like Colby Goodwin, a senior communications major, the UPIC program allows them to solidify their career choices.
“I wanted to expand my horizons and UPIC was a really great way to do that,” (Communications major and December ‘23 graduate) Colby Goodwin said.
For other students, UPIC helps them narrow down their career options by allowing them to explore different internships. By filtering internship opportunities on the JobLink board by keywords and department, students can tailor their UPIC experience to their individual interests. Even if you have no idea what career you want to aspire to, the UPIC program is a valuable resource. You can explore various internship positions/departments and discover what positions align with your skills and interests.
Goodwin and Whaley’s experiences with UPIC could be yours as well; all it takes is one application to start your professional career journey. Participate in UPIC to bring your lessons to life and find your passion within the workplace!
