BUS 310: Internships with Impact

To be eligible for BUS 310, you must:

• Complete BUS 210 or its equivalent;
• Acquire an internship that fulfills the internship requirements; and
• Internships must be approved before your start date to receive credit for BUS 310.

BUS 310 internship eligibility requirements

• Must be a minimum of 120 hours for a time period of no less than 6 weeks.
• Significant, professional, business-related responsibilities similar to those a full-time college graduate would have in the organization. You must add value to the organization and be challenged with a major project, series of smaller projects, or regular responsibilities that require advanced education and knowledge.
• Regular interaction with co-workers, supervisors, and clients.
• Dedicated, experienced supervisor available to provide feedback and evaluate performance.
• Can either be paid or unpaid.
• Follow Department of Labor standards.

Things to consider

• Family members cannot be the student’s supervisor.
• Students working for their own business must connect regularly with a mentor to foster growth in business development and other entrepreneurial skills.
• Internships involving direct-to-consumer sales must also include higher marketing strategy or greater business management component.
• Students should not be required to utilize personal contacts as sales leads.
• The internship should consist of skilled tasks; we don't want you to spend the majority of your time filing, copying, answering the phone, or performing manual labor or data entry.

Internships obtained with a previous or current employer must be related to the student’s career goals and extend beyond work previously completed for the organization.

The BUS 310 Internships with Impact application can be found by logging into HireJayhawks and navigating to "Experiential Learning." Find step-by-step application instructions below.

BUS 310 is offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Please note the internship must be completed during the same semester that the student is enrolled in BUS 310.

Enrollment in BUS 310 is by permission only. Once your internship is secured, you will apply on HireJayhawks for permission to enroll in the course. You should apply by Stop Day the semester before you plan to complete your internship alongside BUS 310 coursework. The internship coordinator will review your application on HireJayhawks, confirm your employment and grant you permission to enroll in a specific section of BUS 310. You must complete your internship and BUS 310 coursework to receive credit and fulfill your graduation requirement.

How to apply

1. Navigate to HireJayhawks.
2. Log in with your credentials.
3. Click "Experiential Learning" within the navigation section on the left-hand side of the screen. "My Account" should appear with a white box containing three rows. Make sure "Experiential Learning" and "Placement" are underlined.
4. Click "New Experience." Once clicked, a drop-down menu box should appear.
5. Under the drop-down menu, select "BUS 310 - Required Business School Internship" to load the correct application.
6. Fill out the application. All required questions will be indicated with an asterisk. You may save a draft of the application so that you can return to it at a later time. Remember to upload the requested documentation.
7. Click "Submit," and your application will be sent for review and employer verification.

Finding and securing your internship for BUS 310 is the student’s responsibility. You will not be “placed” into an internship. Resources are available to assist you in finding an eligible internship:

• Make an appointment with a career advisor at 1130 Capitol Federal Hall.
• Take BUS 210: Career Management and Planning.
  • This career readiness class is a great opportunity to network and refine your interview skills, resume, and explore internship options.
• Search for internship opportunities using HireJayhawks.
• Make an appointment with the Office of Study Abroad for international internships at 108 Lippincott Hall.
• Utilize your personal networks of friends, family, and mentors.
• Reach out to professionals through KU Connect via the KU Alumni Mentoring platform.

Apply for an internship scholarship 

The School of Business is proud to have scholarship resources available to award students who are facing financial hardship associated with their internship, such as relocation, travel or housing expenses.

Resource allocations have ranged from $250–$1,000. Strong consideration is made for students facing extenuating financial circumstances. This scholarship is open to all business majors and levels.

Apply for a BUS 310 scholarship at this link. If it is your first time signing into the system, you will be required to complete the general application before completing the BUS 310 scholarship application. View step-by-step scholarship application instructions. 

Students will be notified about two weeks after the deadline listed below about the status of their scholarship application.  

Scholarship application deadlines:

• By 11:59 p.m. January 27, 2025
• By 11:59 p.m. March 31, 2025
• By 11:59 p.m. May 19, 2025

Questions can be directed to bus310info@ku.edu.

Course enrollment and credits

Q. Does BUS 310 count towards my major requirements?

A. Yes. BUS 310 is part of the required EY Business Professional Development Program coursework.

Q. Is this a class, or do I just get approved and receive academic credit for the work I do during the internship?

A. BUS 310 is a course with assignments and an assigned letter grade (A-F). The course is conducted remotely via Canvas and email.

Q. I’ve already taken BUS 310, can I take it again?

A. No, BUS 310 is a one-time, one-credit course. If the student is looking for additional credit to fulfill general electives and/or acquires another internship for which they wish to receive credit, we encourage the student to consider LA&S 490.

Q. How do I balance my internship and this class?

A. BUS 310 was created as a 1-credit-hour course with assignments designed to complement a workplace experience. The course serves as a resource for the student to address unique challenges that they may face and as a tool to reflect upon their experiences.

Q. Does the internship have to be in-person?

A. No! The internships can be in-person, virtual or a hybrid.

Scholarships and financial aid

Q. Do I have to pay tuition on the course? Would that mean I am paying to work?

A. Yes, you must pay the tuition and fees associated with the course, as you are earning academic credit for taking the course.

Q. Are there resources available to help offset the cost associated with taking an internship?

A. Yes. Once your internship is approved, you will receive an email outlining the next steps. Need-based scholarships are available through a separate application process in KU Academic Works.

Q. Can I use financial aid for BUS 310?

A. BUS 310 is a 1-credit-hour course, and a minimum of 3 credits is required to be eligible for financial aid. To be eligible for financial aid, you’ll need to enroll in at least 2 additional credit hours through other coursework. BUS 310 is also offered in the fall and spring semesters.

Finding an internship

Q. Why can’t I intern with my own company?

A. Working for your own company limits the invaluable impact of mentorship that an internship may provide. Some exceptions can be made if the student finds a mentor who monitors and helps develop defined goals and outcomes.

Q. I can’t find an internship. What do I do?

A. Please contact Business Professional Development Services to see what options may be available. If you have additional questions or challenges, please contact Madelyn Mueller, internship program coordinator.