Internships for Credit
Computer Science internships are work experiences in which currently enrolled students work for companies willing to supervise an educational experience that is of mutual benefit to the student and the company. Although a computer science internship is not a requirement for graduation, we encourage our majors in Computer Science and Computer Information Systems to complete an internship as part of their undergraduate education.
An internship provides students with valuable experience about the working world and enables them to learn about employment opportunities that await them upon graduation. Students who have successfully completed CS 2511, Software Analysis and Design, are eminently qualified to contribute positively to a company during an internship. Internships sometimes result in offers of permanent employment.
- Internships should apply directly to careers in computer science. They should be positions that are related to:
- Programming
- System analysis or design
- Software engineering
- Software testing
- Database management
- Web application development
- Network administration
- Any other area with significant computer science content.
Routine jobs such as data entry clerk or computer operator are not acceptable as internship positions.
Computer science internships are usually paid positions that vary between $10-20 per hour.
Internships often occur over the summer, when students are not enrolled in classes. However, if an internship is with a local company it can occur any time. Here are more details on how to get academic credit for an internship.
Job Opportunities
If you are a typical graduate from UMD's Dept. of Computer Science, you will:
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Have the highest probability of getting a job for any major (BLS Job Projections for Computer Fields). STEM Salaries are increasing (NACE Salary Survey).
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Have a starting salary between $40,000 and $68,000. (Based on surveys of UMD graduates.)
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Be able to live anywhere you choose - most UMD CIS and CS graduates choose to stay in Minnesota.
Tons of Campus Resources
Students should use GoldPASS as their primary resource for job and internships listings. It allows employers to search for applicants and resumes while also connecting students with companies of interest.
UMD's Career & Internship Services offers a lot of great resources including interview and resume help. The following are just a few that may come in handy:
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Graduate Follow-up Report - This document lists provides statistics about employment and internships based on data collected from alumni and students. It also lists where students found jobs and internships.Â
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Job & Internship Postings -Maintained by the Computer Science Department
Other Internship & Job Resources
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Minneapolis Star Tribune Job Web:Â Positions advertised in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and general information about searching for a job.
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The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) is the principal professional organization for computing professionals. They maintain a comprehensive website of job and career resources