Local Internship Opportunities in Chicago for College Students
What is an Internship?
An internship is an opportunity for students to get hands-on experience with professionals in their chosen field. Internships can last from a few weeks to several months; the length of an internship is ultimately up to the employer and the student. Most internships are completed on a semester or seasonal basis, with students usually doing summer internships in between academic years or completing them during the fall or spring semesters.
Internships are a great opportunity to bridge the gap between real-world scenarios and classroom knowledge. Applying classroom knowledge in a practical application can be highly beneficial and educational to students in any field. Internships can range from pharmacy technician roles to hospitality management; there is an internship for everyone.
Types of Internships
There are many subcategories of internships. Internships can be categorized by financial aspect, time commitment, and format. The main financial categories are paid vs. unpaid. The difference between the two is:
- Paid internship – a temporary professional work placement that offers hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and a structured role with financial compensation, typically an hourly wage or stipend.
- Unpaid internship – a temporary professional work placement that provides individual training, networking opportunities, and experience without financial compensation.
In terms of time commitments, internships are usually either full-time opportunities or part-time opportunities. These differ in the depth of immersion in the role and time commitment. The difference between full-time and part-time is:
- Full-time – Offers a deep dive into a field with a program usually requiring a commitment for 10-12 weeks and 30-40 hours weekly. Full-time opportunities are often offered when most students are available, such as during the summer or after graduation.
- Part-time – Offers a more flexible way to gain experience, usually requiring 5-20 hours per week. Part-time opportunities are often offered during the school year, typically the fall or spring semesters.
Internships are often held in one of the following formats:
- In-person– you are expected to be physically present at the workplace when working.
- Remote – you are not expected to come into a physical workplace and can work from a computer.
- Hybrid – your time working is split between in-person and remote working.
Overall, whether it’s paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, in person or remote, any combination of internships is important and valuable to gaining experience in your field.
Why Are Internships Important?
Internships are very beneficial and important because students can:
- Develop classroom skills and techniques – to make the transition to real-world applications smoother.
- Test career paths – “test drive” different roles before committing to them.
- Acquire resume-building skills – these skills can offer you an advantage in the job search, as employers see internships as a key attribute when considering a candidate in a competitive job market.
- Opportunity to land a job offer – temporary internships may lead to a full-time role offer upon completion.
Preparing for the workplace and getting ahead is what an internship provides. These assets, along with many more skills that can be learned during an internship, can set you up for success.
What are Local Internships?
Local internships are internships that are usually in person and located in your town or in a nearby city. These opportunities allow you to gain experience in your community without having to go far for quality experience.
These types of internships are ideal for students who don’t want to or can’t move completely or travel far for experience. Local internships give students a fair try at gaining real-world training and hands-on experience. We ensure that most programs at St. Augustine have the opportunity to secure local internships.
Examples of Local Internships
At St. Augustine, we value and strive for every student’s success. We ensure that students in most programs at St. Augustine have the opportunity to secure local internships. Explore some examples of local internships for our existing programs below.
Respiratory therapy students can have the opportunity to work in local Chicago hospitals, learning from real respiratory therapists. A few Chicago hospitals that offer internships to students are:
- Ascension Saint Mary – Chicago – Gain patient experience by administering medications and treatments under supervision, based on patient outcomes, and educating patients on diseases, medications, and treatments.
- Advocate Aurora Health – Perform routine and basic-level respiratory therapy procedures, including oxygen therapy, pulse oximetry, and more. Ensure that respiratory therapy equipment and supplies meet department standards.
These hospitals offer structured programs that allow students to gain real-world experience
in a hospital setting and build confidence with their knowledge. Students will work alongside experienced respiratory therapists who provide mentorship and growth opportunities.
Accelerated BSN students have the opportunity to gain experience in hospitals and clinics as well. Chicago hospitals that offer an internship program for prospective nurses are:
- University of Chicago Medicine – Be matched with Medical-Surgical, Adult ICU, Emergency Department, or Pediatrics specialty for the duration of the internship. Shadow nurses in these departments to gain confidence in your journey to be a registered nurse.
- Swedish Hospital – Work closely with a registered nurse to evaluate patients by taking vitals, checking blood glucose levels, and more. Under the close supervision of a registered nurse, you will do head-to-toe assessments, assist with the five rights of medication administration, and page physicians, case managers, social workers, or supervisors, and more.
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital – Develop critical thinking skills, hone technical skills, and learn how to prioritize care. This program is designed to create a smooth transition into clinical practice upon graduation.
These opportunities offer nursing students the chance to develop the critical thinking skills needed to think quickly and to gain firsthand exposure to a nurse’s day-to-day life through shadowing.
In early childhood education, classroom experiences are crucial for developing as an educator. Luckily, Chicago offers many opportunities for students not only to gain classroom experience but also to develop family engagement and classroom management skills. Potential opportunities include:
- Chicago Youth Centers – Choose your placement in Early Learning, Out-of-School Time in CYC Centers, CYC on Campus school-based programs, or Education Support Initiative for youth in care. Develop skills in classroom management, government program reporting, family and Community engagement, and more.
- University of Chicago Medicine – Develop skills in intervention, cultural competence, trauma- informed care, therapeutic play, and more. This opportunity is a rotational program and allows for responsibilities to change weekly.
- Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Early Childhood Education internships – Students teach in a Chicago public school. Build cultural competency, develop classroom skills, and grow into an educator who leads with empathy.
Since early childhood education students learn a variety of skills, the contexts in which to apply those skills are just as broad. From the local hospitals to community centers, city-wide.
Social work students have the opportunity to expand their classroom knowledge and gain hands-on experience all over Chicago. Students can participate in community outreach, develop their case management skills, and receive counseling support throughout an internship. In Chicago, the potential opportunities are:
- Youth Outreach Services – Gain experience working with a community-based mental illness program. Interns will shadow full-time staff, conduct sexual behavior assessments, and general mental health assessments.
- Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center – Provides family and individual therapy to children who have been sexually abused. Interns will learn therapy models and techniques to conduct trauma assessments and trauma treatments.
- JPA Chicago – provides small group and individual therapy sessions to school-aged children in Chicago schools. Interns will conduct weekly therapy sessions under the supervision of a clinician, support the creation of mental plans, and learn how to complete clinical documentation.
These placements allow students to deepen their skills, serve diverse communities across the city, and prepare for a wide range of social work careers to make a meaningful impact in communities across Chicago.
How St. Augustine Can Help
St. Augustine is not just a college; it’s a launchpad for you and your career. We have the student success center to help with career topics such as resumes, interviewing, and job searching; life topics like stress management, self-care, and heart health; and academic topics like math, writing, APA/MLA citations, test-taking, and research. These well-rounded resources offer students a place to get help starting their professional careers, receive feedback, and explore careers.
Resources For Internship Opportunities in Chicago
Check out the resources that St. Augustine offers to ensure you have the best opportunities and succeed.
