In USAC’s exciting and new Virtual Internship program, explore your future career interests by working online with businesses and organizations that are based at their Specialty Program locations around the world.
USAC offers virtual internships related to your preferred career field, but cannot guarantee placement with a particular internship provider.
USAC Global Virtual Internship website
Contact: Monica Ernberger | monica-ernberger@uiowa.edu
Application Deadline
March 15 for Summer 2022
June 1 for Fall 2022
Cost
$1,390 Program Fee + University of Iowa Study Abroad fees*
Home university approval is required for virtual internships.
Upon acceptance $500 non-refundable Internship Placement/Confirmation Deposit due paid directly to USAC.
Dates
Varies (see below)
Eligibility
USAC welcomes students who
- Are at least 18 years old at the time of application and who are enrolled in a university degree-seeking program
- Have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Will have sophomore standing or higher at the time of the internship
- A personal interview is required.
Placements
USAC Virtual Internships are composed of two distinct, yet interrelated components, an online internship seminar and internship hours completed remotely online with a placement site abroad in a given career field. The Virtual Internship Program (seminar + placement) is worth 3 semester credits.
Global Internship Seminar
The Global Internship seminar is a 15-hour online seminar that will provide you with essential information to make the most of your internship experience. This online course explores topics such as organizational frameworks and cultures, professional identity, personal branding, and networking that will contribute to your personal, academic, and professional development.
The online seminar will be delivered asynchronously using the Microsoft Teams for Education online learning platform, allowing students to work through the course content at their own pace and in ways that complement their virtual internship experience.
Fields of work for Virtual Internship Placements
Internship hours will be completed with a placement site in one of the following career fields. You will work together with your site supervisor to develop a schedule and work responsibilities relevant to your particular placement. Virtual internships require a minimum 120 hours in addition to the internship seminar.
During this 3-credit internship, you can conduct work in a number of popular career fields including:
Digital marketing and social media management
Digital marketing and social media management intern responsibilities may include performing market research, contribute to digital marketing campaigns, develop web and print content, graphic and web design, and video production and editing, promote marketing campaigns, products, or events, and support web and social media management.
Placements available in China, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Thailand, and Uruguay
Business
Business interns may be asked to contribute to business strategy and marketing, new business development, database research, product design and promotion, client engagement, business plan development and presentation, business operations, financial management, and logistics, among others.
Placements available in China, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, and Thailand
Event planning
Event planning interns may be expected to participate in developing engaging and creative web and social media content, developing search engine optimization and analytics strategies, organize event calendars, manage client relations, and identify potential business partnerships.
Placements available in China and Italy
Electrical/Control Engineering
Engineering interns will work on one of a number of projects at the Mercorelli Lab at Leuphana University using Matlab or Simulink. Projects include modeling and control of atomic force microscope, Kalman Filter using wavelet packets, modeling, identification, and control of thermal systems, and robotic systems controls.
Placements available in Germany
Translation
Translation interns will work with their placement site to translate various materials, including marketing and publication materials, into English. Advanced language proficiency is required.
Placements available in China and Spain
Social welfare
Interns working with NGOs and other organizations on social service projects will be expected to contribute to grant proposals and other fundraising activities, to conduct research relevant to projects or campaigns of the organization, project management, and data entry and analysis.
Placements available in Ghana, Thailand, and Uruguay
English language instruction
English-language instruction interns will plan lessons and provide English language instruction for children and adults focusing on daily language use, pronunciation, professional vocabulary development, and reading and conversational proficiency. Other responsibilities include tutoring individual students or small groups, giving presentations, developing holistic communication strategies, and creating supportive learning environments.
Placements available in China, Costa Rica, Thailand and Uruguay
Journalism
Journalism interns may be asked to conduct content research, contribute content for online publications focusing on topics and events relevant to the locale, copy editing, assisting in publication, monitor media partners and news agency publications, and help manage social media accounts.
Placements available in China and Czech Republic
Research and Grant-Writing
Research and grant-writing interns can be expected to participate in research projects being conducted by the placement site, perform comparative analyses on selected topics, edit and proofread translations and narrative reports, search for new research topics and materials, contribute to grant-writing and fundraising campaigns, managing financial reports, and researching new donors.
Placements available in Czech Republic, Ghana, and Thailand
Health/Wellness
Health/Wellness interns will work with organizations collecting data and preparing learning materials on Thai herbs and traditional Thai medicine, promoting access to health care services to vulnerable populations, contribute to public health awareness campaigns, and work with medical professionals researching palliative care issues.
Placements available in Italy and Thailand
How it Works
Although the placement site will be a world away, you will be in regular contact with the Resident Director and your placement supervisor who will introduce you to your internship organization, its mission, and most importantly, the work they do.
- Interns will complete a minimum of 120 work hours remotely during U.S. working hours. This format allows students to gain professional work experience, learn more about a future career field, and develop an appreciation for the workplace culture of their placement country.
- Internships include a 15-hour seminar that will help students make sense of their internship experience and navigate the cross-cultural landscape of the workplace.
Application Process
- Complete the USAC Virtual Internship online application form.
- Receive preliminary approval notification via email along with login instructions for your USAC Student Gateway account.
- Login to your USAC Student Gateway Account and submit your unofficial transcripts and Virtual Internship placement form.
- Submit your resume and cover letter to internship@usac.edu.
Once the application, placement form, and supplementary materials are received, USAC staff will contact applicants and schedule a prescreening interview to help determine the best placement for the student. At that point, application materials will be forwarded to one of our Specialty Program Resident Directors, who will work with one of our placement sites to confirm the placement. Once a placement is confirmed, students will be introduced to the site supervisor and work together to establish a schedule and work responsibilities.