Internship Requirements
Our program is designed to give Hilton College students an outstanding advantage to gain immersive experience within the industry before graduation with a 1000-work-hour requirement, which includes a 300-hour internship.
Internships provide students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through real-world application in their field of study. Internship experiences are a high-impact experience that increase confidence, enhance personal and professional skills, and equip students with a competitive advantage when they graduate and enter the workforce or pursue a graduate degree.
The Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership requires its students earning a Bachelor of Science degree to obtain a minimum 1,000 clock hours in order to graduate. The 1,000 clock hours is a combination of work experience and an industry internship.
- Undergraduate students must complete a minimum 1,000 clock hours, which includes a 300-hour hospitality-related internship.
- The internship MUST either be approved or obtained through the Internship Coordinator. To submit your internship for approval, click here.
Acceptable positions: (see attachment for positions)
- Students must enroll in GHL 2160: Hospitality Internship and GHL 4360: Professional Development
WHAT IS AN INTERNSHIP?
An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths, and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.
WHEN CAN I COMPLETE AN INTERNSHIP?
Students can complete an internship at any class level, during any academic term, including the fall semester, spring semester or summer term. It is recommended that you begin your internship search the semester before your desired placement.
WHEN SHOULD I START LOOKING FOR AN INTERNSHIP?
Most employers begin recruiting one semester ahead (ex. employers will hire at the beginning of the fall semester for a spring internship). Some employers (particularly large companies) with competitive internship programs start hiring interns up to 9 months in advance.
WHAT TYPE OF WORK SHOULD I COMPLETE FOR THIS REQUIREMENT?
All work must be done in a segment of the hospitality industry. The purpose of this requirement is to enhance your ability to obtain a position in your desired field. Your work should be consistent with your career goals.
Have you secured an internship or need your internship approved or GHL 2160? REPORT YOUR INTERNSHIP
International students may engage in experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, during any academic term as long as the experience has been approved as relevant to their degree program.
Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a structured educational program which combines classroom learning with productive work experience in a field related to a student’s academic program. F-1 students may be eligible for CPT.
For more information, visit the International Student and Scholar Services Office
With the continued growth and demand in the hospitality industry, The University of Houston- Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership recognizes the importance of creating strong, innovative, and creative leaders of tomorrow. All undergraduate students in the Hilton College must complete career-related work experience as part of their degree requirements. Work experience is built into the college's curriculum to help students transition seamlessly from the classroom to the real world.
When you partner with Hilton College, you possess the unique opportunity to shape the industry as a whole. By influencing students during their educational journey, you help them obtain the real-world skills that let them hit the ground running in the workforce — when they’re successful here, they’ll be success for youHilton College strongly encourages employers to compensate their interns, regardless of whether interns are earning academic credit for the demonstrated learning associated with their internships. A recent internship survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) offers some insight into what employers are paying interns for their work. The average hourly wage rate for a bachelor’s degree intern is $20.82*. Generally, the closer to the terminal degree, the higher the internship wage.
For-profit organizations considering offering unpaid internships, need to carefully evaluate their internship program to ensure that interns have a valuable learning experience—and that the program is aligned with the U.S. Department of Labor’s primary beneficiary test, which determines whether or not student interns are entitled to wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Are you creating an internship for the first time? Take a look at our guidelines to help you draft your position. It can also be extremely helpful to follow when students are seeking academic credit. The more details you can provide, the better.
- Post your internship and job opportunities on Hire Hilton College.
- REPORT YOUR INTERN
As part of our initiative to educate our students about the importance of internships, we are consistently collecting data on the internships in which our students are participating. Have you recently hired a student intern? REPORT YOUR INTERN
