Internship Scholarships

Qualifying CLA students are eligible to receive a scholarship during the semester or summer that they are engaged in an internship for CLA academic credit. Students are not required to complete a FAFSA to apply for CLA internship scholarships since not all of these scholarships are need-based — although some of them are, as specified below.

An internship scholarship from CLA is considered part of your financial aid package and, if applicable, will first be applied to the outstanding balance on your student account. (If you have questions about this, contact One Stop.)

Three kinds of internship scholarships are offered in the College of Liberal Arts:

• CLA Unpaid Internship Scholarships — A $2,000 scholarship for CLA undergraduates who have accepted an unpaid internship 
• Mulhollem Cravens Leadership Scholarship — A scholarship for CLA undergraduates who are planning a summer internship 
• Department Internship Scholarships — Scholarships in various amounts for students with majors in specific CLA academic departments 

CLA Unpaid Internship Scholarships

CLA Unpaid Internship Scholarships are awarded during three different application periods. A one-time $2,000 scholarship is applied to the recipient’s UMN student account during the academic term that the internship is completed (Fall, Spring, or Summer). 

The application for a scholarship awarded for an unpaid internship during Spring 2024 is open until January 22, 2024, at 9 a.m.

Application Form

Internship Requirements

The unpaid internship you are seeking scholarship support for must meet the following conditions:

• You are completing or will complete a minimum of 120 hours of work at the internship site.
• You have been assigned a supervisor at your internship site who will verify your work hours and help ensure that you have a good experience.
• You are not receiving a salary for your internship work. Small "perks" such as occasional lunches, free tickets, parking privileges, etc., do not count as salary. Modest stipends (less than $100 total) do not count as salary either.
• You have submitted a CLA Internship Site Agreement through Handshake (instructions as part of enrolling in an internship course).

Both domestic and international internships can qualify for this scholarship. However, if the internship is a component of an approved learning abroad program (offered via CLA or the UMN Learning Abroad Center), then you will be considered for a CLA learning abroad scholarship rather than for a CLA unpaid internship scholarship.

Overall Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

At the time you apply for the scholarship, you must be:

• A full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
• Accepted for an internship that meets the requirements listed above
• Able to enroll in a one-credit internship course
• Not a previous recipient of an internship scholarship from CLA

Scholarship-Specific Eligibility Requirements

All applicants for a CLA Unpaid Internship Scholarship will automatically be considered for all of the following scholarships that they qualify for: 

• CLA Intern Grant Fund — No additional stipulations
• CLA Ignition Internship Scholarship — No additional stipulations
• Jo Howe Scholarship for Experiential Learning — No additional stipulations
• Kurt Reinhard Endowed Internship Scholarship — No additional stipulations
• Joy and John Wetzel Liberal Arts Internship Fund — No additional stipulations
• Pamela Newsome Edstrom Liberal Arts Internship Scholarship — Financial need as demonstrated by the FAFSA
• Barbara Newsome Liberal Arts Internship Scholarship — Financial need as demonstrated by the FAFSA
• Barbara Newsome Sociology Internship Scholarship — Major in the Department of Sociology and financial need as demonstrated by the FAFSA
• Dr. Matthew Stark Civil Liberties Internship in Liberal Arts — Internship that reflects a civil liberties/social justice connection
• Prof. Elden Johnson Internship/Archeology — Major in the Department of Anthropology and internship at the Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota Office of the State Archaeologist, Institute of Minnesota Archaeology, Science Museum of Minnesota, or University of Minnesota

CLA’s funding for unpaid internship scholarships is limited, so not all applicants can be awarded. During review of applications, priority consideration will be given to applicants who are engaging in their first college internship experience and/or who are in populations that have been historically underrepresented in internship experiences.

Mulhollem Cravens Leadership Scholarship

The Mulhollem Cravens Leadership Program combines the hands-on experience of a summer internship with an internship reflection course and enhanced career coaching. Selection to the program requires an application process that is separate from applying for other CLA internship scholarships. The one-time scholarship is applied to the recipient’s UMN student account during the Summer term that the internship is completed. 

Eligibility Requirements

At the time you apply for the scholarship, you must be:

• A full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities who will remain enrolled in CLA during the next Fall semester
• Intending to complete an off-campus summer internship and enroll in a one-credit internship course during the Summer term
• Not a previous recipient of an internship scholarship from CLA

If selected to receive the scholarship, you will:

• Secure an off-campus internship (paid or unpaid) for the Summer term
• Work at least 120 hours total during the internship
• Enroll in a one-credit internship course during the internship

Selection Criteria

Recipients may be awarded on the basis of academic merit, financial need, or both and in consideration of their Mulhollem Cravens Leadership Scholarship Application, which includes:

• Essay of 750 words or less — Describe your current career goals, steps you have taken to help make progress towards those goals, how your liberal arts education connects with your goals, how an internship this summer ties into your goals, and how you have demonstrated leadership skills up to this point in your life. (Note: Preference is NOT given based on how specific your goals are, nor on how far along you are in meeting them or whether you have held positional leadership roles.)
• Resume — If you do not have a resume or you simply want it reviewed prior to the application deadline, get assistance from CLA Career Services in 411 Bruininks Hall or via Zoom. Drop-in to our office in-person or online to meet with a Peer Advisor, or you can schedule an appointment with a Career Coach.

Department Internship Scholarships

The following internship scholarships are administered by these CLA academic departments using their own application processes:

School of Statistics

• Lynn Y.S. Lin Undergraduate Internship fund for statistics students participating in an approved internship program

Department of History

• Norman Moen Public History Scholarship for ​​participation in a mentored public history internship

Department of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies

• Christina N. Grubba Memorial Scholarship for GWSS majors participating in an unpaid internship in the field of feminist or GLBTQ studies

Center for Jewish Studies

• Barbara D. and Lee Bearmon Internship Award for an internship at a Jewish community center or a Jewish organization focused on social justice 

Department of Communication Studies

• Matthew Harris Ornstein Fund in Debate for students seeking an unpaid internship with urban high schools and middle schools or with the Minnesota Urban Debate League

Department of English

• Edith and Archibald Leyasmeyer English Fund for undergraduate English majors to take internships with local arts organizations in the Twin Cities, including (but not limited to) theaters, music organizations, museums, and nonprofit literary presses

Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication

• Susan Schur Kaufman Internship fund for journalism students participating in an approved internship with a focus on ethical and objective political reporting in a state or federal government or a non-profit public service organization
• Hage/Greeley Internship Fund for internships at a host publication or organization where the student will concentrate on public affairs or literary journalism

Ask the department that is home to your CLA major about the availability of these or any other department internship scholarships.