Internship Scholarships and Financial Support

On This Page:

• CLA Internship Scholarship 
• Mulhollem Cravens Leadership Scholarship 
• Get Ready Internship Scholarship

While the benefits of completing internships are clear, for many students, there are financial barriers that stand in the way. To help with this, CLA offers internship scholarships to support students and alleviate some of the financial pressures of an internship. If you have accepted an unpaid internship, consider applying for the CLA Internship Scholarship. If you’re planning for a summer internship but don’t yet have one lined up, you can apply for the Mulhollem Cravens Leadership Scholarship. DACA and undocumented students are eligible for internship scholarship consideration.

CLA Internship Scholarship

The CLA Internship Scholarship is designed to provide some financial assistance to undergraduate students participating in unpaid internships. The scholarships are offered by CLA three times per year and awarded during the term that the internship is completed. 

Applying for a CLA Internship Scholarship

To apply for a CLA Internship Scholarship, you must meet the following conditions:

• Be an already-enrolled, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota.
• Have not previously received this scholarship or the Mulhollem Cravens Leadership Scholarship.
• Be already engaged in an internship, participating in a university program that places you into an internship, or you have already been accepted into an internship position that meets 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.
  • Both domestic and international internships qualify for this scholarship.

Required Application Materials

A complete application includes the online application as well as a Site Agreement through Handshake. Both requirements must be completed by the deadline for your application to be considered. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

Please note: Scholarship recipients are required to enroll in an internship course before the $2,000 award is transferred into their student account. Summer internship scholarship recipients have several options that are detailed in the application. Study abroad programs are exempt from this additional requirement. You will note the course you plan to take on the CLA Site Agreement. Contact CLA Career Services with questions.

This is a one-time, non-renewable scholarship. Be sure to use the CLA Career Services office to get help with finding an internship or completing the Internship Scholarship application. To schedule an appointment or get your questions answered, visit CLA Career Services in 411 Bruininks Hall, email clacareer@umn.edu, or call 612-626-6574.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

If you're awarded one of the $2,000 scholarships, please note that the award will be 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.

Scholarship Awards

All applicants will automatically be considered for whichever scholarship they qualify for. Please check with your academic department to see if they offer additional internship scholarships. Here are the available awards:

Barbara D. and Lee Bearmon Internship Award in Jewish Ethics and Practice

This $2,000 internship scholarship is designated for CLA undergraduate students interested in ethical behavior, leadership issues, and doing unpaid internships in Jewish communal and social justice organizations. Students may take the internship for academic credit or as an extracurricular activity.

Barbara Newsome Award

This $2,000 internship scholarship is designated for CLA undergraduate students majoring in sociology and are engaged in an unpaid internship in the community related to the field.

Barbara Newsome Liberal Arts Internship Scholarship

This $2,000 scholarship provides financial support to undergraduate students who are enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts, demonstrating financial need and academic merit, and completing an unpaid internship. 

CLA Alumni Award

This $2,000 internship scholarship is designated for CLA undergraduate students doing unpaid internships, regardless of major or field of internship.

Dr. Matthew Stark Civil Liberties Internship Award

This $2,000 scholarship supports students engaged in (unpaid) internships that reflect a civil liberties/social justice connection. Recipients will be referred to as Stark Intern Scholars.

Elden Johnson Award

This $2,000 internship scholarship is designated for CLA undergraduate students who are doing unpaid internships and are working with public archaeology, museums, or American Indian studies in some way.

CLA Ignition Award

This $2,000 scholarship provides internship support to students in the College of Liberal Arts.  

Pamela Newsome Edstrom Liberal Arts Internship Scholarship

This $2,000 scholarship provides financial support to undergraduate students who are enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts, demonstrating financial need and academic merit, and completing an unpaid internship.

Mulhollem Cravens Leadership Scholarship

 

CLA Career Services is excited to offer this scholarship opportunity for our students. The Mulhollem Cravens Leadership Scholarship will combine the hands-on experience of a summer internship with an internship reflection course, enhanced career coaching, and alumni mentoring opportunities. This award is for undergraduate degree-seeking students in the College of Liberal Arts. The 2023 deadline will be in February. The application will open in December 2022.

The Mulhollem Cravens Leadership Scholarship has a separate application process and deadline, so please review the following details carefully. 

Eligibility

• Degree-seeking, full-time CLA undergraduate.
• Must be enrolled (in CLA) through the fall semester following a summer internship 
• Have not previously received this scholarship or the CLA Internship Scholarship 

Award Requirements

If selected for a scholarship, you will:

• Secure an off-campus internship (paid or unpaid) for the summer 2023 term.
• Work at least 120 hours total during the internship.
• Participate in a one-credit Internship Reflection course during the internship.

Required Application Materials

Part One: Essay

Your essay should cover the two main topics below in 750 words or less. In your essay, please touch on these ideas:

• Please describe your current career goals and the steps you have taken to help make progress towards those goals. How does your liberal arts education connect with your goals? How does an internship this summer tie into your goals?
• Please offer some comments on how you have demonstrated leadership skills up to this point in your life.  Examples can be from either before or during your collegiate career.

Please note that CLA Career Services does not give preference to students who:

• Can identify a particular career goal, such as a job title or company. The specificity we are looking for could include any of the following: career field; personal values, mission or purpose; skills or strengths they desire to use; desired future education, etc.
• Are clearly “decided.” Steps taken to make progress towards goals can include those that help the student to explore and/or clarify career goals.
• Have demonstrated “positional leadership,” such as president, etc. Student examples of leadership can reflect engagement with family, community, work, student organizations, etc. We are looking for students who demonstrate personal leadership qualities such as initiative, drive, relationship building, advocacy on behalf of others, etc.

Part Two: 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.

This is a one-time, non-renewable scholarship. Applicants are encouraged to use the CLA Career Services office to get help with completing the leadership scholarship application. To schedule an appointment or to get your questions answered, visit the CLA Career Services office, email clacareer@umn.edu, or call 612-626-6574.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

If you're awarded one of the $5,000 scholarships, please note that the award will be considered part of your financial aid package. If you have questions about this, contact One Stop.

Get Ready Internship Scholarship

The Get Ready Internship Scholarship intends to reduce the financial barriers often associated with doing an internship, by providing a guarantee of financial assistance before you find an internship. To apply for this scholarship, you must:

Details

• Be an already-enrolled, full-time, degree-seeking student in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota during the term you plan to complete the internship. 
• Be a first-generation college student with demonstrated financial need (preference for Pell-eligibility).
• Be planning to find and complete an internship (paid or unpaid) within the next 12 months.

Recipients will receive the scholarship during the term they are completing an internship. The amount of the scholarship will depend on the nature of the internship, and the award is contingent upon successfully finding an internship. The scholarship award is $2000. Students are required to enroll in a 1 credit internship course or can opt to enroll in a departmental internship course. 

The CLA Career Readiness Internship Guide: Making the Most of Your Internship offers tools and suggestions for making your internship the best experience it can be. Access the guide online, or pick up a copy in CLA Career Services or in one of the CLA Academic Advising offices.