Navigating CUNY Internship Programs: A Comprehensive Guide

Internships are a pivotal component of a student's academic and professional journey, offering invaluable real-world experience. They serve as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application, enhancing resumes, cultivating essential skills, expanding professional networks, and potentially leading to full-time employment opportunities. For students within the City University of New York (CUNY) system, a diverse array of internship programs are available, each with specific requirements and focuses. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to understanding and navigating CUNY internship programs.

The Value of Internships

Internships play a crucial role in shaping career trajectories. According to a 2022 Job Outlook report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers consider internship experience within their organization or industry as a highly influential factor when evaluating otherwise equally qualified candidates. This sentiment is further emphasized by the projected 9.1% increase in intern hiring for the 2022-23 academic year, as indicated in NACE’s 2023 Internship & Co-op Report. This increase underscores the value employers place on their internship programs and their commitment to them.

Preparing for Your Internship Search

Before embarking on the internship search, CUNY students are encouraged to take proactive steps to enhance their candidacy. These steps include:

Defining Internship Targets: Identifying specific career interests and goals to narrow down the search for relevant internship opportunities.
Resume Preparation: Crafting a professional resume that highlights skills, experiences, and academic achievements.
Interview Skills Practice: Honing interviewing skills to effectively communicate qualifications and make a positive impression on potential employers.
Understanding Correspondence Etiquette: Learning appropriate communication protocols for interacting with employers throughout the application and interview process.
Handling Internship Offers: Developing strategies for evaluating and responding to internship offers in a professional manner.

For Baruch College students, attending Starr’s Internship Seminar is strongly encouraged before scheduling an appointment with Starr’s Internship Manager.

On-Campus Recruiting (OCR)

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, employers actively recruit CUNY students for internship opportunities, early identification leadership programs, and full-time positions. To be eligible for on-campus recruiting (OCR), students must attend a Mandatory OCR Workshop, accessible through the "Events" section of their Starr Search account.

Read also: The New CUNY Logo

A complete Starr Search account is essential for processing results. This includes accurately filling in all required fields, such as GPA, year in school, expected graduation date, and major.

Types of CUNY Internships

CUNY offers a variety of internship options to cater to diverse student needs and academic goals:

Paid Internships: These internships provide financial compensation for the work performed, offering students valuable work experience alongside monetary benefits.
Unpaid Internships: While these internships do not offer direct compensation, they provide invaluable work experience, networking opportunities, and the potential for stipends or academic credit.
Internships for Academic Credit: Students can participate in paid or unpaid internships while simultaneously enrolling in an internship class. Upon completion, students receive academic credit, which can contribute towards their degree requirements.
Internships with Transcript Notation: Paid or unpaid internships whereby you will take an internship class while interning. Upon completion of your internship, you will receive a transcript notation.

Students are encouraged to consult with Starr’s Internship Manager to explore these various opportunities and determine the best fit for their individual circumstances.

Internship Opportunities for International Students

F-1 international students have the opportunity to apply for paid internships through the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program, which allows them to gain practical experience related to their field of study.

Internship Funding

Starr and Baruch offer various opportunities for internship funding to help students offset the costs associated with participating in internships. Students can view available documents to learn more about Starr’s internship funding programs.

Read also: CUNY Admission Guide

Specific CUNY Internship Programs

Several specialized internship programs exist within the CUNY system, catering to specific fields and interests:

The Edward T. Rogowsky Internship Program in Government and Public Affairs: This program, under the Dr. Weissman Center for International Business, focuses on "education for the public service" by connecting academic study with practical experience in government and public affairs. It offers several paid internships, including:
- The Edward T. Rogowsky Internship Program Award (full-time with a New York City agency).
- The New York State Assembly Session Intern Program and the New York State Senate Session Assistants Program (full-time, semester-long undergraduate and graduate internships in Albany).
- The New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus CUNY Scholars Program and The CUNY Women’s Public Leadership Intern Program (part-time, semester-long paid internships in New York City).
- The CUNY Washington, D.C.
The Weissman Center for International Business: This center arranges internships for Baruch undergraduate and graduate students with firms doing international business in the New York metropolitan area.
Office of Internships and Experiential Learning at BMCC: The Office of Internships and Experiential Learning at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) supports and strongly encourages every student to pursue and complete at least one type of approved experiential learning opportunity prior to completion of study. Experiential learning consists of BMCC approved activities which develop, enhance and build upon academic knowledge, skills and values. Activities can be in the classroom, co-curricular, in the workplace setting and through community engagement.
Journalism Internships: Most CUNY journalism students, except for those in the one-year social journalism program, graduate with on-the-job experience gained during a required summer internship.
BS in Business Internships: Students in the BS in Business online degree program have the opportunity to complete their capstone requirement by participating in an internship for credit.
Dietetic Internship (DI): The Dietetic Internship (DI) is a supervised practice program that enables graduates eligibility for the dietitian registration examination and active membership in the American Dietetic Association (ADA). The DI provides a minimum of 900 hours of supervised practice experience to meet the competencies for entry-level dietitians and the standards of education set forth by Commission on Accreditation in Dietetics (CADE), the accrediting arm of ADA.
Lehman College Department of Geology and Geography Internship Program: The Lehman College Department of Geology and Geography now has an Internship Program for students concentrating in Geography Information Science (GISc). The Internships earn 4 credits towards a degree, and can be paid or unpaid.
Macaulay Honors College Internships: One of the goals of Macaulay Honors College is to prepare students for leadership in their chosen fields.
CUNY Internship Programs with NYC Agencies: CUNY Internship Programs collaborate with New York City agencies, boards, and commissions to provide CUNY students with internships in tech, engineering, public health, finance, business and other sectors. Interns are able to participate in the program for up to 12 months.
CUNY Fellowships with NYC Agencies: Fellowships are full-time opportunities open to recent CUNY graduates. Our fellowships are in partnership with New York City agencies.
CUNY and NYC Office of Technology & Innovation (OTI) Partnership: The City University of New York, in partnership with the New York City Office of Technology & Innovation (OTI), provides City agencies and public schools with a streamlined and cost-effective way to hire interns to support city projects.
CUNY and NYC DCAS Fellowship Program: A joint effort between CUNY and NYC DCAS to put you on the fast track to becoming a City employee. Open only to CUNY graduates, the Fellowship is a two-year program in which you will work full time at a City agency, receive training and become eligible to take the civil service exam after the first year.
RAC-CUNY Internship Program: The Rockefeller Archive Center (RAC) is seeking 3 CUNY undergraduate students from CCNY and Brooklyn College for the RAC-CUNY Internship Program. The students will be selected for the spring 2026 hybrid internship. One intern will be placed at CCNY Archives and Special Collections, one intern will be placed at Brooklyn College Archives, and one intern will be placed at the RAC in Sleepy Hollow, NY (all transportation costs will be covered). The interns will have an opportunity to experience the broad range of archival, public history, and digital humanities work in a professional setting.

Applying for CUNY Internships

The application process for CUNY internships generally involves the following steps:

Finding Available Positions: All available positions are posted on our Handshake site and you can apply to all positions that interest you. Applying does not guarantee placement but we regularly have new positions being added so you can always apply to other positions.
Submitting an Application: This typically includes a resume, cover letter, and a short statement of interest.
Interviewing: Qualifying students attend an interview with CUNY or the potential employer.
Completing Hiring Documents: If selected, students will need to complete hiring documents, such as submitting an I-9 form.

The time it takes an intern to secure a placement in the program can vary based on the potential intern. Each program has specific instructions on how to apply. For City Agencies and Schools-Based Internships - City Agencies often require different documents from applicants. In general, you should be prepare for each position with a resume, cover letter and a list of references. If the agency is interested in meeting you then you will be contacted for an interview.

CUNY Career Hubs

CUNY offers specialized career hubs to guide students toward internships in specific sectors:

The Community and Social Impact Hub: This hub is for students interested in working in mission-driven organizations that serve New York City residents and improve the lives of individuals, families, and local communities. Interns gain skills in advocacy, coordinating, event planning, project management, research, social media, writing, and more.
The STEM/Green Industry Hub: For students in STEM fields, this hub provides opportunities to explore internships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
The Healthcare Industry Hub: This hub aims to bridge the gap between education and molding the future Healthcare workforce with real life work experience, empowering CUNY students in many career tracks (i.e. Pre-Med, Physical Therapy, Pre-PA, Nursing, etc.) to embark on successful and fulfilling Healthcare careers.
Marketing & Communications Hub: This hub is for students interested in roles encompassing a wide range of projects within an organization including but not limited to research, event planning, content creation, public and customer relations, social media and brand management, web development, advertising, and general internal and external communication.
NYC Mayor’s Office, Public Engagement Unit Hub: This hub is a partnership with the NYC Mayor’s Office, Public Engagement Unit, where intern outreach activities involve in-person engagement to identify and screen individuals for benefits eligibility.

Internship to Employment Program (I2E)

The Internship to Employment Program connects NYC small businesses with CUNY students with the aim of converting 50% of the internships into employment by the end of the internship period. I2E employers offer a combination of fully-remote, hybrid, and fully in-person internships.

Read also: CUNY GPA Guide

Additional Considerations

Resume Requirement: A professional resume is required to apply for most CUNY internships.
Application Timelines: Application review processes vary, but students should be prepared for rolling reviews and potential delays in hearing back.
Industry Changes: Students should carefully consider their industry interests, as changes may not always be accommodated mid-application.

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