CUNY Internship to Employment Programs and Resources

The City University of New York (CUNY) offers a wealth of internship and employment programs and resources designed to bridge the gap between academic study and career success. These programs provide students with invaluable hands-on experience, professional development, and networking opportunities, ultimately increasing their chances of securing employment after graduation.

Experiential Learning Opportunities at CUNY

Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the CUNY educational experience. It encompasses hands-on education through 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.

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. There are a wide variety of opportunities to choose from, including the most easily recognizable - an internship.

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.

Dedicated Internship Programs

The Edward T. Rogowsky Internship Program in Government and Public Affairs

The mission of the Edward T. Rogowsky Internship Program in Government and Public Affairs is to provide “education for the public service” by bridging the gap between academic study and the practical world of government and public affairs.

Read also: The New CUNY Logo

The Program offers several paid internships:

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.

Weissman Center for International Business Internships

The Weissman Center for International Business arranges internships for Baruch undergraduate and graduate students with firms doing international business in the New York metropolitan area.

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.

Dietetic Internship (DI) at CUNY

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.

Internship to Employment (I2E) Program

Internship to Employment (I2E) is a workforce development program made possible through gracious partners at BNY Mellon, The Tiger Foundation, The Robin Hood, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.

Read also: CUNY Admission Guide

Internship to Employment (I2E) provides opportunities for recent CUNY graduates to intern for 12-weeks with NYC small businesses, with the aim of converting the internships into employment. Throughout both the internship and 16-week period, Internship to Employment offers professional development workshops for interns and new hires.

Key aspects of the I2E program:

Employer partnerships: Employer partners are integrated into a University-wide infrastructure with robust systems in place for student development, partner support, and program operation.
Hands-on projects: Projects should include hands-on work that enhances professional development. Current employers have created opportunities in visitor services, education, public programs, marketing, development, finance, HR, communications, horticulture, and archiving. Supervisors must train and support their interns.
Selection and matching: CUNY I2E hosts informational sessions and vets applications. CUNY I2E sends strong applicants a list of the employers and internship job descriptions. After a review period, the applicants submit their desired positions, and CUNY I2E sends those resumes to the employer partners.
Compensation: Interns are paid $20 per hour and contracted for 35 hours per week. Both interns and employer partners will use RFCUNY’s payroll system to submit and approve timesheets for the 12-week period.
Wage subsidy: If an employer extends an offer for employment at the end of the 12-week period, they will pay the new hire under the employer’s payroll and submit proof of payment for reimbursement. CUNY offers the employer a partial wage subsidy for the first 16 weeks following the internship period of up to $10/hour and up to 35 hours per week.
Conversion to employment: Internship to Employment aims to convert over 50% of all internships into employment at the end of the internship period. The purpose of the internship period is for both intern and employer to determine if the match is a good fit. The requirement for wage reimbursement is that the intern must be hired and paid as a W2 employee (i.e., not 1099). The new employee must work 25-35 hours per week to qualify for wage reimbursement.
Eligibility and Application: Internship to Employment 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. Strong applicants will work with I2E staff to indicate their preferred internships. Any vaccination and in-person work requirements will be listed. Potential candidates for the program will be asked to interview directly with the employers. It is common to interview with multiple internship sites to find what the best fit may be. Please note that it is not guaranteed that every applicant will receive an internship. CUNY I2E will hold a mandatory orientation to provide interns with important information.

CUNY Workforce Development Initiative (WDI)

CUNY Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) funding programs aim to invest $5.44 million annually in innovative, creative, and locally customized workforce development projects. Awards under the CUNY WDI funding programs support strategic efforts to meet businesses’ short-term workforce needs, address long-term industry needs, improve talent pipelines, enhance flexibility and adaptability of CUNY workforce programming, and expand work-based learning opportunities.

Additional Internship Resources

CUNY Internship Programs

CUNY offers several internship programs that allow students to gain practical experience. 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.

The LifeSci NYC Internship Program

The LifeSci NYC Internship Program is the City of New York’s innovative, paid internship program that provides access to local, diverse talent, helping source undergraduate and graduate students for summer and non-summer internships. Junior and senior students can apply each year between August-January to be considered for paid summer internships with various company partners. Applications include a resume, video and faculty recommendation. AEF staff will evaluate candidates, offer interviews and will select 75-100 finalists who then interview with the companies that are hiring for summer intern positions.

Fellowships

Fellowships are full-time opportunities open to recent CUNY graduates. The fellowships are in partnership with New York City agencies. 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. 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.

Read also: CUNY GPA Guide

Micro-Internships

Micro internships are short-term, project-based experiences that offer flexibility for students to work on small-scale projects for various companies. It’s advisable to research each posting carefully. Review our Red Flags Page to identify signs of scams and fraudulent offerings.

Parker Dewey: Paid, short-term micro-internships.
Forage: Free virtual work experience program, complete tasks based on real-world scenarios from top companies. Forage is now connected to Navigate. After you graduate, if you no longer have access through Brooklyn College, you can access it for free through the Brooklyn Public Library.

Skill-Building Resources

Haven’t secured an internship yet? Or already interned previously but want to continue your development? Review this page to learn how to build in-demand skills that employers are looking for.

CUNY Upskilling Programs

CUNY Upskilling Programs are specific training tracks designed to provide targeted learning in high-growth industries. IT & Software Development Develop programming and other cyber skills.

Online Learning Platforms

Coursera: Online courses in a variety of fields, from data analysis to marketing.
Association of National Advertisers (ANA): Brooklyn College students have access to programs offered by the Advertising Education Foundation (AEF) and the Association of National Advertisers, including Certified ANA Marketing Student (CAMS), MarTech Foundations Certificate Program & SeeHer Education Certificate Program.
Google Career Certificates: Online training programs that provide professional certificates in high-demand technology fields. The certificates are taught by Google experts and senior practitioners in the relevant fields.
EdX: Online learning platform that offers courses from universities and organizations around the world.

Career Counseling and Mentorship

COOP: Tuition-free fellowship matches peer cohorts of underemployed college grads with alumni coaches who support them in building the professional skills and networks they need to get their first professional job after graduation.
StreetWise Partners: Connecting underrepresented talent to mentorship and career opportunities within the New York and D.C. Metro areas.

How to Apply for Internships

All available positions are posted on Handshake, and you can apply to all positions that interest you. Applying does not guarantee placement, but new positions are regularly added, so you can always apply to other positions. 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 prepared 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.

You first need to submit your application, which includes a short statement of interest. Qualifying students attend an interview with CUNY. You will find out if you are selected and will need to complete hiring documents (like submitting an I-9).

Specialized Career Hubs

CUNY also offers specialized career hubs to guide students toward specific industries:

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. Student interns will participate in hands-on projects in nonprofit organizations or government offices that impact social change. You’ll gain skills in advocacy, coordinating, event planning, project management, research, social media, writing, and more. Many of our interns are majoring in Criminal Justice, English, Human Services, Liberal Arts, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Urban Studies.
The STEM/Green Industry Hub: This hub is for students studying in a STEM-related field and looking for their first internship. It explores the various opportunities available within the dynamic STEM field. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics are areas of constant growth and possibilities. Some of today’s fastest-growing occupations are within the STEM field. Employers expect students with an academic background related to their field but have no expectations of prior work experience in the field. Most interns have an interest in Computer Science, Engineering and Research, but they welcome those with an interest in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences as well. They have placed a wide range of students in both industry and research internships.
The Healthcare Industry Hub: This hub aims to bridge the gap between education and molding the future Healthcare workforce with real life work experience. By providing comprehensive support and resources, Career Launch empowers CUNY students in many career tracks (i.e. Pre-Med, Physical Therapy, Pre-PA, Nursing, etc.) to embark on successful and fulfilling Healthcare careers, while addressing the evolving needs of the industry.
Marketing & Communications Hub: Marketing & Communications roles encompass 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. Most interns have majors in Marketing Management and Computer Information Systems, but they encourage any student who has a strong desire to gain experience and exposure in Marketing & Communications to apply.
Public Engagement Unit Internship: This hub is a partnership with the NYC Mayor’s Office, Public Engagement Unit. Their core mission is to assist New Yorkers in crisis by connecting them with essential city services such as housing and healthcare. Intern outreach activities involve in-person engagement to identify and screen individuals for benefits eligibility.

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