Mastering Hospitality and Tourism: A Guide to Internship Requirements

For students pursuing a career in the dynamic fields of hospitality and tourism, internships are more than just a resume booster; they are a crucial stepping stone. These experiences offer invaluable hands-on learning, bridging the gap between academic theory and the practical realities of the industry. This article provides a comprehensive overview of hospitality and tourism internship requirements, addressing frequently asked questions and offering guidance to students and organizations alike.

The Importance of Internships in Hospitality and Tourism

An important component of hospitality and tourism programs is the work experience students gain outside the classroom. Internships, defined as robust learning opportunities in which students gain professional experience under the guidance and mentorship of an expert in the field, are a core academic component. This experiential learning has proven to be successful in helping undergraduates move from being students to being new professionals in the field. Fieldwork will serve as a real learning experience.

Internships provide students with supervised, hands-on industry experience and career awareness. The internship is designed to expose students to a career path in the hospitality & tourism industry. It serves as a bridge between education and business, providing opportunities for networking and potentially leading to full-time career opportunities.

General Internship Requirements

Many hospitality management programs require students to complete one or more internship experiences in the hospitality industry. These internships are often a capstone course, representing the culmination of their studies.

Hour Requirements

A common requirement is a minimum number of hours that must be completed at the internship site. For example, students may earn a minimum of three credits by working for a minimum of 120 hours (40 hours for each scheduled credit within a professional hospitality operation).

Some programs require a significantly higher number of hours. Both undergraduate and graduate students are required to get relevant hospitality work experience. Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 500 hours of industry-related work, with an additional 300 hours and 10 weeks minimum required for an advanced internship course. Graduate students may need to complete 1,000 hours of hospitality-related practical training work experience plus 300 hours for a graduate internship.

It is crucial to keep documentation of hours worked.

Academic Credit

Internships are often tied to academic credit. To register for internship credits, students typically need to submit a copy of their job description that includes job duties and develop a document that identifies learning objectives and career goals. Students often complete an internship application as part of the registration process.

Timing

Students may choose to participate in an internship during the fall, spring, or summer semesters. The internship is typically completed the summer prior to graduation. Deadlines for securing internships can vary. Students are encouraged to apply for Spring semester internships beginning in October, and for Summer and Fall internships beginning in March.

Paid vs. Unpaid Internships

While paid internships are preferred, unpaid internships can also provide valuable experience. The positions may be paid or unpaid (or a combination of paid and unpaid duties). It's important to consider the legal requirements regarding paid internships, especially for for-profit companies.

Read also: Future Hospitality Leaders

Specific Program Requirements and Considerations

Requirements can vary significantly depending on the institution and program. Here are some examples of specific requirements and considerations from different programs:

University of Florida (UF)

The internship is a 12-credit hour experiential learning opportunity completed over 13 weeks during the Fall, Spring or Summer semester. Students must work 40 hours per week for 13 weeks beginning the first day of the UF semester. As a prerequisite to the internship, students must work a minimum of 80 hours as a component of a pre-internship course at an approved agency within the industry.

College of Charleston

Majors, Minors and Concentrations in Hospitality and Tourism are all required to complete a 120-hour (3 credit hour) internship as part of their program of study.

Florida International University (FIU)

Students may register for the internship course as soon as they have completed a minimum of 500 hours of industry experience, completion of Pathways 1 & 2 and have a valid hospitality job or internship to complete the course with.

Texas A&M University

Interns must work for an organization related to hotels, resorts, events, hospitality, recreation, and/or tourism for a minimum of 200, 300, or 400 hours, depending on the major and internship class they are taking.

Read also: Explore UCLA Hospitality Jobs

Meeting with an Advisor

To obtain a winter internship you must meet with your advisor. Students must receive academic clearance with an advisor to ensure all required university and department coursework have been completed or will be complete prior to beginning the internship.

Finding an Internship

The internship office often has information available on potential internship sites, but students are also encouraged to seek out additional sites that meet their career objectives.

Networking

Take advantage of networking with industry professionals that visit the Management Department throughout the school year. Many times, these individuals will conduct interviews.

Career Services

The career services department will provide you with all the resources required to apply, interview, and accept positions.

Internship Expos

A Career & Internship Expo is held twice a year and draws companies who are actively recruiting for jobs and internships.

Internship Structure and Expectations

The most successful internship experiences are those with clearly defined learning objectives, communication plans, structured hourly schedules, and routine feedback.

Learning Objectives

Define the learning outcomes and create a position description for the internship experience. Clearly defined learning objectives/goals should be related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.

Supervision and Mentorship

Provide sufficient supervision (i.e. mentorship/guidance, performance review & evaluation) for the duration of the internship. There should be supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience. Prepare for significant mentorship and training components of the internship. Examples include regular check-ins, staff meetings, software training, networking opportunities, career guidance, job shadowing, resume review, etc.

Communication and Feedback

Establish a culture of frequent and regular communication and feedback with your intern, including clear discussion of your expectations related to communication. There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.

Criteria for Internship Approval

In order for an internship to be approved for course credit, it must meet certain criteria:

Provide a minimum of 120 hours over the course of the internship
Provide a valuable, unique learning opportunity for the intern, which may include:
- Administration & Management: practical experience employing routine administrative skills, opportunity to learn new techniques and best practices
- Organization, Evaluation & Supervision: experience that involve the organization, evaluation and supervision of programs, events and/or personnel
- Observation & Participation: observation of the intricacies of the internal and external working relationships of the organization
Provide sufficient supervision (i.e. mentorship/guidance, performance review & evaluation) for the duration of the internship

Responsibilities During the Internship

Students are expected to fulfill their responsibilities virtually or onsite. These hours may be earned through professional development opportunities, training, networking with professional contacts, attending meetings, and other learning activities. Students also take an independent study course concurrently with the internship experience.

Assignments may include:

An initial Learning Contract Approval meeting with the supervisor to provide feedback on goals that they set at the beginning of the internship and to review their schedule for the semester.
A Midpoint Discussion/Meeting that they will schedule with the supervisor halfway through the semester.

Potential Challenges and How to Avoid Them

Failing the internship requirements is possible. Examples of ways a student may not earn a passing grade in this course include:

Not completing required weekly work logs
Not completing required projects
Not submitting required supervisor verification sheets
Supervisor not completing the final evaluation

Opportunities Beyond For-Credit Internships

There are numerous ways, other than for-credit internships, for an organization to work with students and provide hands-on opportunities for experiential learning, including paid part-time or contract work.

Resources and Contacts

Direct internship forms and questions to the appropriate contacts at your institution.

Advice for Organizations Hosting Interns

Organizations should prepare to host a Hospitality and Tourism internship by:

Defining the learning outcomes and create a position description for the internship experience.
Preparing for significant mentorship and training components of the internship.
Preparing the application and interview process.
Sharing the internship opportunity with students.
Accepting applications, conducting interviews, and selecting an intern.

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