Paid Internships for Computer Science Majors: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
In today's competitive job market, particularly in the rapidly growing field of computer science, gaining practical experience is crucial for standing out. A paid internship offers computer science majors invaluable opportunities to apply their knowledge, develop professional skills, and build a network, significantly enhancing their career prospects. This article explores the benefits of internships, various avenues for finding them, and highlights numerous Fortune 500 companies that offer rewarding internship programs for aspiring computer scientists.
The Value of Internships
An internship is a work experience directly related to the career a student is planning to pursue. For computer science majors, internships serve as a bridge between academic learning and the professional world. They provide experiential learning, allowing students to employ concepts and theories in real-world scenarios.
Key Benefits
- Experiential Learning: Internships provide hands-on experience, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems.
- Networking Opportunities: Interns have an increased opportunity to network in the professional community, building relationships with industry professionals.
- Career Exploration: Internships provide a good feeling for the culture and workplace at different companies, helping students determine their career path.
- Skill Development: Interns hone their skills in areas such as programming, consulting, analysis, and project management.
- Increased Employability: A meaningful internship is a strong indicator of how well a recent college graduate will perform in an interview, often outweighing factors like GPA or the school attended.
- Financial Opportunity: Internships, especially in computer science, are often highly paid, providing financial support to students.
- Academic Credit: Students may choose to receive general elective academic credit for their internship, although it isn’t always required.
Finding Internship Opportunities
Computer science students have multiple avenues for finding paid internships.
Direct Application
Students can directly contact companies or apply to internship programs.
University Programs
Several university-affiliated programs facilitate internship placements.
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- MECOP (Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program): In this program, students are entered into a pool and industry members get to pick draft style. At the end of your internship, you will also put together a summary presentation to give to the company and to future MECOP students. During your internship you will have a mentor to guide you through the internship and conduct performance reviews at the midpoint and end of each internship.
- CASS (Center for Applied Systems and Software): The Center for Applied Systems and Software (CASS) is a non-profit organization under Oregon State University’s School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Positions are 20 hours a week year-round, typically for two years, allowing students to continue taking classes while gaining real-world experience working with clients. Interns work directly with industry and Oregon State clients to develop a prototype device. Students are hired to work on a specific project in small, interdisciplinary teams. The client provides the basic idea and the students design the solution including evaluating the market and existing technology, coming up with the best approach and building the prototype. Students leverage their own excitement, Oregon State’s technical excellence, and industry guidance to create things that have never been seen before.
- CreateIT Collaboratory: You can see examples on the CreateIT Collaboratory webpage. Unlike other internships, students craft the vision of the project.
Internship Duration and Commitment
While time and duration varies, many interns work ~15hrs/week while in school allowing adequate time for studies and then full time during breaks.
Top Companies Offering Computer Science Internships
To gain an edge in the competitive tech job market, students often seek internships with leading tech companies. Here are some Fortune 500 companies that offer strong computer science internship programs:
Walmart
The world’s largest retailer accepts interns in many areas of its corporate functions. Walmart accepts computer science students for eCommerce internships in Silicon Valley. Here they work on web-related functions like data analysis and search engine design.
Apple
Apple offers some of the best computer science internships. Apple interns in the United States enjoy the excitement of working with cutting-edge technology. Interns from undergraduate and advanced computer science degree programs can accept summer or co-op experiences in corporate IT functions and hardware engineering. There are also software engineer roles. Corporate internships give students leadership experience. Interns work on major product launches. If you have an advanced degree, you can intern in global and strategy areas of business.
Exxon Mobil
Exxon Mobil is a multinational oil and gas corporation headquartered in Irving, Texas. The company offers many internships for computer science students. In IT and computer science, students can take internship positions in anything from engineering to data science. As a data science intern, your focus is analytics. You also get experience with enterprise systems and global applications. Exxon values their corporate internships, and the people they hire. Like many tech companies, Exxon hires students who intern with the company.
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Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway is one of the best known names in American business. Headquartered in Omaha, Berkshire Hathaway owns companies like Geico, Dairy Queen, Fruit of the Loom, and Duracell. It also owns parts of companies such as The Coca-Cola Company, Bank of America, and Apple. Berkshire Hathaway offers many paid internship opportunities for students. Some of the best tech internships are in computer engineering and software engineer programs. You can also intern in a branch of computer science like programming. These interns spend their day writing code and working on other computer science projects.
The company that changed the way we use the internet (Google) looks for college students who can grow and improve its business. Computer science and engineering majors seek paid computer science internships. Google also has opportunities in its BOLD (Building Opportunities for Leadership & Development) program. This program is in underrepresented demographics in technical jobs. Students apply online. If chosen to interview, they show their coding experience over the phone and by using a white board.
McKesson Corporation
The McKesson Corporation offers internships for computer science majors. It distributes one-third of all pharmaceuticals used in North America. Because of its size, it has many computer science internships. Every summer, McKesson offers current students internship opportunities in many fields, including computer science. Internships start in June and run through mid-August. Both undergraduate and graduate students can apply. Internship positions at McKesson include paid opportunities in cybersecurity and computer engineering.
Cigna
Cigna’s Technology Early Career Development Program (TECDP) offers summer interns challenging work different areas of computer science and business. Students can match their interests to different available positions. Development opportunities for interns include an executive speaker series and panel discussions. They also get mentoring and networking. Preferred applicants will have a GPA of 3.2 or higher in computer science, MIS, information science, or related major.
AT&T
AT&T offers some of the best computer science internships. Students can intern in areas related to their major or degree. There are undergraduate and master’s degree related internships for computer science and engineering students. Most computer science internships run between 10 and 12 weeks. They expose students to cutting-edge technology. For students interested in leadership roles, internships in senior management offices are available.
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Microsoft
Looking for a career as a software engineer? How about work writing code for major tech companies? Microsoft offers a computer science internship for everyone. First- and second-year college students with an interest in a technical major can apply to the Explore Microsoft Program. This program introduces students to software development. More experienced students apply to intern on live projects in hardware engineering, software design, or user experience testing. Most computer science roles demand programming experience. Microsoft offers some of the best software engineering internships out there.
Chevron
Chevron, the leading energy provider, is one of the best companies for computer science summer internships. It hires interns for IT functions in California, Texas, Gulf Coast, and many other locations. Interns hone their skills in programming, consulting, analysis, and project management. The IT function supports business units through applications/database management and business analysis tools. They use applications such as SAP and Unix O/S. Candidates should have experience in computer science or IT. If you land a coveted internship at Chevron, plan on a possible employment opportunity after graduation. Chevron hires successful computer science students who have completed their internship programs.
Home Depot
Home Depot is America’s largest home improvement retailer. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company operates 70 distribution centers throughout the country. You can take a computer science internship in cybersecurity or in software engineering. The company also offers data science internships for qualified students.
Marathon Petroleum
Computer science and IT interns at Marathon Petroleum, take positions in one of several offices in the Midwest or South. Positions fall under areas of business analysis, applications, infrastructure, and systems analysis. But the internship program is competitive. Applicants must be a technology major in a bachelor’s or master’s degree. They should also have at least a 3.0 GPA. If selected, the experience includes mentoring and training opportunities.
Verizon
Verizon is a great company for a computer science internship. It hires qualified students for many different computer science paid internships. Verizon aims to connect the world through mobile, machine-to-machine, and cloud storage. It relies on developers, architects, engineers, and analysts to reach these goals. It is the computer science interns who support these specialists. The company offers internships in the summer or part-time internships during the academic year. Applicants must have completed at least one year of a bachelor’s or master’s program. To qualify for an internship program, you must also have a GPA of at least a 3.0. There are many benefits interns at Verizon get. For starters, you can network with senior leaders. Your connections and internship experience can help improve your career search after graduation.
General Motors
General Motors is a good company for a computer science internship. It looks for talent that will help create the next generation of automobiles. GM’s college co-op and internship program is the EXCEL (Exploring Careers through Experiential Learning) program. The company also offers internships to qualified students in business with an IT focus. Students with an MBA and IT concentration can qualify for computer science internships at GM.
Comcast
Based in Philadelphia, Comcast hires interns at its headquarters and in several other major cities. Technology and computer science students can qualify for undergraduate computer science internships. Computer science internships run 11 weeks. Interns get hired through campus recruiting programs and direct applications. Most applicants are in their second and third year of a bachelor’s degree. Like most tech companies, Comcast hires computer science majors and those studying information technology. But there are also internships in everything from project management to software development.
Valero Energy
Valero Energy is a refiner of products like gasoline, jet fuel, asphalt, and polymers. It offers internships for computer science majors. The computer science internship programs are competitive. Applicants must complete 60 credit hours at a four-year accredited university with at least a 3.0 GPA. The company hires information services interns to perform projects related to enterprise architecture and change management. Interns also work on infrastructure and production projects. Qualified interns can get relocation help, among other benefits.
Dell
Technology is at the heart of everything that Dell provides, from PCs to servers to cloud management. That’s why Dell offers a competitive computer science internship program for qualified students. Top applicants from undergraduate and graduate programs get picked for many different opportunities. Some of the best computer science internships at Dell run 10 to 12 weeks and include challenging real-world projects. Interns work with managers on unique projects. They get experience in project management and leadership. The program ends with a presentation to executives. During the internship, interns receive support from managers, mentors, and peers. They take part in community service events and improve their networking skills.
Target
Target offers an internship for computer science students and those with technology backgrounds. During the summer, the company hires interns in many different areas. There is a software engineering internship and an operations manager internship, among others. The internships span 8-10 weeks from June to August. If you are a computer science major or want to become a Target software engineer intern, applications open in the fall.
Humana
Humana is the third largest health insurance provider in the nation. It hires information technology interns through its Specialized College Programs. Interns work in groups and teams on real-world projects such as developing an application. The company looks for students with experience writing code and working with different programming languages. Interns get to network with top management. Part-time opportunities are also available, and many internship opportunities can turn into full-time employment.
Intel
Intel is one of the top tech companies in the world. It offers many different computer science internship programs for qualified students. To become part of IRISE, Intel’s Early Internship for Software Engineering, you must be a first- or second-year computer science major with at least a 3.0 GPA. The computer science major who gets chosen to intern works on unique projects found in tech companies. These real-world projects include solving complex mathematical models, working with programming languages, and optimizing code. Advantages of IRISE internships include executive networking, professional development through Intel University, and experience with the latest and greatest hardware and software. Intel is one of the top technology companies for a data science intern, a software engineer intern, or a computer science major.
GE (General Electric)
With business units ranging from light bulbs to jet engines and x-ray machines, GE has no shortage of exciting opportunities for information technology and software engineering interns. Internship and co-op positions are available across all business units.
IBM
IBM’s long-standing internship program, Extreme Blue, is known across the globe. Interns form teams of technical and business skills throughout 15 labs across the world. Teams develop business plans for new technologies. They also develop open source code and create client solutions. Technical applicants need experience in programming languages like JavaTM, Python, or C. MBA candidates do not need programming knowledge but should have business experience. Each computer science internship runs for 12 weeks.
Raytheon
Raytheon offers internships to help develop future talent in defense technology. Internships are full-time or part-time, in the spring, summer, or fall. Most internships are in information technology.
Boeing
Boeing matches interns with jobs that best fit their interests and skills. There are many different IT opportunities in areas covering security, architecture, network design, project management, and more. The company offers internships in IT and data analytics. The experience includes site tours, networking, training and mentoring, and community involvement. Applicants must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree.
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley’s worldwide financial business relies on cutting-edge technology. It hires interns every summer. Its Technology Summer Analysts (ISAs) spend 10 to 14 weeks supporting functions in a development team, an infrastructure team, or a business analyst team. Industrial Placement is an alternative internship option in London and Glasgow with a 52-week duration. It is competitive, as most internships with financial and tech companies.
Dow
Dow operates technology and innovation in solving major world challenges like energy, infrastructure, and agriculture. Students studying computer science or various engineering fields can apply for a co-op or internship in Dow Chemical’s Information Research group. This group serves the R&D function and tackles projects such as robotics, high performance computing, and automating lab equipment.
Allstate
Technology supports every aspect of Allstate’s insurance business, from policy sales and actuarial analysis to claims adjustment and customer service. Applicants with top grades in computer science can qualify for many internship positions throughout all Allstate business units. Successful interns get considered for return summers or full-time employment.
Publix
Publix is a FORTUNE’s Best Company to Work For. It hires summer inters for many different positions. The intern program features performance evaluations, exposure to top management, and social and service events. Interns in the Information Services group support Publix locations by managing proprietary applications and infrastructure to connect stores, plants, and distribution centers. They also provide EFT and customer service support. For students with an IT background, there is a software engineering internship, data science, and technology internship opportunities.
Nationwide Insurance
Nationwide Insurance provides millions of policies to personal and commercial policyholders. The company offers summer internships in information technology to expose students to challenging projects.
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