Internships

For those who hope to forge a career in a sports-related field or who want to better understand how those who work in sports grapple with current challenges, internships offer an invaluable source of experiential learning, practical training, and networking opportunities. Students might also be able to build upon experiences or projects begun in an internship for their Capstone projects. We encourage SMAC minors to pursue internships whether they are paid or unpaid; take place during the academic year or over summer; are conducted on-campus, off-campus, or remotely; or are part of an outside company or a group within Notre Dame. Community engagement opportunities are also available through the Center for Social Concerns. Students may count up to 3 credit hours of internships towards the minor.

How to find an internship

SMAC does not directly place students into internships, but we work closely with the Center for Career Development, Notre Dame Studios, Fighting Irish Media, Teaching & Learning Technologies (NDSTLT), and other contacts to help students find appropriate internships. The SMAC internship coordinator can guide you to resources that will help you find the internship best suited for you. You can also visit the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development's website for an overview of the internship search process.

Students seeking internships may take advantage of Notre Dame’s alumni network in sports media, opportunities at Hesburgh Library, the Center for Social Concerns, and Notre Dame Studios, Fighting Irish Media, or opportunities established through other units. In recent years, Notre Dame students have also interned with NBC Sports, NFL Network, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (the outlet for the Colorado Rapids MLS team), National Baseball Hall of Fame, Major League Lacrosse (Boston Cannons), and Cape Cod Baseball League. A study abroad program might also incorporate an internship; for instance, Irish Language and Culture students have interned in Dublin with the Gaelic Athletic Association.

While Notre Dame Studios has paid positions, students may elect to take an unpaid position for college credit for one term. Those students would be required to arrange their credit-bearing internship with the SMAC internship coordinator and ND Studios, and to produce additional creative or intellectual work on top of their standard work duties.

There are also internship opportunities with Game Day Communications based in Cincinnati Ohio. There is no deadline to apply and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis (contactTricia Suit). Students can either do the internship for pay or credits. Internships for credits must be approved by the SMAC internship coordinator. Learn more about the internship and how to apply.

Obtaining credit

If an internship is unpaid and college credit is required, the course registration can be arranged through the SMAC internship coordinator. This must be done before the internship has begun; internships are not credited retroactively. The number of credits earned for these experiences may vary from 1 to 3, depending upon the responsibilities and time commitment involved, as well as the number of previous internships.

Students enrolled in any internship course must complete all documented requirements of those courses to receive credit. These requirements may include minimum work hours and time cards to document those hours, midterm and final progress reports, a project completed beyond the regular internship duties, and a final reflection paper. Internships or special studies courses worth 3 credits require 130-150 hours of work and interaction with the mentor/provider plus academic engagement and the production of some additional creative or intellectual work.

Find research and internship funding

Students can receive a stipend to help offset travel and living expenses for a full-time, unpaid summer internship through grants administered by the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development. For more information about the application process, visit the Center for Career Development's website. Also, grants and fellowships are available through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts, and the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement.

SMAC students seeking funding in support of unpaid summer internships or research related to their capstone projects are also eligible for Ed Farmer Scholarships and encouraged to apply.

Students going abroad or addressing transnational issues are encouraged to apply for funding from the following institutes on campus: Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, The Nanovic Institute for European Studies, Kellogg Institute for International Studies