Why Internships Matter Now More than Ever

For Nazarian College students, landing an internship isn’t just a resume booster–it’s often a required step toward graduation.

The Nazarian College Internship Program empowers students to gain real-world experience, build professional networks and take important steps toward their future careers.

Two majors at Nazarian College require an internship to graduate—an uncommon expection at most universities—while others strongly recommend one. Each year, thousands of internship opportunities are posted on Handshake, the college’s career platform.

Peak recruiting months, including September, January and February, bring hundreds of new openings from local, national and global employers. Students seek internships with well-known organizations, such as Disney, Amazon and Apple, as well as at a wide variety of companies eager to hire Nazarian College talent.

Key facts:

• Student participation: Between 2017 and 2020, more than 800 students completed internships for credit each year. In 2023-2024, that number was 522 followed by 463 in 2024-2025—a trend that the college hopes to shift upward.

• Employer demand: While national demand for interns has dipped slightly (according to NACE research), the pool of opportunities remains strong, and many openings are untapped by students.

The value of internships is widely known and well-documented, yet since COVID, a perception has emerged that opportunities are scarce—sometimes resulting in exceptions to degree requirements.

Nazarian College is changing that narrative through data, faculty advocacy and new video resources. Bob Sheridan, executive director of the Career Education and Professional Development Center, says that through CEPD’s internship resources and videos, students learn strategies for success such as applying early, casting a wide net, and staying persistent in their search. Faculty and staff support these efforts by promoting internships in the classroom and connecting students to high-impact opportunities.

“By working together with employer partners, Nazarian College continues to expand access and help students secure meaningful internships that align with their studies, strengthen their skills and launch their careers with confidence,” says Sheridan.

For more information, watch Nazarian Careers Website or YouTube.