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LAB Internship Scholarship

Earn up to $5,000 to support participation in an unpaid or underpaid internship! 

Internships are vital to the LAB program, aiming to double participation among Liberal Arts graduates starting with the class of 2023. Many Liberal Arts majors aspire to intern with nonprofit and public-sector organizations, but these are often unpaid. To address this, we've introduced the LAB Internship Scholarship with donor support awarded since 2019. We plan to expand the program further with our growing base of LAB partners.

These internships help Liberal Arts majors explore career interests, develop skills, build networks, and gain confidence, aligning with the LAB Program's goals. While paid internships in the private sector are encouraged, unpaid internships in the public and non-profit sectors also offer valuable professional growth opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students with a declared major in the School of Liberal Arts. (First-year students are eligible to apply but must have officially declared a SOLA major prior to commencement of an internship the following summer or later).

2. All SOLA majors are eligible. Students with unmet financial need may be given priority.

3. Internships should be with recognized employers/organizations. They may be in-person or remote. Internships for SMC staff-led offices may also be considered. Internships supervised by SMC faculty will normally only be considered when the work is commissioned by and serves an outside employer or community partner.

4. Internships with officially recognized non-profits, social mission businesses, or government offices or agencies will be given priority, but other internships (i.e. with for-profit companies) will also be considered.

5. The internship must either be unpaid or underpaid, at less than $20/hr. The maximum scholarship award eligibility is $5000. Stipends will be deducted from total award eligibility, but housing or long-distance travel support will not count against an award total. 

Other Requirements

Scholarship recipients must normally enroll in a 1-3 CU internship course, either concurrently with the internship or, for summer internships where this may not be feasible, in the following semester. Students for whom this would result in a course overload with additional tuition may meet this requirement through alternative means. Consult the LAB Internship Coordinator Maria Grazia De Angelis or SOLA Dean’s Office.   Following their internship, recipients will be required to submit a brief report on their experience,  and will also normally be expected to serve as LAB ambassadors for at least two full semesters.

Additional Details

Applications for summer internships will normally be reviewed commencing April 15. Applications received after April 15 may be considered if funds are still available. Applications for internships during the regular academic year will be considered on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Applications will be evaluated by the SOLA Dean’s Office and LAB Internship Coordinator, with input from the Office of Financial Aid.

Scholarship Award Amounts

Internships equivalent to 320 hours (40 hrs/week x 8 weeks) or more are eligible for up to $5,000 in scholarship awards. Pro-rated awards may be made for internships with fewer hours and/or which offer partial funding. Additional funding for domestic or international travel may be requested, but the total award may not exceed $5,000. 

You can learn more about LAB, our Liberal Arts Bridge program at Liberal Arts Bridge.