Edge Coursework

Students in the Trulaske College of Business are required to complete an internship. While working at an internship site, the student is enrolled in a course (BA 4500) that helps guide the student's professional development. Internships are a chance for students to develop professional experience in the business world and hone their professionalism. Internships must be approved before your start date to receive credit for BA 4500. This course is not required for students in the Accountancy program. If you are unsure if your internship meets the requirements, feel free to send us an email.

Step 1: Student applies for an internship and is hired by an employer.

Step 2: Student completes the BA 4500 application by the term deadline.

Step 3: BA 4500 application is reviewed and approved by the Business Career Services and Trulaske Edge offices.

Step 4: Internship supervisor provides approval of internship responsibilities and start/end dates.

Internships must be active during the majority of the course duration.

Students are responsible for finding an internship. Many companies interview in the fall for summer internships. Start searching early. Helpful resources include:

• Business Career Services
• Career Fairs
• Handshake
• MU Career Center
• Trulaske Global Opportunities
• Networking – Friends, family, mentors, LinkedIn contacts, etc.

• Significant, professional, business-related responsibilities comparable to those that an entry-level, full-time college graduate would have in the organization. You are challenged with a major project, series of smaller projects, or responsibilities that require advanced business education.
• Face-to-face interaction with colleagues and clients (including virtual).
• Dedicated, experienced supervisor available for regular communication, feedback, and performance evaluation. The supervisor must have experience and expertise in the area in which the student is interning.
• Regular interaction with a team of full-time business professionals within the company.
• Follow Department of Labor standards and University of Missouri policies.
• Students may complete one of the following internship options. Internships can be paid or unpaid.
  - Domestic Internship: 6 -16 weeks including 120 work hours.
  - International Internship: Minimum of 6 weeks including 120 work hours.
• Your internship must be active during the majority of the course, and you must meet the 120-hour requirement between the course start and end dates. Hours/weeks completed before or after the course dates do not count towards this requirement.
• If using a qualifying internship at a business where you work now or in the past, you will be asked to demonstrate new projects or tasks that meet the BA 4500 requirements.
• Entrepreneurial internships are evaluated based on mentorship, size, and phase in start-up (must be a registered business). Business plan, marketing plan, and financials for the business will be required. The student must also have a professor from within Trulaske to mentor them during the timeframe of the course.

But not limited to:

• Working on unskilled tasks the majority of the time (such as filing, copying, answering the phone, constructing a database, and data entry).
• Working in a home-based business.
• Family owned companies or the direct supervision by a family member. If any family members work with the company, a formal management plan to address the conflict of interest is required.
• Door-to-door sales or marketing or cold calling.
• Working in an industry or for a company that provides products or services that are not legal under federal, state, and/or local law, such as marijuana and some CBD products.