The Terry College of Business internship program for Risk Management and Insurance students is recognized as one of the best in the nation. Through this program, students combine academic work with practical, applied experience in insurance or risk management. Intern sponsors often find the students to be real assets, and some offer them full-time positions upon graduation. Both small and large corporations all over the United States participate in the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
To be eligible for an internship, students must be junior or senior business students majoring in Risk Management and Insurance with at least 60 earned hours before the term when the student will be working and enrolled for internship credit. They must have completed at least an introductory course in risk management and insurance (RMIN 4000) with a grade of C or better. They may also have completed courses in commercial lines insurance, risk management, employee benefits, and life insurance and have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5. As part of their business curriculum, students have studied numerous general business subjects, including computer use in business settings. Many students also have prior work experience, usually in part-time positions outside the risk management and insurance industry.
Some employers use interns as high-quality temporary workers to fill in for vacationing, regular employees. Others assign the intern to special projects that regular workers have not had time to do. Depending on employer size and preferences, the intern may be rotated among departments or may work exclusively within one area during the internship period.
Students enrolled for six hours of academic credit must work at least 300 hours; students enrolled for three credit hours must work at least 150 hours. In both cases, additional hours of work are both permitted and encouraged. The typical internship lasts from eight to 10 weeks.
The primary concern is an employer provides a meaningful work experience for the intern, where the student can apply what they learned in school to practical, real-world situations. The only administrative requirement is that the employer completes a short one-page supervisory report near the completion of the internship. This report is used to assess the student’s internship grade. Of course, the employer is also responsible for compensating the intern for work performed.
The recommended minimum compensation rate for interns is $8 per hour, although most employers pay more than this amount. The $8 rate is below what most firms pay to temporary agencies for vacation help and is quite affordable in most cases. Some employers also provide housing or a housing allowance to interns who must move. The chief exception to the $8 minimum rate involves situations where compensation is primarily through commissioned sales. Even in these cases, however, some minimum hourly pay is recommended.
After obtaining an internship, students must complete the Job Confirmation Form with Adobe Reader (a free download is here for PCs and here for Macs). Please make sure the form can be edited when saved. Do not use your browser or Preview (for Mac users) to complete the form. Email the completed form to Dr. David Eckles at deckles@uga.edu. Students must register for RMIN 4800, allowing at least three working days after submitting the job confirmation form for registration eligibility. Students receive an email from their academic advisor once cleared to register for RMIN 4800. In addition to the work performed, students must keep a daily journal and write a term paper describing the internship experience to be submitted to the faculty. Students are also required to submit a photograph with the employer’s signature and a one-page abstract highlighting the work done.
Complete Course Requirements
Students must enroll for internship credit for the same academic term they are employed. Although most students do internships during the summer, they are not restricted to that time only. The approximate times internships might be scheduled include: Spring semester, January-April; Summer semester, May-August; Fall semester, September-December.
Some students arrange internships on their own. In many cases, employers indicate to the University their willingness to employ an intern, and the University makes students aware of the opportunities. Interested students submit their résumés directly to employers. From there, employers can proceed however they wish. Some employers conduct on-campus interviews and others rely on phone interviews or office visits before making selections. Every effort is made to facilitate the process an individual employer wants to use. One event valuable as a meeting place for employers and students is Risk Management and Insurance Careers Day. The Careers Day is usually in early February at the Classic Center in Athens, with employer applications and registration fees due in the Fall. Additional information about this event is available from the University. (See next question.)
Employers can indicate their interest in the internship program in many ways. A short participation form is available from the University, although not required. A letter, fax, email or phone call expressing interest is also acceptable. Dr. David L. Eckles is the Risk Management and Insurance internship coordinator, and is available to answer questions or provide additional information. Contact him by phone at 706 542-3578; by mail at A428 Moore-Rooker, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602; or by email at deckles@uga.edu.
Students should first fill out a Job Confirmation Form on the department website. They can look for an internship on their own, and follow up on opportunities provided through the student listserv and other means. Complete details about course requirements and deadlines are available on the department web page. Students are encouraged to register with Handshake to access employment information provided through the Career Center.
Additional Information
- Additional information about the Risk Management and Insurance Program
- Internship Due Dates — Flowchart
- Internship Frequently Asked Questions
- RMIN 4800 Job Confirmation Form
Contact
- Thomas and Kristin Golub Professor in Risk Management and Insurance and Professor, Risk Management and Insurance Program