Centre student interning with a veterinarian

Internships at Centre College

Gain Real-World Experience Before You Graduate

Centre student interning with a physical therapist

At Centre College, internships are more than a resume builder; they are an opportunity to explore careers, build professional networks, and apply classroom learning in real-world settings.

Centre students complete internships in every field, across the country and around the world. Whether you are interested in interning in a museum in Chicago or in health care in Mexico, a Washington, D.C. policy shop or corporate headquarters in New York, Centre can help you get there. 

Quick Answer: What Internships Are Possible at Centre? 

  • Students pursue internship opportunities locally in Danville, regionally in Lexington, Louisville, or Nashville, nationally from New York to Los Angeles, and internationally.
  • The Center for Career & Professional Development helps students identify opportunities, prepare applications, and connect with employers.
  • Students have interned with Fortune 500 companies, health care systems, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, law firms, media organizations, and research institutions.

Why a Liberal Arts Education Gives You an Edge

We're living through a technological transformation unlike anything in recent history. Artificial intelligence is automating routine tasks, reshaping entire industries, and changing what employers need from the people they hire.

What they need, it turns out, is exactly what Centre teaches.

When you study at Centre, you learn to write with precision and argue with evidence. You learn to ask better questions, not just find faster answers. You learn to work across disciplines, see problems from multiple angles, and clearly communicate your thinking. These are the capabilities that define a liberal arts education, and that no algorithm can replicate.

What Do Employers Say About Centre College Interns?

Employers who hire Centre College interns consistently report that students arrive with strong communication skills, professionalism, and initiative — and that they adapt quickly, solve problems independently, and step into leadership roles.

Ask the managers who supervise Centre interns what stands out, and you'll hear the same things again and again: these students show up prepared, communicate clearly, and don't wait to be told what to do. They ask good questions. They adjust when plans change. And when a project needs someone to step up, they're often the first to raise a hand.

That's no accident. Seminar discussions, mentored research, and presenting your own work to real audiences mean that by the time you start your internship, working like a professional already feels natural.
 

Hear From Employers

Logo of the LA Sparks

LA Sparks

We had a strong need for his skills in collecting data that would help us with the WNBA draft, and David knocked it out of the park.

Logo for LifeSciKY

LifeSciKY

Alexandru was a great collaborator, and I was impressed by his critical thinking skills, attention to detail, and hunger for new challenges.

Logo of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Anna was an incredible addition to our lab. She contributed scientifically and socially, and we will miss her when she leaves.

What is an internship?

A Centre College internship is a structured partnership between the student, a host employer, and - for credit-bearing experiences - a faculty mentor. It is an educational experience, not a staffing solution. To qualify for a for-credit internship, all of the following must apply: 

  • An extension of classroom learning. The work applies academic knowledge, not just routine tasks.
  • Transferable skills. What you learn has value beyond this single employer.
  • A defined structure. A clear start and end date, a job description, and stated qualifications.
  • Documented learning objectives. Goals connect directly to your academic and professional development.
  • Qualified supervision. You are managed or overseen by a professional with expertise and a background in the field of the experience.
  • Ongoing feedback. There is regular, structured feedback from the experienced on-site supervisor.
  • Employer-provided resources. The tools, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer support your learning objectives.

Are Internships Limited to Danville?

No, Centre internships are designed so that geography is never a barrier. With funding, advising, and alumni connections, Centre can help you find an opportunity in Central Kentucky or across the world. Students regularly complete internships in cities such as:

  • Lexington
  • Louisville
  • Nashville
  • Cincinnati
  • Atlanta
  • Chicago
  • Washington, D.C.
  • New York City
  • Mérida, Mexico

This experience has given me deeper empathy for underserved communities and the importance of accessible dental and medical care. It’s strengthened my confidence in working in fast-paced clinical environments and my appreciation for the relationships and trust built with patients in dentistry.

Nicole Limehouse

Weeklong medical mission in Panama

Biology, Class of 2027

Dahlonega, GA

Learn more about Nicole's experience
A student standing in front of Centre logos

Why should I complete an internship?

Studies show that students who completed an internship outperformed their peers in receiving job offers post-graduation. They also received offers with a higher average starting salary - reflecting the premium employers place on real-world, skills-based experience.

Internships provide: 

  • The chance to apply knowledge from class in real-life situations
  • The opportunity to “test drive” a possible career and find out if it suits you
  • Professional contacts who often prove helpful when you’re searching for a job after graduation
  • Relevant job experience and an enhanced resume, making you more marketable to employers
  • Possible academic credit on your transcript

How do I get an internship?

The Center for Career & Professional Development is a dedicated partner from your first internship to your post-graduation job offer. Here’s what support looks like in practice: 

  • Your own career coach: Every student has a specialized career coach, aligned with your interests. Your coach knows your field, your goals, and the employers who want to hire Centre students. They will help you build your resume, prepare for interviews, develop professional networks, and apply for opportunities.
  • Direct alumni connections: Centre alumni are passionate about helping you – and they are unusually generous with their time and networks. Your career coach can connect you directly with alumni who have internship opportunities or who know employers who do.
  • Handshake access: This online job and internship platform gives you access to hundreds of posted opportunities, searchable by field, location, and term.
  • Funding for unpaid, underpaid, and international internships: Centre offers competitive stipends and grants, including support specifically for first-generation students and students with financial need. 

Learn more from CCPD

I felt good doing it, but I also genuinely liked the work. Every day was different, and I like being challenged. I like growing from it.

Cameron Stith

Kanawha County Public Defender Internship

Politics & Sociology, Class of 2028

Learn more about Cameron's internship
A young person in front of a brick wall

Learn More About Internships

Many Centre students complete paid internships, although compensation varies by employer, industry, and location.

Because a great opportunity shouldn’t depend on your financial situation, Centre offers competitive stipends and grants for unpaid, underpaid, and international internships, including support specifically for first-generation students and students with financial need. 
 

Here’s a sampling of organizations where Centre students have recently completed internships:
  • American Heart Association
  • Brown-Forman Shanghai
  • Centers for Disease Control
  • Central Baptist Hospital
  • Cincinnati Curatorial Arts Center
  • Cincinnati Zoo
  • Commonwealth Economics
  • C-SPAN
  • Hilliard Lyons
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • National Museum of American History
  • Neuroscience & TMS Treatment Centers
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Parliament of the United Kingdom
  • Prague Summer Nights Music Festival
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
  • University of Kentucky Center on Drug and Alcohol Research
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Congress – Committee on Oversight and Accountability
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Vermont Law School Institute for Energy and the Environment

Centre students pursue internships in a wide variety of industries and professions. An internship at Centre is a structured, supervised professional experience that connects your liberal arts education to the real world of work. You’ll apply what you’ve learned in the classroom, build skills employers value, and explore what a career in this field looks and feels like. Students can participate in academic credit internships during the fall, CentreTerm, spring, or summer, and in non-credit internships during the summer.

Academic-credit internships are supervised jointly by an on-site professional and a Centre faculty mentor. The academic component – which might include a reflective journal, portfolio, research paper, or structured interview series – ensures the experience connects to your academic development, not just your resume. 

Credit structure:
1 credit = 40 hours of work
2 credits = 80 hours (roughly 6–7 hours per week during a term)
3 credits = 120 hours (roughly 10 hours per week, or full-time during CentreTerm)

Summer internships can also be completed for non-credit, giving you maximum flexibility.

The future will belong not just to those who can use AI tools, but to those who can question them, interpret their outputs, and guide their application responsibly. That is a job for the liberal arts. And it has never been more relevant. 

Dr. Milton C. Moreland

President, Centre College

President Milton C. Moreland

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