Internships
Get Valuable Real-World Experience
Step out of the studio and into the field. Internships give you the chance to test your ideas in real-world settings, collaborate with professionals across industries, and discover new ways to turn your creative curiosity into career momentum. Whether you’re working with a local studio, nonprofit, or global brand, you’ll gain insight into how creative work comes to life, and how your skills can make an impact beyond the classroom.
For Employers
Looking to hire an SAIC intern? Head to the employers tab for guidelines, timelines, the internship agreement, and possibilities.
The Benefits of Internships
Earn Credit with Faculty Support
Connect your professional experience to your academic path. Faculty mentors help you set learning goals, reflect on your growth, and translate your internship into meaningful progress toward your degree and your career.
Fund Your Experience
Thanks to the support of generous donors, SAIC internship funds provide financial assistance for unpaid, low-paid, or high-cost opportunities, ensuring students can access transformative experiences. The application is open for SAIC's Summer 2026 Internship Stipend Program! Applications are due on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (CT).
Build a Competitive Portfolio
Turn creative work into tangible results. Each internship helps you showcase your skills, highlight your impact, and strengthen your portfolio for future opportunities.
Invigorate Your Portfolio
SAIC students intern at top companies in Chicago and beyond—including the ones you see here.
Student Stories
Current Students: Registering Your Internship for Credit
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Begin your search on Handshake, where CAPX-approved companies post creative opportunities across disciplines. You can also find internships on LinkedIn or through your own network. Some companies only advertise on their own websites, so commit some focused time to find the right opportunities for you. Meet with a CAPX advisor for assistance with your search.
SEARCH HANDSHAKE BROWSE LINKEDIN ADVISING APPOINTMENTS -
After you accept an internship offer, complete the CAPX Internship Request Form to begin the approval process. Submit as soon as possible, ideally within two weeks of receiving your offer and before June 1, 2026. CAPX reviews your submission and contacts the site to finalize details to ensure the experience meets SAIC’s internship guidelines.
If you have questions about registering your internship for credit, email CAPX’s Internship Manager, Tatyana Scott, at tscott3@saic.edu. -
Once your internship and site agreement are approved, CAPX will enroll you in the appropriate internship course (you don’t need to register yourself).
For international students (F-1 visa): After approval, CAPX and International Student Affairs will coordinate your Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization. You must receive CPT approval before beginning work.
Summer Internship Stipend Program
The application is open for SAIC's Summer 2026 Internship Stipend Program! Applications are due on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (CT). The Internship Stipend Program has been established to support SAIC students with financial needs who are pursuing valuable internships that may be unpaid, underpaid, or high-cost. Internship stipends are made possible entirely through donor contributions, and we are so fortunate to have many generous donors who have contributed to these funds.
Course Options
Internships must be submitted for approval through the CAPX Internship Request Form by June 1, 2026. Tuition applies for internship courses.
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- Open to juniors and seniors
- Fulfills professional practice, studio, and off-campus requirements
- Offered fall, spring, and summer semesters
- 3.0 credits
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- Open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students
- Fulfills studio and off-campus requirements
- Offered fall, winter, spring, and summer semesters
- 3.0 or 1.5 credits (winter = 1.5 only)
