The following questions and answers will help you understand the interim internship requirements (valid until December 31, 2025) and the enrollment procedure for CNST 3185.
What are the requirements for an internship?
Completing an approved internship, including the course CNST 3185, is a graduation requirement. Please see the requirement section on the internship home page for detailed requirements regarding employer, intern duty, duration, and course prerequisites.
When should I start searching for an internship?
We recommend that students complete the six significant CM courses in their first and second years (see the degree plan here) These courses provide students with the fundamental knowledge typically required for an internship position and allow students to make meaningful contributions to their employers. With the completion of those courses, you are encouraged to search and complete internship requirements as early as possible for timely graduation.
I’m a first- or second-year CM major who is not yet ready for the internship. Do you have any advice?
Focus on completing your CM first-year students and sophomore-level courses. Prepare your resume and cover letter, and plan to start searching for an internship when you finish the sophomore CM significant courses (e.g., Estimating I), thus having the necessary fundamental CM knowledge to obtain a meaningful internship position and ensure a quality learning experience.
I’m working on a CM-related job (or just received an offer). What should I do next?
Please submit the Internship Pre-Approval Request for review and approval. See Step 1 in the “Internship & Enrollment Procedure.”
How do I know if the CM program accepted my employer or if my intern duty is considered “CM-related”?
After it is submitted, the Internship Pre-Approval Request will be reviewed. See Step 1 in the “Internship & Enrollment Procedure.” Once the review is complete, the student will receive confirmation at your Cougarnet email.
The current interim internship requirements expire on December 31, 2025, so what will happen after that?
We will re-evaluate the internship market condition with our industry advisory boards in Fall 2025 and determine if they should extend the interim change end date. We will keep students informed.
Where should I search for internship opportunities?
The CM program will continue to share events and internship/job postings with juniors and seniors. It enjoys support from our industry advisory board member companies, employers, ABC, and AGC. We are expanding our marketing efforts to the local construction community and contractor associations to attract more internship opportunities to UH CM. In addition, as usual, please continue your search for opportunities through eCONNECTION, online job posting sites, and your network.
Any advice to prepare myself for the search?
Considering the following advices provided by our industry advisory boards:
- Take time to improve your resume, LinkedIn profile, and self-introduction.
- Consider volunteering and even unpaid internships to gain experience.
- Find ways to differentiate yourself from others (e.g., obtaining certifications; learning to use software; researching current industry topics/innovative ideas).
- Expand your network by finding an industry mentor. Also, check out our college career services for help.