Internships

Internships

ROSEN PROFESSIONAL
INTERNSHIPS

Don’t wait until your Senior Year, start now by strategically planning your internships. Gain valuable professional development and knowledge. Experience high quality hospitality industry with our professional partner employers. Come visit our office to start your journey.

Walk in Office Hours

Monday-Thursday 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Location: Rosen College, Suite 109

Remote appointments can be scheduled via MyKnight Star. Scan to access instructions for MyKnight Star.

For more information, please contact:
Jessica Wickey-Byrd – Associate Instructor; Internships Program Director: Jessica.Wickey@ucf.edu
Gisele Canova – Instructor; Internships Coordinator: Gisele.Canova@ucf.edu

Internship News

We have some great news to share! We analyzed the internship data over the past academic year. Our students are interning in all 50 states and 16 countries around the globe and for those that go on to MIT programs, the average starting salaries  is $48,000-60,000. Awesome! The future leaders of the hospitality industry and making big strides in their career goals. Click on the image to see all the details in a pdf.

 

Rosen Professional Internships
Experience Hospitality

Greetings from your Internship team Gisele Canova and Jessica Wickey.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Rosen Professional Internship Office to provide high quality industry experience to our students and highly prepared professionals to our partner employers. We accomplish this through understanding the evolving needs of our partners and developing students to meet the current and future needs of the hospitality industry.

Vision Statement

To be the partner of choice for leading hospitality organizations, providing professional internship opportunities globally.

Students: Visit the Professional Development Communication HUB in webcourses for resources on your job/internship search. 

*The hub is accessible to current students who have active UCF credentials.

Getting Started

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s curriculum requires all Rosen College students to gain valuable professional development and knowledge in their field of study.  Students enroll in three (3), 1-credit hour Internship courses, and gain valuable work experience prior to graduation in progressively more responsible, career driven positions.

Rosen Professional Internship Process

Internship I – Personal and Professional Development class-based activity with a focus on professional development. The course will include effective communication, the importance of networking while in college, interviewing skills, resumé development, elevator pitch, job search strategies, and soft skills. Internship I is now your “development” class to help you find the most meaningful opportunities, as you start your progression through your internship experience and eventually launch your career. The goal is for you to have the best chance of obtaining the internships/jobs of YOUR choice. Work is NOT required for this course.

Enroll in HFT 3940 0M61 to receive credit (follow same registration deadlines as all other courses).

Internship II – 250 hours of Exploring Your Career Path with verification of employment required. The course will include participation in leadership workshops, use of verbal and written communication skills, mentor identification, demonstration of guest service skills and self-learning training.

Enroll in HFT 4941 0M61 to receive credit (follow same registration deadlines as all other courses).

Internship III – 250 hours of Launching Your Career with verification of employment required. The course will include further participation in leadership workshops, the development of critical thinking skills, interpretation of employer feedback (i.e. personality tests, social media presence) and utilization of networking skills (i.e. salary negotiations, benefits, relocation and recruitment) to acquire a position in your chosen field.

Enroll in HFT 4944 0M61 to receive credit (follow same registration deadlines as all other courses).

For more information on Rosen Professional Internship courses, please contact an Internship Instructors – Jessica Wickey-Byrd  or Gisele Canova for an appointment. Offices are located in the Suite 109, off the hallway to the patio near the computer labs.

  • Please make an appointment to ensure a meeting with an internship advisor.
  • All appointments must be scheduled using MyKnight Star. Click HERE to access instructions for MyKnight Star.
Jessica Wickey-Byrd, Suite 109C
Internship III

  • Schedule through MyKnight Star
Gisele Canova, Suite 109A
Internship II

  • Schedule through MyKnight Star

 

 

Opportunities are available to intern overseas:

Click here to see International Internships that have been filled by the future leaders of the hospitality industry.

Internships and Study Abroad Stories

Watch videos from students who completed international internships in summer 2019:

Take a look at this video shared by Internship Programs Director Jessica Wickey-Byrd, focused on our Japanese internships.

Internships Opportunities in the United States

Paige Renyhart, President of Pegasus Music Group, and an entertainment management student, graduated in the spring 2020. She worked for Warner Music U during her time at  UCF. This is what Paige had to say about  her internship experience:

‘”In Spring 2020, I was fortunate enough to finish off strong, working as a Marketing Rep for Warner Music U., before UCF switched to virtual learning, I hosted on-campus events, created social media content for WMG artists and promoted various national tours. After we moved online, I was still able to fulfill my position and instead hosted virtual artist involved panel discussions for students aspiring to work in the music industry. I am so thankful for this experience and to the entire Warner Music U team, especially Karlie KeaveneyWendy Richard and Pamela Palines. Here is a quick video recapping what this semester looked like.” 

Clubs and Organizations

FTPLA

Find out a little about FTPLA!  Watch this VIDEO.

The Future Theme Park Leaders Association is a student-run organization at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management. FTPLA is open to all current UCF students. Check us out on social media! Instagram – @FTPLA and on Facebook – Future Theme Park Leaders Association Page.

*Please note, the FTPLA Facebook Group is only for students who have attended a meeting.

Pegasus Music Group

The Pegasus Music Group (PMG) is the largest music industry club at the University of Central Florida. We aim to build meaningful connections with music industry professionals and companies in all aspects by getting involved in local shows & festivals and working with recording companies.

The Pegasus Music Group (PMG) is the largest music industry club at the University of Central Florida. We aim to build meaningful connections with music industry professionals and companies in all aspects by getting involved in local shows & festivals and working with recording companies. Email: PegasusMusicGroup.UCF@Gmail.com for more information

Find out More about Pegasus Music Group. Watch this VIDEO!

Leadership Development Workshop Series

Developed in the Spring of 2017, the Leadership Development Workshop Series is a series offered to all internship students. We created this series to develop our students into effective leaders, and more marketable candidates. After analyzing Employer’s Feedback, we took the constructive comments and created topics to address the areas of improvement. Industry partners facilitate a 45 minute workshop on various topics. So far, the series has been a phenomenal success! We have mentored over 10,000 students with the collective efforts of our industry partners!

Each Leadership Development Workshop starts with a brief introduction of your career path, followed by your presentation on a leadership topic, ending in Q&A with the students.

Leadership, Professional Development and Job Search Workshops from Past Semesters:

The Leadership Workshops are mandatory for all students enrolled in Internship I. Each semester, students are required to attend all workshops. The workshops are during your scheduled class time and are facilitated by our industry partners. Students MUST sign in and complete the written assignment for the workshop. Topics and presenters will vary each semester. Please attend the workshops listed for your class requirements.

Internships…

  • Clarify academic and career goals
  • Receive major-specific work experience
  • Develop academic and professional skills
  • Apply classroom education to the real world
  • Gain access to professional relationships, techniques and equipment
  • Maximize earning potential and employment opportunities upon graduation

Advertise Internship Opportunities to Rosen College students!

Employers are able to reach Rosen College students with internship-eligible positions by posting their opportunity on Handshake. For instructions on promoting your opportunity on Handshake and other employer recruitment opportunities visit our Industry & Employers webpage.

Please note that all internship eligible positions must offer a minimum of 250 hours per semester of hospitality industry experience (includes attractions, entertainment, events, lodging, restaurant and foodservice, senior living management) to our students while compensating the student intern at least the minimum wage of where the employment opportunity is based. Please do not hesitate to contact Jessica Wickey or Gisele Canova with any questions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED INTERNSHIP QUESTIONS: Please Read the FAQ’s in their entirety!

Click here for the Internships FAQ