Learn About Internships

Internship details

• Length
  • During an academic semester or summer; at least 6 weeks
• Hours
  • 8 – 15 hours/week (Full-time internships offered during the summer)
• Academic Credit
  • Please speak with your organizational supervisor / Human Resources department. USC offers multiple courses for internships and the MDA 250 course is open to students in all majors. You must already have secured an internship to obtain D-clearance.
• Non-Compete and Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) for Internships
  • Organizations or employers, and their hiring managers, sometimes ask interns to sign a non-compete agreement prior to starting their internship.  This type of agreement can restrict student actions after the internship is completed (for instance, it may prevent an intern from working for a competitor for a specific amount of time, not permanently).  Students, in addition to employers and organizations, should be aware that a non-compete agreement is not enforceable in the State of California. Under the California Business and Professions Codes, Section 16600, the law prohibits an employer from restricting anyone who is engaged in legal practice or trade.  If you are interning in a different state, please review the specific state business codes regarding non-compete agreements.
  • In addition, organizations and employers could require an intern to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before participating in their internship.  This agreement is tied to propriety information (such as new products, organizational resources, or trade secrets) in order to protect the organizational or employer assets. Interns and employees may still disclose issues that arise at the workplace such as harassment, discrimination and abuse.  Students can still speak out about such concerns according to the Silence No More Act which is in effect commencing January 1, 2022.
  • For more information, please review the additional resource: Understanding Noncompete Agreements