Real-World Experiences

Experiential learning is at the core of a UD education. That means you'll have plenty of opportunities to grow your knowledge, practice your skills and build your résumé.

Through internships and co-ops, you can gain practical, real-world experience while exploring your interests, gaining industry insights, applying your classroom knowledge and preparing for your future. Students who intern or co-op often are more competitive in the job market and have higher starting salaries.

  • Internships can be part-time or full-time work experiences that occur at any point during the year. They can be paid or unpaid, and students may continue taking classes during the internship.
  • Co-ops are typically full-time, paid work experiences. For these positions, students alternate a semester of study with a semester of work.

Abundant opportunities exist for throughout the greater Dayton area, and Career Services can help connect you with relevant positions.


Student Stories
Daybreak Dayton Interns Alexia Benton and Clarissa Breard
Service
11.24.2025

Fitz Center student fellow spent summer supporting Dayton's homeless youth link-arrow link-arrow

A Daybreak Dayton internship helped prepare Alexia Benton for a future career in medicine and also offered an opportunity to connect with the Dayton community.
Headshot of college student
Experiential Learning
11.10.2025

Addressing Inequities in Education link-arrow link-arrow

Mia Cappuccitti-Gutierrez '26 planned on being a teacher. But during her classroom observations, she discovered a passion for education policy over classroom teaching.
Lauren with a Barretstown camper and fellow employee
Teacher Education
10.17.2025

The Summer of Recreational Therapy link-arrow link-arrow

With tears in her eyes leaving the U.S., teacher education student Lauren Windsor had some trepidation trading the familiarity of her classroom for an immersive internship promising challenge, transformation…and the journey of a lifetime.
 Chloe Nguyen poses in front of Plante Moran's step and repeat for a photo opportunity celebrating her summer 2026 internship offer.
Business
10.03.2025

From Nervous First-Year to Career-Ready: Chloe’s Path to Professional Confidence link-arrow link-arrow

When Chloe Nguyen '28 arrived at the University of Dayton as a first-year accounting major, she never imagined she would one day confidently network with top accounting firms.
Construction Workers at Outdoor Job Site
Sustainability
10.02.2025

Applying Sustainability in Construction Management link-arrow link-arrow

A student learned how sustainable design concepts are applied during her construction management internship.
Campbell Domres at the Digital Transformation Center
Career Development
09.30.2025

UD internship bridges communication, technology at Digital Transformation Center link-arrow link-arrow

A summer internship allowed communication major Campbell Domres to apply her skills in a technology environment.
Members of the 2025 DC Flyers Cohort
Campus and Community
09.04.2025

DC Flyers: Soaring into Summer Internships link-arrow link-arrow

Thirteen Honors students had the opportunity to live and work in our nation’s capital this past summer through the DC Flyers program, an initiative of the University Honors Program.
Engineering
06.17.2025

Engineering the Magic through Internship with Walt Disney World link-arrow link-arrow

Second-year industrial engineering technology student Olivia Hooten got to experience how the Walt Disney Company magic is made through an industrial engineering internship in the fall of 2024.
Experiential Learning
09.30.2024

UD senior gains hands-on experience in local government through Fitz Center internship link-arrow link-arrow

Marion Pope sought an internship to help build his resume, but his summer in the Dayton Mayor's Office gave him much more.