Bridging academics and careers through internships

Internships have long been a win-win for college students—they’re great for the résumé, often tied to academic credit, and usually a lot of fun. But in today’s fast-evolving job market, they’re more than just a chance to get out of the classroom—they provide a crucial bridge between education and meaningful work. Internships provide real-world experience, personal growth, and a head start on building a professional network.

At Bethel, experiential learning is an essential part of our transformational academics. In fact, more than 80 percent of Bethel students take part in internships or field experiences (including nursing clinicals and student teaching placements). This type of learning allows you to bring your values, faith, and leadership into the real world before you graduate. It’s a big step toward becoming an equipped graduate ready to meet the world’s needs with compassion and expertise. 

Discover why internships matter now more than ever, hear from three Bethel students whose lives and career paths are being shaped by their internships, and get practical tips on landing the one that’s right for you.

Meet Kaleb Miller ’26

History major, political science minor

Intern with the United States Mission to the United Nations

As an intern with the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN), Kaleb Miller ’26 can go anywhere in New York City’s U.N. building, even the Security Council—which is typically off-limits. He has met state department employees from the foreign service, U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik’s chief of staff, and interns from many other countries. His office works with the U.N.’s Fifth Committee, which is responsible for setting the U.N. budget as well as hiring and personnel management issues. He has sat in on strategy meetings with like-minded allies and negotiations with not-so-like-minded countries; researched and wrote briefings about key issues; and analyzed data to weigh benefits and drawbacks of different potential proposals. 

“I have always wanted to do something politically related after graduation,” says Miller, who is majoring in history and minoring in political science. “This internship has prompted me to consider foreign service, the United Nations, and being a congressional aide.”

So far, the most valuable part of his experience has been interacting with others who share his interests. “I have gotten the chance to have coffee or lunch with half a dozen different individuals who are doing the jobs that I might want to do eventually. It has been extremely enlightening to be able to quiz them on what their jobs look like, how they got to where they are, and what advice they have for me,” he says. He’s also been able to connect with Bethel alum Faith Kroeker-Maus ’06, an economic advisor for the U.S. State Department, who was recently awarded the Secretary’s Honor Award—the U.S. Department of Agriculture's highest distinction—for establishing 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. 

With enough credits to graduate, Miller has flexibility in his schedule and the timing of his graduation, so he decided to take this semester off for the internship. He’s living in housing provided by the State Department about half a block away from the Empire State Building, and on the weekends, is having fun exploring the area and visiting places like the Statue of Liberty, Coney Island, the Museum of Natural History, and more.

Why an internship? 

• Internships help you refine your affinities. “Experiential learning opportunities are crucial because they help you confirm what you like and don’t like about particular types of work,” says Stan Thompson GS’21, director of vocation, pathways, and partnerships in Bethel’s Office of Career Development and Calling. You can test the waters to discover which jobs or challenges are fun and exciting and where your strengths and weaknesses lie. This can provide direction as you choose majors and minors and consider different career paths. 

• Internships give you real-world experience and a chance to identify and build the skills employers are looking for. While an internship can provide specialized knowledge and skills in a particular field, it also fosters growth in more general qualities that are highly valued across all industries today. Communication, critical thinking, and professionalism are the top three skills that employers look for in new employees, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Communication tops this list, with 95.6% of employers seeking it. Internships allow you to hone these skills, along with adaptability, time management, and collaboration—all sought after by employers.

• Internships often lead to full-time job offers. Some 68% of interns nationally receive a full-time job offer from their internship employer. And Bethel students in particular have a solid reputation in the Twin Cities metro area. “I am contacted regularly by employers (Bethel alumni and others) who know that our students are amazing and want them as interns and to hire them after they graduate,” says Thompson. “One employer told me about the great work one of our Bethel students did as an intern at his company and said, ‘Send me 10 more just like her!’”

• Internships connect your vocation and career. They can help you discover your vocation—not just by exploring what you’re good at or interested in, or by aiming for a decent paycheck, but by guiding you toward the place where your passion, the world’s greatest needs, and God’s calling on your life come together. “Vocation means your whole life is formed around God's vision of flourishing, shaping who you are and what you do,” says Thompson. “We explore our vocations when we try something new and see if it fits. Does it resonate with our skills, interests, and passions?”

Meet Grace Johnson ’25

Missional ministries and biblical and theological studies majors, communication studies minor

Intern at Mill City Church in Minneapolis

When Grace Johnson began to doubt her vocation in ministry, her professor suggested it might be because she had never actually seen a woman lead a church. “He was right,” she says.  

As a member of The 25—a unique Bethel cohort for career-focused students—Johnson heard about Mill City Church in Minneapolis. She began attending and volunteering in their family life ministry. When she learned her degree required a practicum credit, she asked the church if her volunteer position could turn into a part-time job. They said yes, and she started in the fall of her junior year. 

“Because of the way Mill City brings others into their vision, I instantly felt like I was not only an intern, but part of the team,” she says. “I was under the impression I would just be shadowing at staff meetings, but then they started asking about my thoughts and ideas!” She taught in the 3rd-5th grade room on Sunday mornings and helped launch childcare at the church’s new 5 p.m. service, where she also managed the high school volunteers. She’s gotten to prepare curriculum—everything from assembling crafts to rephrasing stories used in lessons—and recently helped launch Wednesday night programming for kids. 

“Having a staff of pastors, majorly female, function on a team has revolutionized my understanding of church leadership. Each of the pastors has their own way of leading teams, and watching the ways each style shepherds, leads, and cares for the community is powerful,” says Johnson, who is majoring in missional ministries and biblical and theological studies with a minor in communication studies. “Mill City has not only affirmed my vocation, but supported me every step of the way to dig deep into what the Spirit is doing in my life and my ministry.”

The experience has helped Johnson see her strengths and weaknesses, and she now plans to pursue her master of divinity at Princeton Seminary. “My short-term goal is to meaningfully invest in that academic community,” she says. “Long-term, I hope to be in a place of ministry where I get to love people in Jesus’ name. With the church changing so rapidly, I fully believe that the position I will hold someday may not even exist yet!”

How to find an internship

For Bethel students, the internship possibilities are endless—from interning with the Minnesota Vikings or WCCO-TV to serving in local churches or crunching numbers at regional accounting firms. Thanks to our prime location in the Twin Cities metro area—home to 15 Fortune 500 companies, thousands of churches, renowned healthcare systems, and award-winning media outlets—students at Bethel have a unique edge when it comes to meaningful internships. But how do you go about finding the right one? Bethel can help.

• Bethel’s Office of Career Development and Calling is committed to providing you personalized support, which includes helping you find an internship that aligns with your interests and career goals. Additionally, career specialists can help you write and refine your résumé to highlight the skills you’re building, prepare for interviews, and even find jobs after graduation. 

• Academic advisors and professors within specific programs often have connections to organizations, alumni, businesses, and research opportunities. Sharing your interests and skills with them can open doors to valuable internships.

• Bethel uses Handshake—an online platform you can access to search for internships, part-time jobs, and networking events. 

• Bethel’s alumni network can also be a great resource, with networking events, career fairs, and alumni panels. Bethel’s Office of Alumni Relations and BethelBiz recently hosted a networking event featuring Jake Bruhnding ’08, CEO of Infinity Direct. And Bethel’s education programs host the annual Bethel Advance, a networking event that includes professional development sessions. Events like these are great opportunities to meet people, ask questions, and learn of available internships. 

Most Bethel majors require an internship. For those that don’t, Bethel has a zero-credit internship option so you can have an internship on your transcript without paying for additional credits.

Meet Talia McWright ’24

Journalism major

Intern turned full-time reporter at the St. Paul Pioneer Press

“I’m working at my dream job,” says Talia McWright ’24. “How cool is that? I'm beyond grateful for it!” She is a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, a job that grew out of an internship she did the summer of her senior year. 

As an intern, McWright, a journalism major, reported on an array of subjects involving the St. Paul community, from local events to business news and crime coverage. “It truly allowed me to explore reporting in ways I hadn’t before. I built a strong relationship with my editor and co-workers,” says McWright. “Most journalists at the Pioneer Press are seasoned reporters. They have a lot of experience and are fantastic at what they do. That meant that I could ask them all kinds of questions and apply their wisdom to my own experience.”

She’s always loved getting to know people and has gravitated toward storytelling, but prior to her internship she didn't necessarily see those things fitting into her future career. “What I didn't know is that my genuine interest in others is one of my strengths as a reporter. It's what pushes me to seek out stories and is why I cover an array of topics,” she says. “I'm an all-around curious person. My hope is that the care I have for people is something that translates in my reporting.”

As her internship came to an end, she was offered a full-time position and was excited to continue on. “I love being able to share stories of the incredible community members in St. Paul, Woodbury, and Minnesota,” says McWright. “It's so special to be a part of amplifying a person's story and not for any personal gain but simply because each person has immeasurable value and their stories deserve to be told, felt, and seen.”

Jump into experiential learning

At Bethel, bring your values, faith, and leadership into the real world through an internship. You’ll connect your learning and your future career—setting yourself up for personal and professional success. 

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