The Harold Walter Siebens School of Business believes strongly in the importance of real-world experience, a philosophy that drives its curriculum in and outside the classroom. At BVU, you don't just talk business - you do it. Classes are designed to prepare you so that when it's your turn to show the corporate world what you can do, you'll be ready.

To help you gain that first foothold in the working world, Buena Vista University employs a full-time internship coordinator. The School of Business also has a faculty member who serves as a part-time director of business internships. The director works with you to find an internship that fits your needs and often visits on-site during the internship itself.

The School of Business has coordinated nearly 1,500 internships over the past 12 years. In the process, it has developed connections, resources, and experience that will help you find a program that works with your interests and needs. Over 85% of business students participate in an internship, with many students participating in more than one. Some students have had as many as four and many later say that their internships were among their most useful undergraduate experiences.

Just as business encompasses everything from multi-national corporations to family-owned diners, BVU offers students options ranging from high-profile corporations in large cities to local businesses vital to the commerce of their towns. Would you like to intern for the Philadelphia Stock Exchange? Buena Vista students have. Would you prefer something closer to home? Students have interned everywhere from the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center to the Chicago Board of Trade. BVU is one of only two schools from which Pioneer Hi-Bred will accept interns. Whether you want to trade stocks on the other side of the world or help your hometown Chamber of Commerce promote Main Street, the School of Business works with you to find opportunities that will take you as far as your thoughts can travel or as close to home as you want to be.

Other School of Business internships have included:

Accounting

West Corporation - Omaha, Neb.
Okoboji Parks Marina - Okoboji, Iowa
Nichols Rise & Company - Sioux City, Iowa
KPMG Peat Marwick - Anchorage, Ala.
Adventureland - Altoona, Iowa
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu - Des Moines, Iowa
Ernst & Young - Des Moines, Iowa

Economics

Bank of the Federal Reserve - Des Moines, Iowa

Finance and Banking

The Linn Group/CBOT - Chicago, Ill.
Banker's Trust - Des Moines, Iowa
First Citizens National Bank - Storm Lake, Iowa
Thrivent Financial - Sioux City, Iowa
Federated Rural Electric - Jackson, Minn.
BankWest - Pierre, S.D.
Weilage Corp - Mankato, Minn.
Sky Ranches, Inc - Van, Texas
QA 3 Financial Corp - Omaha, Neb.

International Business

Farley's & Sathers Candy Company - Round Lake, Minn.
Mills Financial Marketing - Storm Lake, Iowa

Management

Ronald McDonald House Charities Upper Midwest - Minneapolis
Six Flags of Houston (Astroworld) - Houston, Texas
Girl Scouts of Moingona Council - Omaha, Neb.
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center - Storm Lake, Iowa
Target Corporation - West Des Moines, Iowa
Inplay Omaha - Omaha, Neb.
Rubber Development, Inc - Waverly, Iowa
Salesmanship Club of Dallas (Verizon Byron Nelson Classic) - Dallas, Texas
John Deere Community Credit Union - Waterloo, Iowa           

Management Information Systems

Principal Financial Group - Des Moines, Iowa
Carroll Community School District - Carroll, Iowa
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center - Storm Lake, Iowa

Marketing

Iowa Sports Foundation - Des Moines, Iowa
Mid America Festivals - Shakopee, Minn.
ComCast SportsNet - Bethesda, Md.
The Buckle - Des Moines, Iowa
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center - Storm Lake, Iowa
City of Storm Lake - Storm Lake, Iowa
Pioneer Hybrid - Johnston, Iowa
King's Pointe Waterpark Resort - Storm Lake, Iowa
Allianz Championship Golf Tournament (volunteer coordinator) - Urbandale, Iowa
Ronald McDonald House (HR) - Minneapolis, Minn.
MSI Systems Integrators - Omaha, Neb.
Echo Group, Inc - Council Bluffs, Iowa
Iowa Games - Ames, Iowa
Historic Arnold's Park - Arnold's Park, Iowa
Iowa Cubs - Des Moines, Iowa
Bluffs Run Casino - Council Bluffs, Iowa
Omaha Community Playhouse - Omaha, Neb.