In the architectural industry, the job of the internship is critical in developing the emerging architect. This vital time allows for the intern to have maximum exposure to the working environment of architecture. The ideal architectural internship would concentrate on observing design and development step by step, which would be best achieved under a principal architect. However, this of course is difficult, as most of the time, interns are supervised under a senior architect rather than a principal architect, as hierarchical order goes. Ideally, the intern should be able to see how the pre-schematic and schematic design stage progresses into the concept stage where the technical and creative worlds of architecture help mold the design. The more technical parts of architecture would follow, such as observing the creation of construction documentation and conducting construction administration that essentially bring a building to the production stage.

The environment of the office is important as well - an intern in a smaller office may get just as much work as an intern in a larger office does, but it really all depends on the quality of work that the firm produces. Usually working with another intern could be beneficial, because he or she brings a similar perspective that gives a mutual and cooperative understanding of how the profession works. As far as specific projects go, it is also important to be able to work on the many sides of architectural program to fully understand this field - with commercial, institutional, and residential architecture near the top of the list.

At the same time, it is also very important to have the architectural internship involve exposure to both the public and the private sectors. There are many benefits to a public sector architectural job that help to shape a good architect, including the exposure to project management and the detail-oriented aspects of specifications and programming. Having worked in the public sector prior to a private sector job is especially beneficial to any promising architect who wants to work in a large metropolitan area.

The architectural internship can come in many shapes and forms. For a promising architect just out of college, the internship becomes the very foundation of a career in practice that could produce great contemporary work. It is ideal to have an internship that covers as many bases as possible to fully understand the complexities of this profession. The education of architecture not only encompasses schooling, but also the foundations of practice that are held in high esteem through the internship.