Is there more pressure to succeed in the field, placed upon the student, by peers and employers, than there is to exceed in the classroom? This is a pilot study to determine whether or not students' attitudes towards their education change once they have spent time working as interns (for this paper, internships refer to any construction related work experience, including paid, non-paid, part time, and summer positions.) A source of concern is that students are concentrating more on their

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... ships than on their studies, and that they believe the course work is inconsequential to their success. Many construction related programs encourage or mandate internships prior to graduation, and it is proposed to study whether this has any effect on the students' behavior toward their studies as they progress. Another issue is the continuation of the internships into the semester while the student is attempting to handle a full course load. Which becomes more important; work or school? If the student feels, or has been told, they have a position waiting for them upon graduation will they attempt to excel at their course work, or will they settle for merely graduating? It is planned to study the positive and negative effects of internships starting with the Construction Systems students at the University of Nebraska and eventually including students in construction related departments across the country. A survey will elicit responses on their history and opinions of their internships and their academics. The study should eventually include exit interviews with graduating seniors. In addition, alumni should be interviewed to elicit their opinions on the effect of their internships and their education on their careers.