Providing Meaningful Work Experience for Undergraduate Students

Internship Credit
Build Your Resume
Network
Develop Soft Skills

The Research Business Development Center (RBDC) is a unique nonprofit with a mission to serve undergraduate students like you! That mission is to provide meaningful work experience. We do that by running educational training programs that are all centered on project based learning. Our flagship is the Applied Learning Projects (ALPS) program which has two sub-programs, ALPS | Basic and ALPS | Advanced. The RBDC is a contract service provider to BYU-Idaho and Ensign College. We also have a few opportunities for students from any institution.

Real companies. Real projects. Real experience.

BYU-Idaho

The RBDC offers a full range of opportunities to BYU-Idaho students from early entry projects in a society to classroom projects to internship level projects.

Learn more about ALPS | Basic
Learn more about ALPS | Advanced
Learn more about our newest program to help students develop data literacy
Learn more about other programs at the RBDC

Applications for our programs:

Ensign College

Earn internship credit* remotely through the RBDC! Click here to learn more about this opportunity for Ensign students.

Learn more about ALPS | Advanced
Learn more about our newest program to help students develop data literacy

Applications for our programs:

ALPS | Advanced

*Internship credit varies by program. Check with your advisor or reach out to Career and Internship Services.

Not a student at BYU-Idaho or Ensign College?

The RBDC is currently making the Data Science Academy program available to any student enrolled in an institution of higher education or upper class standing at a high school. Click here to learn more about the DSA.

The Benefits of ALPS

There are many benefits to ALPS projects that enable advanced learning while working to achieve higher education

All ALPS interns will have the opportunity to perform in-depth primary and secondary research. In addition, they will work directly with the client(s) of their respective project(s), handling all client communication and hosting client meetings.

Meet Academic Credit Requirements

Depending on your Major, Basic and Advanced Projects could count towards academic credit, and internship credit.

Improve Your Resume

While a degree is an incredibly important part of your resume, employers like to see real work experience with real businesses. That is exactly what ALPS projects provide. You work with real clients, an get real experience.

A Step Toward Grad School

Getting into grad schools can be difficult. It is very helpful to have real work experience to show for it. Having a better feel for what you are good at will help you make the grad school decision.

Valuable Connections

ALPS Basic and Advanced projects allow you to work closely with clients, faculty, experienced mentors, and teams of students, where you learn, brainstorm, and problem solve. The connections you make could lead to valuable networking opportunities, and potentially open doors to future careers.

Practical Business Skills

Business skills are important to have no matter what career field you choose.

All interns will gain skills in the following areas:

Secondary Research
Interviewing
Professional Communication
Developing Professional Documents and Reports
Team participation/leadership
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Presentations Skills
Much more!

Hands-on Experience

Since you are working with real, paying clients, your experience is completely hands-on. You have the opportunity to problem solve using your skills and knowledge, brainstorm through trial and error with teams, and to learn as you go, just like you would in the real world, because that’s what this opportunity is – real world experience!

Chalk drawing of a businessman climbing a staircase

Companies Hire Our Students

Girl in an interview

ALPS projects are an excellent opportunity to apply classroom knowledge and gain professional experience for your resume. Many employers look for 3-5 experiences on a newly graduated student’s resume that are professional in nature. Working in food services on-campus is not a stand-out resume. Past ALPS students have worked for Fortune 500 companies as well as small to medium enterprises after graduating.

Graduate Schools Have Accepted Our Students

ALPS projects are an excellent opportunity to enhance your grad school application. Many grad schools are looking for applicants with professional level experience. Stand out in the pool of applicants as a polished student who has worked with clients in a professional setting. Many of our ALPS-Advanced projects also involve some element of research. This research experience can be a critical factor in applying successfully to Masters and Ph.D. programs. ALPS students have been accepted to after graduate schools ranging from ivy league to highly acclaimed public universities after graduating.

Learn all about ALPS | Basic here, including how it works and how it will benefit you as a student.

Learn about ALPS | Advanced here, including how it works and how it benefits you as a student.

ALPS | Advanced

Applied Learning Projects (ALPS) Is Powered by the Research and Business Development Center