Internships

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1. An internship is a unique form of experiential learning that enhances a student’s academic program and/or provides career exploration. Internships include specific learning goals agreed upon by the student, faculty member, and site supervisor that integrate knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills. Internships may be credit bearing or non-credit bearing, course based or individual, compensated or uncompensated. In some cases, internships must also fulfill the specific requirements of an accrediting agency or licensing body.
2. An internship is an academic experience in which students will typically:
   1. Explore career opportunities and make deliberate application of their academic knowledge and skills.
   2. Gain new understanding of concepts valuable in a field or discipline.
   3. Develop professional skills (e.g., networking, time management, teamwork).
   4. Grow in personal maturity and confidence in their abilities.
   5. Develop understanding of persons, groups, and settings typically not encountered in an academic setting.
3. Internships may be offered in two modalities:
   1. Course based:
      1. Provides opportunity for corporate learning from peers
      2. Provides structure for consistent group interaction
      3. Provides structure for consistent student interaction with instructor
      4. Instructor creates, distributes, and implements a syllabus for the class.
   2. Individual:
      1. Learning outcomes are well-defined
      2. Instructor monitors progress
      3. Instructor and student interact periodically
      4. Student provides evidence of learning
      5. Work that repeats previous experience does not qualify for an academic credit internship. The work must provide an opportunity to meet academic/educational objectives.
4. To register for an internship, students must meet the following criteria:
   1. Declared major or minor in the discipline of the internship;
   2. Junior, senior, or graduate standing for credit;
   3. Sophomore standing for non-credit or for credit by permission of the instructor;
   4. Minimum of 10 credit hours completed in the discipline;
   5. Students must be in Good Academic Standing. 
   6. Any additional criteria as established by the program.
5. A credit-bearing internship must be 1 to 4 credits with the following minimum work hours or in combination with class contact time required:
   1. 1 credit: 45 hours
   2. 2 credits: 90 hours
   3. 3 credits: 135 hours
   4. 4 credits: 180 hours
   5. A non-credit bearing internship requires a minimum of 45 work hours (NOTE:  Some programs may require more hours.)
6. Internship courses may be repeated. Each separate internship must have goals and objectives different from the prior ones taken for credit.