Overview

An academic internship is preferably an off-campus learning/practicing experience in which the student applies a body of knowledge and skill in a structured, non-classroom setting. It can take place in many settings: government, social organizations and agencies, churches, or business enterprises. It can make use of almost every knowledge and skill area in Bethel’s curricula. Credit is available through some departments to qualified students in their majors. Inquiries should be made to the Office of Student Success and Retention.

Academic Internship Policy

1. An acceptable internship is one that expects the student to:
   1. Make a deliberate application of one’s academic knowledge and skills.
   2. Continue to learn as stimulated by the problems and issues encountered.
   3. Grow in one’s personal maturity and confidence in one’s abilities.
   4. Develop empathy with and understanding of persons, groups, and settings typically not encountered on campus.
2. The proposed internship must embody significant academic purpose and content, equal in quality to a regular course, yet be of such a nature that it cannot be obtained within the existing course structure.
3. It is conducted under joint supervision of a Bethel faculty member and an onsite supervisor. Both parties agree on the specific objectives and assignments before beginning and jointly evaluate the student’s work during the experience and at the end. There should be a plan for ongoing processing of the experience (log, weekly meetings, etc.). It is expected that the Bethel faculty supervisor will meet at least bi-weekly with the student.
4. The internship position may be part-time or full-time and may be salaried or non-salaried. Routine jobs or work that repeats experience does not qualify for an academic credit internship. The work must provide an opportunity to meet academic/educational objectives.
5. The student must meet the following criteria:
   1. Declare a major or minor in the department of the internship being proposed.
   2. Hold junior, senior, or graduate standing. Individual departments may permit qualified sophomores to undertake exploratory internships under special circumstances.
   3. Have a minimum of 10 credit hours completed in the department.
   4. Have good Academic Standing in the major. Individual departments may require a specific GPA.
   5. Meet additional criteria as established by each department.
6. An internship must be two to four credits with the following minimum time required onsite:

   Internships

   Internship	Hours
   Two-credit internship	90 hours
   Three-credit internship	135 hours
   Four-credit internship	180 hours

7. A maximum of twelve credits in internships may be taken. Each separate internship must have goals and objectives different from the prior ones taken for credit.
8. Internships are graded S/U (see: Grading System).
9. Students in internships which cannot be completed in one term, will be given a grade of incomplete at the end of that term and automatically registered in no more than one additional extension term. The extension term may incur additional charges. 
10. For the following internship courses, the maximum deadline the instructor can assign for resolution of the I or IN grade is one year from the end of the course: ADST 481, ADST 491, CHMN 481, EDUC 886, EDUC 887, EDUC 888, EDUC 889. 
11. This policy identifies minimum college-wide requirements. Departments may choose to supplement this with additional requirements.
12. In some cases, a Contract for Academic Internship may be required as part of an internship course. When required, the form and process will be available through the instructor.