Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DO I START THE INTERNSHIP PROCESS?
Assuming you qualify for credit for an internship (see the previous section), you need to start a file in the Internship Office and upload your resume to the Career Services web site. This should be done by the deadline set (see the Calendar for due dates) in the semester immediately preceding the internship.
CAN I CREATE MY OWN INTERNSHIP?
Yes! You are encouraged to use all the resources you have to contact companies about possible internship positions. You are not limited to those companies we have worked with in the past. In fact, you can intern anywhere in the world. The three basic requirements are that you work full-time (35-40 hours per week) for as close to 15 weeks as possible, and you must be paid at least $8 per hour. There are exceptions to most rules – but not all of them, so if you feel you have a unique situation that you would like to consider, contact the Internship Director.
WHAT IS THE VARIABLE INTERNSHIP CREDIT ALL ABOUT?
Each COB student has the ability to choose the number of credits he or she wants for their internship. (3-12 for undergraduates, 1-9 for MBA students) Years ago, all undergraduate internship in the COB had to be done for 12 credits. Only 3 apply in the major – the balance are University Electives. As the cost of credits increased, we decided that paying for 9 University Electives didn’t make sense if they weren’t going to help you toward graduation. So, the switch was made to allow each student to pick (and pay for!) the number of credits that would most help them.
From the outside, all internships look alike. So, all the requirements listed above remain the same regardless of how many credits you choose for your internship. The only real benefit is less tuition.
ANY OTHER FACTORS I SHOULD CONSIDER IN CHOOSING THE NUMBER OF INTERNSHIP CREDITS?
Yes – or why would I have even asked the question? Some students need to be full-time for either health or auto insurance purposes, or financial aid. Some health insurance carriers will make an exception to the “full-time” requirement if they understand the way our program is structured. Talk to the Internship Director if you think you might be in this situation. It seems to come up most frequently with students who are insured under one of their parents’ insurance plans.
With financial aid, some students may decide it’s worth signing up for more credits in order to continue getting the aid they’ve gotten in the past. The other concern is with student loans. If you drop below full-time status during the internship semester, is that going to trigger re-payment of your loan? Best to check up front rather than be surprised when your lender starts requiring monthly payments on your loan!
HOW SHOULD I DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF CREDITS I WANT?
Your first step is to check with your major advisor. That person should be able to tell you whether or not you can use any of the University Elective credits. I’m assuming virtually everyone should be able to use the first three credits in your major. Once you know how many credits will help you toward graduation, determine whether or not the health insurance or financial aid issues discussed above apply to you. Regardless of how many credits you put on the Internship Application form when you start your file in the Internship Office, you are free to change your mind – until you turn in the registration paperwork to Records and Registration!
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR THE INTERNSHIP?
When you accept an offer for an internship, notify the Internship Director immediately. When it comes time to pre-register for the internship, you will need to pick up paperwork from the Internship Office. Because this is a permission-only class, you won’t be able to register through the internet. Instead, you will pick up paperwork from the Internship Office, fill in a few blanks on the forms, and drop the forms off at Records and Registration (AS 118). If your internship is more than 50 miles from campus, you will be entitled to a partial refund of some of your student activity fees. The Internship Office should also be able to provide you with this form. The refund comes at the end of the internship, so you pay the full amount when tuition is due and then get some money back.
HOW IS THE INTERNSHIP GRADED?
The internship is a pass/fail class for undergraduates (letter graded for MBA students). The grade is based on the post-internship requirements which consist of the Internship Paper and Class Presentation. The guidelines and necessary evaluation form are located above. When you graduate, your final GPA is calculated without these credits. At the end of the internship, each student receives an IP for a grade (In Progress). Once the paper and class presentation are successfully completed, the grade is switched over to “S” (Satisfactory).
