An academic internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theories learned in the classroom with practical application and skill development in a professional setting. Students earn academic credit and are evaluated according to a job description that is incorporated into a course.
Internships are overseen by a faculty member and by a designated employee of the host organization. Academic learning objectives are integral to the internship, distinguishing them from volunteer positions or jobs.
Internships are a critical part of your educational experience and provide the following benefits:
Note: Students must be enrolled in an internship course while actively interning to earn academic internship credit. Internship credit cannot be retroactively applied to a non-credit internship experience.
Students in concentration programs (Corrections & Reentry, 21st Century Policing and Victim Services) are required to complete least a 3 credit internship (CJS 444 - must be related to CJ).
Minimum requirements to intern include: completion of and a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the following courses: CJS 111, CJS 411 and CJS 433.
It is strongly recommended that students complete a full-time, 16 credit internship as a number of CJ-based organizations require a full-time internship for entry level positions (e.g., corrections). A full-time internship (12-16 credits) equates to 400 hours (25 hours per week). The remaining 13 credits can be used as elective or upper-division university credits.
Internship duties cannot be the same as duties performed for current employer. Special projects may be considered.
1 to 11 credits = 33 hours interned per credit/per semester (i.e., 3 credits = 99 hours interned per semester).
12-16 credits = 400+ hours interned per semester (Fall/Spring = 25+ hours interned per week; Summer = 33+ hours interned per week).
Please see School of Public Affairs Internship Process and Guidelines listed above for additional guidelines and internship approval process.
Internship credits range from 1-12 (ECON 444). A maximum of three credits may be applied to the major's elective credits with others applying as general electives.
An employment letter on letterhead is required with a description of duties/responsibilities. Internship duties cannot be the same as duties performed for current employer. Special projects may be considered.
3 credits = 160 hours per semester. Most ECON internships are 3 credits.
Please see School of Public Affairs Internship Process and Guidelines listed above for additional guidelines and internship approval process.
Credits range from 3-16. 3 Credits count towards the major.
Internships are required of all majors. Students complete a minimum part-time internship (20 hours per week).
Credits range from 1-12
Internships are required of all majors. Students complete a full-time internship (40 hours per week), which equates to 3 credits (unless approved by internship faculty advisor).
Credits range from 1-12
600 hours = 6 credits (required per major requirements)
Students must be admitted into the Hospitality and Tourism Major (students with a HTSM minor are not eligible), must maintain a 2.50 GPA, must have earned a ‘C’ or better in ALL HTSM classes, must have completed a minimum of 60 university credits prior to the first day of the internship.
Political Science students can take 3-9 internship credits (POL 444), however, only 3 will count toward degree requirements, while the other 6 credits may count toward general University electives.
Students must be at least junior (90+ earned credits) to intern. Political Science will not grant credit for prior experience that has been completed. An internship should provide students with a new, challenging experience.
Minimally, a student should have completed 60 hours of the 120 required to complete a bachelor’s degree prior to interning.
Please see School of Public Affairs Internship Process and Guidelines listed above for additional guidelines and internship approval process.