Internships
Whether a student chooses a full-time internship during a period spent away from campus or a part-time internship near campus during the academic year, the experience provides an opportunity to combine theory learned in the classroom with real-world practice. It can be especially beneficial in the current job market, in which many organizations seek new college graduates who have experience or who can show evidence of superior internship performance.
Academic departments offer credit- bearing internships that are supervised by a faculty member in the department. The faculty member can help a student devise a plan for an internship experience that not only builds upon the student's academic preparation but also relates to the student's skill development and career interests. Resources in the Career Center Library include directories of internship opportunities in the United States and abroad and copies of internship proposal forms submitted by former students.
A total of eighteen semester hours of credit through a combination of internships, independent study, and/or senior thesis is permitted. A maximum of ten hours of internship credit is possible.
In order to participate in an internship, the student must:
- Be in good academic standing (minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA);
- Have completed at least 32 credits;
- Have completed all other prerequisites required by the supervising departments;
- Present to the internship coordinator a well-developed and completed internship proposal form prior to the last day to add an internship for the semester in which the internship activity occurs.
For more information on Internships, including instructions on submitting the internship request, visit the Internships page.
Independent Study
A student may take a course by independent study. An independent study is viewed as an "adventure in scholarship." In most cases an independent study involves an in-depth look at a topic introduced in a current course or a study of a topic not covered by a current course offering. A student who wishes to take a course by independent study should consult both the professor who logically would be the study supervisor and his or her faculty adviser.
The Independent Study Proposal Form is available on the Forms, Resources & Policies page of the Registrar's Office under the Registration area. A total of eighteen semester hours of credit through a combination of internships, independent study, and/or senior thesis is permitted. A maximum of ten hours of internship credit is possible.
In order to participate in an internship, the student must:
- Be in good academic standing;
- Have completed their first year;
- Submit the Independent Study Proposal form by the semester deadline for adding courses, should a student wish to count the experience toward LO1 of the general education requirements, they should articulate how the independent study provides an experiential learning opportunity and additionally submit the form to their advisor and the General Education Advisory Committee;
- Present to the selected study supervisor a well-developed idea to study in-depth or a task to investigate;
- Work closely with the study supervisor to delineate the appropriate bibliography.
In order to earn four credits (maximum allowable), for an internship, the student must:
- Deliver a written, visual, and/or oral presentation, equivalent to one prepared for an advanced level course. Time and topic are to be mutually decided by the student and the study supervisor for completion of the study;
- Report weekly to the study supervisor to discuss progress made in the study;
- Complete an evaluation of the independent study experience at the end of the semester based on guidelines mutually determined by the student and the study supervisor.