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What Is An Internship?
Internships are hands on experiences that relate to a specific major or career interest and usually involve training and responsibilities for which the student has already completed appropriate coursework. An internship may be full-time or part-time for the duration of a semester or summer. Internships are often non-paid although a stipend or some pay may be provided by some organizations. Students may receive college credits for an internship.
Why Do An Internship?
Internships:
- Are the best way to get an inside view of a company, an industry, and try out a career field.
- Offer an opportunity to apply what you have learned in the classroom to the "real" world.
- Offer on-the-job experience, which builds your resume and makes you more marketable.
- Provide the opportunity to network and gain professional mentors.
- Can provide academic credit toward your degree.
- May lead to permanent employment with an employer.
How Do I Get Started?
- Attend an Internship Information Session click to view schedule or view the presentation on-line - click here .
- Meet with your advisor, department chair, or Career Center staff to discuss what you want to learn from an internship.
- Determine if you want to earn academic credit. If so and you meet the eligibility requirements. Then see How Do I Apply For Academic Credit.
- Begin to research internship opportunities.
The following is useful information for your internship search:
- Search internship postings on College Central.
- Review internship books, postings, and company files in the Career Center.
- Attend area and on-campus Internship and Job Fairs.
- Network with Mount Saint Mary’s alumni, friends, family, professors, etc.
- Search the Internet by visiting company websites or internship search websites such as:
Here are some helpful internship search/application tips:
- Narrow your choices to 5-10 organizations.
- Prepare a resume and cover letter.
- Schedule a videotaped Mock Interview with the Career Center to practice your interviewing skills.
- Write a thank you letter after all interviews.
- Follow up with the organization to check on the status of your candidacy.
- Accept or decline offers within a reasonable time period.
- Contact other employers with whom you have offers pending, to thank them and to tell them that you have accepted another offer.
Am I Eligible To Earn Academic Credit For An Internship?
To earn academic credit for an internship, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be a junior or senior (freshmen and sophomores may not apply unless they officially designated their major and obtained the approval of the Dean of Academic Services)
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better
- Meet the department internship prerequisites
- Not be on academic or disciplinary probation
- Transfer students must have successfully completed at least one full-time semester (12 credits) at the Mount prior to the start of the internship, in addition to meeting the above criteria
How Do I Apply For Academic Credit?
To apply for academic credit for an internship, students must meet the eligibility requirements and complete the following steps:
- Review the Experiential Education Policies and Guidelines.
- Select a faculty sponsor and discuss your plans with him/her.
- Search for, and secure an internship placement.
- Complete a Learning Agreement upon securing an internship. Or print a pdf.
- Submit the Learning Agreement, with all signatures, to the Career Center at least three weeks prior to the start of the semester during which the internship will take place.
Students are responsible for ensuring that all information on the Learning Agreement is complete and accurate. Failure to submit the completed Learning Agreement by the final add/drop deadline date of the semester during which the internship takes place will result in credit being denied.
Note: Learning Agreements for students requesting credit outside of their major will need to be approved by the Dean of Academic Services.
What About Tuition?
Internships for credit are considered a course, and as such credits earned through an internship must be paid.
- Credits earned during a regular semester as part of the full-time 16 hour maximum are not billed separately. Credits earned in excess of 16 credit hours are billed at the supplemental tuition rate.
- Summer semester is a distinct term and all credits earned for this period are billed at the summer school rate and will include a registration and technology fee. Students must complete a summer school registration form for internships taken during the summer.
Where Do I Go For Assistance?
Please feel free to contact the Career Center at x5202 if you have any questions or need assistance at any stage of the process.
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