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• 1 academic credit = a minimum of 45 hours of work, although some departments do go over the minimum (Faculty Senate Procedure #201.35)
• 3 internship credits are needed to meet your graduation requirement.
• Up to 6 internship credits can be applied toward graduation as either major requirements or elective credit.
• Credit can be offered as a Traditional Grade or as Credit/No Credit depending on the requirements being met.
• An electronic override is needed for the student to register for the course on Cyberbear to get credit.
• Internships and internship credit are offered each semester throughout the academic year.
• All internships taken for credit must be submitted via the Experiential Learning Agreement located on the Experiential Learning and Career Success website.

Academic Credit - Students at the ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú are able to earn academic credit for internships. Often internships relate directly to majors offered at UM and may require additional work such as a research or writing component. You must seek a faculty from your major to oversee your internship and grant you credit.

Student internships for credit require supervision at the internship site and academic support from the Internship Coordinator. (Note: Typical 03 credit internships = total 135 internship hours per semester) The following outline briefly defines three key internship roles and responsibilities. 

The Student

• Complete application paperwork and submit to the Internship Coordinator during the last weeks of the current semester. (Internship begins at the start of the next semester)
• Obtain the internship Job Description from the Site Supervisor.
• Develop and discuss Learning Objectives/Goals with the Internship Coordinator and Site-Supervisor. Collaborate with site supervisor on at least one goal.
• Complete online the official Learning Agreement contract with Experiential Learning and Career Success. The Agreement will be formally approved by both the Site Supervisor and the Internship Coordinator before the internship begins.
• Perform the responsibilities outlined in the Job Description and engage professionally.
• Regularly meet with the Site Supervisor to gather feedback, discuss ideas, present questions - and if needed note concerns.
• Maintain an Hour and Journal Log that is reviewed and signed weekly by the Site Supervisor.
• Submit an evaluation provided by Experiential Learning and Career Success during the final weeks of the internship. Results will be shared with the Internship Coordinator for grading. 
• Submit a four-part final portfolio to the Internship Coordinator at the end of the semester.

The Site Supervisor

• Develop and provide a Job Description for the internship. Discuss the roles, duties, expectations, and opportunities within the experience.
• Sign the Internship Application as part of the application process.
• Discuss internship Learning Objectives/Goals with the student. Help student design one goal.
• Review and electronically approve or reject the Learning Agreement contract.  
• Set up semester work schedule and responsibilities.
• Review and sign intern Hour/Journal Logs weekly.
• Assist the student in the attainment of the Learning Objectives/Goals outlined in the Learning Agreement.
• Provide an internship orientation and consistent mentoring and feedback to the student.
• Evaluate student interns’ performance at the end of the internship. Evaluation will be emailed to the supervisor during the last several weeks of the internship. Evaluation results will be shared with the Department of Experiential Learning, and Internship Coordinator for grading.

The Internship Coordinator

• Discuss Learning Objectives/Goals with student intern. 
• Grant  for internship to allow student intern to register for credit.
• Review and electronically approve or reject the Learning Agreement contract.  
• Provide support to the student and site-supervisor as needed/requested during the internship.
• Review completed intern and supervisor evaluations at the end of the internship.
• Grade the internship: final portfolio and submitted evaluations

*Download This Document*

The Internship Registration Steps and Requirements Checklist is an important guide to use when working through the application process. Please discuss this with the internship coordinator and complete Steps 1-8 prior to scheduling an appointment for final registration.

• CHECKLIST

Please complete your Internship Application in full before scheduling an appointment to complete the final step in your internship registration process. (Note: Internships require a registration override from the internship coordinator.)

• INTERNSHIP APPLICATION

To earn full academic credit, students compile and submit a 4-part portfolio at the conclusion of their internship. The detailed version of portfolio requirements and the course syllabus will be made available when students are registered. A condensed version of the portfolio requirements is listed below.

Part 1: Learning Objectives   Interns review and reflect on their three SMART goals/Learning Objectives. 

Part 2: Literature Review    Interns choose a piece of peer-reviewed literature related to their internship experience, cite and reflect on the article, then submit a response to specific questions. 

Part 3: Internship Evaluation  Interns are asked to evaluate three things: their contribution as an intern; the agency/internship-site; and the School/IPAT. 

Part 4: Appendices Weekly journal and hour logs as well as additional supporting material are included in the appendices.

These sessions will prepare you for your internship search, provide an overview of the application process and address questions you may have!

Identify your career interests. Think about what you are interested in, what you enjoy or areas of your field that you would like to know more about. It's Ok to have broad interests at this point. After you have identified your interests, choose a couple to research and pursue as possible internship opportunities. Use the Internship Checklist (link above) to guide you through the application process.

Start searching for an internship site as soon as you can. The earlier the better. We recommended you meet with a faculty mentor or the internship coordinator to think through your internship ideas and options. Review the list of previous internships to help generate ideas.

Find out who you need to talk to about internships. Then telephone, email, or visit employers in your career areas of interest and inquire about possible opportunities. Be prepared to give a 60-second introduction that sells your skills (i.e. education, previous experience, professionalism, organizational or leadership skills) and explains how you can be of value. Have a brief handout with your contact information ready and accessible to give or email your site contact. Set a date to follow up with the organization - then follow up!

Indeed.com has a great little summary of ways to ask for an internship. Here it is: 

When you find an internship that fits, work with your prospective site-supervisor (the individual who will supervise you) or the on-site internship coordinator to construct a job description for the semester. There are many examples of this on the internet.

Set up a meeting with the Internship Coordinator, Holly Cummings. (Schedule appointments with the at top of page or email Holly at holly.cummings@mso.umt.edu.) Be prepared to ask questions and discuss your internship. After you have decided upon your internship meet with your Faculty Mentor. They will review your internship and sign the Internship Application.

Complete the Internship Application and items on the Checklist then schedule an appointment to submit the final paperwork to the Internship Coordinator, Holly Cummings (Schedule appointments with the at top of page or email Holly at holly.cummings@mso.umt.edu).

You may begin your internship once you are registered, and your Learning Agreement has been submitted.