Congratulations on finding an internship! Now what?
Consider registering your internship for academic credit. Why?
- The experience will appear on your academic transcript.
- You will be supported by a Wooster mentor, who can provide you with guidance.
- Academic reflections help you articulate what you learned and how you can move forward in your professional journey.
How to Register an Internship for Credit at The College of Wooster
1. Find a Faculty Mentor:
- If you are interning during the academic year or winter break, your mentor may be your academic advisor or another faculty member.
- If you are interning during the summer, your mentor is your academic advisor.
2. Work with your Faculty Mentor to Develop your Internship Learning Plan:
Your internship learning plan has 2 parts: learning objectives and the list of academic work that you’ll do to reflect on the experience. For example, you might keep a weekly log of your activities, complete an internship journal and reflection paper, and discuss supervisor feedback with your mentor.
3. Gather the information you’ll need to complete the registration form:
You will need your internship learning plan and information about your internship:
- Name and location of organization
- Supervisor name, title, and contact information
- Start and end dates and the number of weekly work hours
- Position description
4. Complete the Appropriate Internship Registration Form with your Faculty Mentor:
For Internships during the Fall or Spring Semester (including over Winter Break), fill out the Register for an Academic Year Internship form with your faculty mentor. Things to know:
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- If you are interning during the semester, you will register for Fall or Spring. You’ll do the internship and academic work simultaneously.
- If you are interning over winter break, you will register for Spring. You’ll do the academic work after the internship.
- Some departments prefer (or require) students to register for departmental 410 (e.g., DATA 410 or URBN 410). Check with your faculty mentor.
- Choose the amount of credit based on the amount of time at the internship site and the amount of time you will spend on academic work. Use this as a general guideline:
- 0.25 credit internships require at least 45 hours on-site, 2-3 meetings with the faculty mentor, and a final paper (or equivalent project) of 3-5 pages
- 0.5 credit internships require at least 75 hours on-site, about 4-6 meetings with the faculty mentor, and a final paper (or equivalent project) of 4-6 pages
- 1.0 credit internships require at least 140 hours on-site, 8-10 meetings with the faculty mentor, a final paper (or equivalent project) of 8-10 pages, and a syllabus
For Summer Internships, fill out the Register for a Summer Internship form with your faculty mentor. Some things to know:
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- You will register for a 2-course sequence:
- Summer – IDPT 41500 Summer Internship is the 0-credit summer internship experience.
- Fall – IDPT 41002 Summer Internship Seminar is a 0.25-credit first-half course in which you’ll reflect on the summer experience.
- Both IDPT41500 and IDPT41002 must be completed to earn credit for the internship.
- Summer internships require a minimum of 160 hours in the experience.
- The deadline for summer internship registration is June 30.
- The IDPT41500/IDPT41002 sequence is free. If you’d like to register for a credit-bearing summer internship, this will incur fees based on the number of credits.
- You will register for a 2-course sequence:
After you submit your form, approval emails will be sent to your faculty mentor, advisor, and department chair. Notify them to check for these forms, as they may end up in junk email folders.
5. Send your On-Site Supervisor the Internship Agreement Form to confirm their participation and support.
6. If you are an International Student on an F-1 visa, complete the necessary paperwork from International Student Services (ISS) before starting the internship.
7. If you will be residing off-campus and completing an in-person internship, fill out the Safety Form to ensure your well-being during the experience.
!!! Your registration is only complete once all approvals are received.
!!! Ensure all approvals are obtained before beginning your internship.
The Associate Dean for Experiential Learning is Here to Help:
If you have questions about registration or would like to discuss internships for credit, contact Dr. Pollock by email or during APEX drop-in hours on Wednesdays from 1:30–4:00 pm (Walk-in Wednesday).
Policy on Internships for Credit at The College of Wooster:
A structured, usually off-campus experience, in which a student extends classroom knowledge to a work position within a community, business, or government organization. Student interns work and learn under the joint guidance of a host organization supervisor and a College of Wooster mentor. The student must arrange the internship in advance through the appropriate department or program. No more than six internships, and a maximum of four Wooster course credits, will count toward graduation. (.25-4 course credits). Prerequisite: The approval of a College of Wooster mentor, department chair, the faculty adviser, and the Associate Dean for Experiential Learning is required. May be repeated. S/NC Annually.