• An objective of a modern, liberal arts education is to help students choose a career. Internships assist students in exploring options.

• Professional experience during undergraduate education enhances students' ability to find employment upon graduation, and improves on-the-job performance.

• The possibility of earning credit for internships makes it more likely that students will take advantage of these opportunities.

• Internships allow students to explore career possibilities in areas where the College does not have formal academic programs (i.e. journalism).

• Federal labor laws may prohibit companies from employing students in unpaid positions unless they receive academic credit. Failure to allow credit for internships might, therefore, exclude our students from beneficial opportunities.

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• Students may do internships for academic credit or pay, but not both. An internship may also be pursued for neither if the experience is especially valuable to the personal development of the student.

• An internship completed for credit requires a faculty sponsor. Academic advisors and professors fill this role, as they are best able to foster the relevant value of an internship to a student's education.

• Internships (whether for credit, paid or for the experience) are tracked and administered by the Career Center.

• Registration in an internship for credit is conditional upon satisfactory completion of the Learning Agreement, and submission of this form to the appropriate parties. Credit is granted only after all objectives, activities, and requirements outlined in the Learning Agreement are met.

• Work required in the internship contributes to the student's academic and/or professional development and includes more than administrative or clerical activities.

• Credit ranges from 1-3 units. Units awarded correspond directly to the hours spent in work activities. For a typical 3-unit internship experience the student is expected to work 8-10 hours per week for 13-14 weeks. (Registration for 1 or 2 units is possible for internships that require less work time.) Summer internships may have a shorter duration with a corresponding increase in the number of hours worked per week.

• Students may complete internship work over a summer, and receive credit during the subsequent semester. The Learning Agreement must be filed and faculty approval must be obtained prior to beginning work at the internship site.

• Internships for credit should require written work to be reviewed and evaluated by the faculty sponsor. The assignments should be specified in the Learning Agreement.

• Students may count no more than 6.0 credits of internship credit toward the 120.0 credits required for graduation. Students may not receive more than 3.0 credits of internship credit in any semester.

• Most departments and programs do not permit students to count internships toward their majors or toward advanced unit requirements. Students should consult with their advisors to determine how best to receive credit for internships.

• Internships are offered credit/no credit only (no graded option)

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• Work with the student to complete the Learning Agreement. Special attention should be given to the evaluation section. The faculty sponsor determines how the student will demonstrate that the internship merits Washington University academic credit.

• The Learning Agreement must be completed within 2 weeks of the internship's start date. It is signed by the student, faculty sponsor, site supervisor, and finally, by the Career Center.

• Advise the student to enroll in the proper course to earn credit. This may be a departmental course designated for internship credit or general education course created for this purpose. Enrollment for credit should take place during the semester the student is in the internship, or, in the case of a summer internship, in the subsequent semester.

• Meet with the student periodically, or correspond via e-mail, throughout the internship. Be a resource if problems arise. The Career Center staff is available to assist you. Please refer students who need help in finding an internship or contact us if we can assist in completing a Learning Agreement.

• Lastly, please encourage students to inform the Career Center about their internships. Students may report their internships online at www.careers.wustl.edu. This strengthens our ability to coach future students. We are also willing to contact specific organizations where you feel your students might benefit from internship experiences.

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