Center for Career Development - Internships

Internships provide an opportunity to

• Gain valuable work experience and mentoring before graduation
• Develop new skills and refine others
• Apply coursework knowledge to on-the-job situations and reality-test tentative career choices
• Build relationships with professionals and establish contacts for future networking and letters of reference
• Experience new work environments

• Search on Handshake, Industry Job Platforms, or any job search platform. When you find a posting you like, go to the employer's site to learn more and apply through their preferred channel.
• Use filters and a variety of job search terms on any platform to view relevant postings.
• Search On Campus and Community Partner Internships by typing "Mville Internships" into the Handshake job search bar!
• Book an appointment with CCD and attend CCD events and workshops for guidance on materials preparation, networking, LinkedIn and more!

• Students are encouraged to pursue internships at any time during their college or graduate school years
• Internship application deadlines are typically noted in job postings.  

Yes! Enrolling in an Internship for Credit formally connects classroom and workplace learning to enhance both experiences.

• Internships for Credit must be approved through Handshake Experiences prior to the academic term in which they take place.
• Check published submission deadlines for Credit Approval Requests.
• Approved Undergraduate Internships for Credit are registered as a 4497 course. The 4497 code exists for all academic departments.
• Approved 4497 Internships may fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement or a Major Elective credit as long as the student achieves a High Pass (70% or higher) grade on a HP/P/F/I scale. Students should consult their academic advisor to learn how their internship fits into their degree program.
• Approved Graduate Internships for Credit are registered as a 5597 course. The 5597 code exists for all Graduate level academic departments.
• Undergraduates: a maximum of 9 credits may be applied to the degree.
• Graduates: See your program director for guidance on the maximum number of internship credits allowed toward your degree. 

Verify Eligibility

• Undergraduates are eligible to request academic credit for an internship when they are full or part time matriculated students who have completed a minimum 30 credits and declared their major.
• Undergraduate Internships for Credit must align with the student's major or minor, (major-only for F-1 Visa holders). Contact Program Directors regarding program-specific Undergraduate requirements and/or stipulations.
• All Graduate students are eligible to pursue an Internship for Credit that aligns with their program. Contact Program Directors for program-specific Graduate criteria and/or stipulations.

Explore & Apply

• Prepare your resume and practice interviewing
• Explore internships on Handshake and other platforms
• Consult your program chair, your networks, and CCD
• Secure an internship

Submit for Approval

• Gather academic goals and job description
• Confirm start/end dates, total hrs, # of credits
• Directly request your Faculty Supervisor
• In Handshake Experiences, select "Submit an Experience" to complete your request for credit approval

Manage Timelines 

• Build in preparation time and submit early
• Final Handshake submission deadline

Fulfill Internship Obligations

• On the job (overseen by the Worksite Supervisor)
• In the 4497/5597 syllabus (overseen by the Faculty Supervisor)
• Through Handshake (complete the digital evaluations submitted by CCD through Handshake)

Approval Request Workflow

1. Student acquires internship
2. Student directly requests their Faculty Supervisor (Faculty Supervisors must be full-time faculty within the student's program of study)
3. Student submits Request for Credit Approval form in Handshake Experiences (Select "Submit an Experience")
4. CCD reviews request, collaborates with Student and Faculty Supervisor, and initiates electronic approval process
   • Required Approvals: Worksite Supervisor, Faculty Supervisor, SAS Dean/Graduate Program Director, (and OISS for International students)
5. Worksite Supervisor reviews submission, Employer Affiliation Agreement, and agrees to terms (electronic approval required). Student must communicate with Worksite Supervisor to facilitate this step.
6. Faculty Supervisor reviews electronic submission, vets learning objectives and academic criteria, and approves or declines internship. (When a Faculty Supervisor declines, they communicate their concerns directly to the student.)
7. SAS Dean/Graduate Program Director reviews and provides approval of the Internship for Credit Request
8. CCD relays approval status, next steps, and registration instructions. 

Important
All Students: Please do not register for the internship in student planning until notified by CCD.

International Students: OISS approval is required as the first and last step in the process. Allow time for paperwork and compliance submissions.

To submit an experience for credit approval please do the following:

Verify your eligibility. (See above and direct all additional eligibility questions to your division chair or advisor or CCD.)

Required Information for submissions:

• Name of organization
• Complete street address of organization
• Name, title, and contact information for your Worksite Supervisor
• Internship start and end dates
• Weekly internship hours (Weekly hours X internship weeks = total internship hours. The total must meet the minimum required hours for the # of credit(s) requested) 

40 hours = 1 credit
80 hours = credit
120 hours = 3 credit

• Name of your Faculty Supervisor (This person oversees the 4497 syllabus. Students must request a Faculty Supervisor directly. See CCD if you need assistance.)
• Detailed job description
• 2-3 academic learning objectives
• 2-3 workplace skills you expect to learn

Review the 4497 and 5597 syllabi for detail on these roles. 

• Undergraduates are eligible to request academic credit for an internship when they are full or part time matriculated students who have completed a minimum 30 credits and declared their major.
• Undergraduate Internships for Credit must align with the student's major or minor, (major-only for F-1 Visa holders). Contact Program Directors regarding program-specific pre-requisites, requirements and/or stipulations. 
• All Graduate students are eligible to pursue an Internship for Credit that aligns with their program. Contact Program Directors regarding program-specific criteria and/or stipulations.

Learn more about eligibility, the credit approval process, and compliance on the International Students web page.

After the Internship for Credit is approved, the Registrar’s office and CCD load the course into Service Hub and you will be notified by CCD when you may register.

Note: Do NOT register until notified by CCD. Prior to registering be sure to double check that the 4497/5597 course in Student Planning reflects your requested number of course credits.

• Undergraduate student tuition covers up to 19 credits per term, fall and spring (21 for Castle Scholars and Performing Arts majors). If the 4497 course fits into a standard Fall/Spring student credit load, there is no additional fee. Internships for Credit in summer term must be paid for per credit.
• Graduate students pay per course/per credit every term. This includes Internships for Credit. 

During the semester of the internship, students must work a minimum of 40 hours per credit earned.

• 40 hours is equal to 1 credit
• 80 hours is equal to 2 credits
• 120 hours is equal to 3 credits

Please refer to the deadline information at the top of the page.

NOTE:

• Internships for Credit Approval Request forms open in Handshake Experiences approximately 8 weeks prior to the start of the target term.
• On the Handshake Experiences page, select "Submit an Experience" to complete the digital request form. 
• Internships for Credit Approval Request forms must be submitted on Handshake Experiences by the published deadlines.

• Immediately update your Faculty Supervisor and the Center for Career Development.
• If the Worksite Supervisor cannot provide an alternative or a remote project, the student will work with the Faculty Supervisor to pivot the experience to a project aimed at fulfilling the student’s objectives.

Book an Appointment with CCD

Follow us on Instagram @mvilleccd for news and events

Contact the Center for Career Development - careers@mville.edu

• Identify a full-time faculty member in the degree program in which you will pursue an Internship for Credit.  

• In person or by email, reach out to them to let them know you have secured an internship. Briefly describe the internship, the timing (which term), and ask them if they are available to please Faculty Supervise your experience.   

• It is also useful to share the link to Internship for Credit information with them.  

• If you have any difficulty identifying a full-time faculty member in your program, contact CCD and we will assist with the process.