Internships

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an internship?
Why should I intern?
How do I find an internship?
Should I apply for academic credit? What is the difference between for-credit and non-credit internships?
I want to apply for academic credit now. How do I apply?
How do I make the most of my internship?

What is an internship?

Theoretically, an internship is a carefully monitored work experience in which an individual has intentional learning goals. The individual must actively reflect on what is learned throughout the experience.

Internships provide:

• Academic learning - Apply knowledge learned in the classroom to the workplace.
• Career development - More thoroughly understand your field of interest while gaining real work experience
• Skills development - Understand and improve the skills required in the workplace, including decision-making and critical thinking skills.
• Personal development - Increase your confidence and build your self-esteem.

The important element that distinguishes an internship from a short-term job or community service is the intentional "learning agenda."

An internship is:

• A well-planned learning experience.
• A combination of career development and academic learning.
• An excellent way to prepare for life after college.

An internship is not:

• Getting academic credit for your current part-time job.
• Getting academic credit for a completely career-oriented experience.
• Making copies and getting coffee.
  

Why should I intern?

Pros:

• Define career goals while you try out a particular field.
• Gain valuable work experience and enhance your marketable skills.
• Earn academic credit while you work.
• See how your classroom education translates to the world of work.
• Establish references and networking contacts.
• Open doors to full-time employment after graduation.
• Build an impressive resume.

Cons:

• Time: You won't be able to watch "Primetime in the Daytime."
• Status: You won't start an internship as the president of a company.
• Balance: Your internship might take time away from other studies.
• Commitment: You can't bail on your internship just because you want to catch the game.
• Stress: You will be faced with many new situations.
• Study: You will have academic assignments to complete in order to receive academic credit.

Do you think the benefits will outweigh the work required? Then try it! Hundreds of interns will support your decision. The benefits received from completing an internship far outweigh the work associate

How do I find an internship?

Additional resources - If you are looking for an internship outside of the Atlanta area, the links on this page might be useful to you. See Career Services for additional assistance with your internship search

Should I apply for academic credit? What is the difference between for-credit and non-credit internships?

You should apply for academic credit if an internship is required by your major and/or if you want the internship listed on your transcript. Your internship must meet the requirements below to warrant academic credit and you must complete the registration/approval process by the deadlines as outlined each semester. Please note: Internships for credit carry the same cost per credit hour as a course for all semesters (fall, spring, summer).

Requirements:

You can earn four hours of academic credit provided that you have:

• Sophomore status (transfer students must complete one semester at Oglethorpe before beginning an internship for credit.)
• 2.0 GPA

If you wish to earn more than 4 hours of internship credit in one semester, you must file an appeal. Students who do not meet the 2.0 GPA or sophomore status requirements are not eligible to appeal.

Registration:
You must register for an internship before beginning the experience.  Why? Academic credit is awarded by your faculty supervisor.  If you don't have a faculty supervisor during your experience, you cannot receive academic credit.

Faculty supervisor:
You must arrange for a faculty member in your department to serve as your faculty supervisor. It does not have to be your academic advisor.  Your faculty supervisor will assign academic efforts appropriate for your internship.

Hours to be worked:
Interns must spend approximately 30 hours on site for every hour of credit received.  For 4 hours of credit, 10 to 12 hours per week must be spent on site, or 120 to 140 total hours.  Please see the chart below for details.

*Internship final papers must be five pages per credit hour earned (i.e., a 4 hour internship will yield a 20 page final paper).

Non-credit internships
You may complete an internship without receiving academic credit.  You still earn many of the benefits of having an internship, even if it doesn't appear on your academic transcript.

The internship requirements (2.0 GPA, sophomore status) are waived if you do not wish to receive academic credit.  You must still register your experience with Career Services (Emerson Student Center).

Non-credit internships may begin and end at any time. You need not structure your experience around the academic calendar or the drop/add dates.  However, you and your supervisor should agree on a suitable length of time.  At least three months is recommended.  Don't forget that internships should be learning experiences.  Do not lose sight of your academic and career goals just because you aren't receiving academic credit.

I want to apply for academic credit now. How do I apply?

Visit the How to Apply section.

How do I make the most of my internship?

Get Involved:

• Participate in company-wide events
• Attend different types of meetings and presentations
• Apply for/look for opportunities within the company
• Attend conferences offered to employees
• Ask for a directory and an organizational chart

• Tell me more about your job.
• Tell me about your career path up to this point. (Ex. Tell me about how you became a financial consultant with a degree in history.)
• What suggestions would you have for someone entering this field?
• Who else would you recommend I speak with?