PURPOSE: To receive academic credit for work experience. 

WHEN: Usually in the Junior or Senior year. Freshman students may not enroll for internship credit.

NOTES: Credit for non-specific internships is given through formal departmental courses. Please contact your major adviser for information about internship possibilities in your major. Internship courses are normally listed as a 495 course in the department.

In some cases, internship credit can be awarded for internships outside of a student's major. Please contact the Director of Center for Academic and Career Success Anthony Chiappetta at chiappetta@cua.edu for more information.

A limit of 6 credits in internships may be counted toward the undergraduate degree. An exception to this limit may be made for 6-credit parliamentary internships within study-abroad programs.

A given internship may be counted as only one course. Students cannot receive credit for two courses for the same internship, even if it extends over two semesters.

Minimum Cumulative GPA required: 2.5. Individual departments may set higher GPA requirements.

FORMS: None.

PROCEDURE: The student must be working at the internship site during the semester (or summer session) when credit is awarded. Credit for internships cannot be given retroactively. The same deadlines for enrollment apply as for all other courses in the given semester or summer term.

For credit to be awarded, the following procedure must precede registration for the course.

The student develops the internship opportunity with the organization offering it. The student should consult the internship coordinator in the relevant CUA department early in the process. Once accepted by the internship organization, the student meets with the departmental internship coordinator to arrange to enroll for credit. Only the coordinator may approve registration for the formal internship courses.

Specific criteria must be met for an internship to qualify for academic credit. These include on-site supervision as part of an established internship program, and a minimum number of hours on-site (approximately 170). Departments may set additional criteria.

NOTE: A student cannot receive credit simply for a part-time or summer job. The work must be part of an established and supervised internship program by the offering institution.

If a particular off-campus experience cannot be handled as an internship, a student may be able to arrange an Independent Study course with an interested faculty member. (Consult the section of this handbook on Independent Study.)

NOTE: Internships and practicums in the Departments of Education that are part of the major program are not covered by these procedures. Consult with your departmental adviser for further information on handling those experiences.

FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact your department.

Reviewed August 9, 2021