►Earning Credit: If you plan to earn UMF credit for your internship, first consult with your academic advisor about whether or not an internship can be integrated into your major/academic program and how many hours you will need to work/intern to earn the credits you seek. Some (but not all) academic departments use the 1:32 ratio, meaning one credit will be awarded for every 32 hours of internship work. How the hours are tallied is determined by your academic advisor. Be advised that you will need to pay UMF for any credits you earn. You also will need faculty approval for any credits you earn, meaning a faculty member (your advisor, perhaps) will have to determine whether or not the project(s) you are undertaking as part of the internship are credit-worthy. Counselors at the Center for Human Development cannot serve as faculty advisors for internship credit, nor can they approve internship proposals for credit. If you do not need the credit to graduate or as a requirement of your major, keep in mind that graduate schools and future employers are not concerned with whether or not you earned credit during the internship. In other words, earning credit does not legitimize an internship in the eyes of graduate schools or future employers. The skills and experience you derive from the internship are more important. A CHD career counselor may be able to provide internship contact information to match your interests. You are solely responsible for contacting the internship site supervisor directly – by phone or e-mail -- to arrange an interview and make any inquiries about A) whether an internship is available, B) the job description for the internship, C) whether the internship is paid or unpaid, and D) what the hours and duration of the internship will be.

►LIA 396 Option: If your academic department's internship options prohibit you from earning the number of credits you seek (generally the maximum is 15 credits), then you are encouraged to consider earning up to 15 internship credits through LIA 396 Field Work and Experience, which is available to students majoring in programs within UMF's College of Arts and Sciences. (In other words, earning internship credits through LIA 396 is not an option for students majoring in programs within UMF's College of Health, Education, and Rehabilitation Services.) Learn more about the LIA 396 option and view the LIA 396 internship application.

►Timing and Credits: If you are seeking academic credit for your internship, you must obtain faculty approval and register for the credit (through the Registrar’s Office) BEFORE you begin the internship. No academic credit will be awarded for internships that have already been completed.

►Financial Aid and Internship Credit: If you plan to earn academic credit for an internship during the summer and are planning to request consideration for financial aid (to help pay UMF for the credits you wish to earn), contact the UMF Financial Aid Office.

►Pay and Internships: UMF takes no position on whether or not students can be paid during internships, unless otherwise noted by departmental regulations. However, any arrangement for compensation must be made between you and the sponsoring organization. A career counselor cannot inquire about compensation or negotiate the terms of compensation on your behalf. Be advised that the potential downside to being paid during the internship is being treated more like an employee than an intern. Unpaid interns may have a somewhat special status, meaning it’s easier for them to move about within an organization to job shadow others, participate in a variety of projects, and even leave work early once in awhile to meet other academic obligations. A paid intern may have to make up the hours spent job shadowing someone in another department.

►The Career Counselor’s Role: A CHD career counselor can offer you suggestions for what internships are available, where you can look for internships, and how you can apply for internships. A career counselor can advise you on how to prepare your resume and cover letter that probably will be required for the application process, and how to prepare for the interview that also probably will be required. However, a CHD career counselor cannot “place” you with companies/organizations or guarantee you an internship with a company/organization. You must apply for internship opportunities much the same way you would apply for a job. The search for an internship requires the same research skills and patience for sorting through information that are required for academic assignments in your classes. It is up to the company/organization to determine whether or not you are qualified for the internship and will be hired as an intern. Housing and transportation needs associated with the internship are your responsibility.