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Credit-Based Internship Program Undergraduate Policies & Guidelines
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Mount St. Mary’s University
Credit-Based Internship Program for Undergraduate Students
Policies and Guidelines
(Last Revised 6/3/2020)
What is an internship? .................................................................................................................... 2
Program Overview .......................................................................................................................... 3
Undergraduate Student Eligibility .................................................................................................. 3
Criteria for Approving an Internship Site ........................................................................................ 3
Administration of Internship Program (with Roles and Responsibilities) ..................................... 3
Student ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Employer / Site Supervisor ....................................................................................................... 4
Faculty Sponsor ........................................................................................................................ 5
Department Chair...................................................................................................................... 5
Internship Coordinators / Career Center Staff ......................................................................... 6
Credit Approval Process ................................................................................................................. 6
Internship Credit and Assessment Guidelines ............................................................................... 6
Grading System .............................................................................................................................. 7
Internships Outside of a Student’s Major or Minor ....................................................................... 7
Tuition ............................................................................................................................................. 8
Campus Residence ......................................................................................................................... 8
Internship Course Codes and Department Phone Numbers ......................................................... 8
Appendix A: Credit-Based Internship Learning Agreement
What is an internship?
“An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the
classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give
students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional
fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate
talent.”
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
Position Statement: U.S. Internships, July 2011
"An academic internship is a form of experiential education that integrates knowledge and theory
learned in the classroom with practical application and skill development in a professional setting.
Students earn academic credit, or there is some other connection to a degreegranting, educational
institution. This work/learning arrangement is overseen by a faculty or staff member of an educational
institution and by a designated employee of an organization. The internship is usually the length or
equivalent of an academic term, may be parttime or fulltime, paid or unpaid. An integral component of
the experience that distinguishes it from other types of work is one or more forms of structured and
deliberate reflection contained within learning agendas or objectives."
Formulated by subscribers to the InternshipNet Listserv May 2010
Credit-Based Internship Program Undergraduate Policies & Guidelines
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Program Overview
The Credit-Based Internship Program at Mount St. Mary’s University works to increase the knowledge,
skills, and experiential growth of Mount students as they bridge and expand their academic progress
with career preparation and career development needs.
Through this program, Mount St. Mary’s University allows students to earn academic credit for
experiences performed on or off campus related to academic and career areas of interest which involve
training and responsibilities appropriate for further education. These experiences are designed to
provide opportunities to explore career plans, to apply knowledge learned in the classroom and to
experience a working environment within the field of a student’s interest. An internship may be full-time
or part-time for the duration of a semester, a winter session, or summer. Students may register both
paid and unpaid internships for credit.
Undergraduate Student Eligibility
Students who wish to register an internship for academic credit must complete a Learning Agreement
Form and meet the following criteria:
1. Meet credit and GPA requirements listed in the table shared here:
2. Meet any department internship prerequisites.
3. Not be on academic or disciplinary probation.
4. In addition to the above criteria, students must have successfully completed at least one full-
time semester at the Mount prior to the start of the internship experience.
5. Continuing Education and Warriors to Workforce students may register no more than 18 total
semester credits during the same time of an internship.
6. In the event that a student does not meet all eligibility criteria, a student may petition the Career
Center and the appropriate academic department with just cause and reason for seeking a
requirement waiver.
(Note: please see the “Graduate Internship Policies and Guidelines” document for information
pertaining to graduate student eligibility and requirements)
Criteria for Approving an Internship Site
The faculty sponsor and the department chair, in consultation with Career Center staff, evaluate
internship and employment possibilities. Job descriptions, knowledge of the work environments, and
evidence of educational commitment on the part of the employer form the basis of this evaluation. In
order to approve a particular internship or job for credit, the Career Center and faculty sponsor must be
reasonably confident that:
1. The work will provide a considerable learning experience related to the student’s major or career
interests.
2. The student will be given meaningful and challenging duties and responsibilities.
3. Supervision on-the-job will be consistent and ongoing.
4. A family relative will not supervise the student.
Administration of Internship Program
The internship program consists of multiple individuals and roles, including
students, site supervisors (employers), faculty sponsors, department
chairs, Career Center staff, and academic administration. The
responsibilities, expectations, and interactions with these roles include
the following:
Amount of Earned Credits
Required Minimum GPA
45 or more
2.0
0-44
3.0 and permission from academic
department
Student
MSM
University
Employer
Credit-Based Internship Program Undergraduate Policies & Guidelines
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Administration of Internship Program (Continued)
Student Responsibilities:
The student who enters the internship program to receive credit is responsible for meeting all
requirements. These requirements include the following items:
1. Meet with Career Center staff as often as needed to discuss interests, identify possible
internship opportunities, develop a resume (if needed), or determine suitability of an internship,
etc.
2. Select a faculty sponsor and complete a Learning Agreement (Appendix A) through the
following:
Meet with the employer (site supervisor) to discuss internship schedule, projects, and
other expectations of the student during the internship experience.
Meet with the chosen faculty sponsor to discuss learning objectives, specify number of
credits to register, and determine assignments/assessment criteria.
Plan methods of communication during the internship, as well as meetings or possible
site visits by the faculty sponsor during the course of the experience.
Obtain all approvals and signatures on the Learning Agreement, i.e. student, employer,
faculty sponsor, department chair, and Career Center.
3. Return the completed Learning Agreement to the Career Center by the stated deadline for
submission. Credit approval is not final until validation of all registration requirements and the
Career Center notifies the Registrar’s Office.
Students are recommended to pay careful consideration to the cumulative semester
course load and discuss individual circumstances with Career Center staff, the
Registrar’s Office, and the Accounting and Finance Office if needed.
4. Fall and Spring Semester Internships:
Attend the Internship Start-Up Meeting hosted by the Career Center. This is where the student
will receive an Internship Confirmation Packet.
Summer Internships:
Students must confirm receipt and review of the Internship Packet in lieu of the Internship Start-
Up Meeting.
The Internship Confirmation Packet shall include:
Sexual Harassment Training Module Information
Student Confirmation Checklist contains a checklist of due dates for each individual
student
Mid-term Student Report used to aid the student in evaluating the experience
Mid-term Performance Evaluation a form the site supervisor will use in evaluating the
student intern during the internship.
Final Student Report used to aid the student in evaluating the experience
Final Performance Evaluation a form the site supervisor will use in evaluating the
student intern at the end of the internship.
Work Hours Log
5. Complete internship along with all assignments or matters specified in the Learning Agreement.
A student will receive a grade of F or Incomplete if requirements are not met before the end of the
academic semester or session.
Employer/Site Supervisor Responsibilities:
Credit-based internships would not be possible without the help and assistance from employer partners
and internship supervisors who offer internship opportunities, take the time to work with student interns,
and provide further experience to increase skills and knowledge development of students. Mount St.
Mary’s University values the efforts of these individuals and sets forth the following expectations for
internship supervisors:
1. Agree to participate in the experiential education/internship program (signified by the signing of
the Learning Agreement).
(continued on next page)
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Employer/Site Supervisor Responsibilities (Continued):
2. Provide the student intern with a challenging and meaningful learning experience to
complement the program of study, which will expand the student’s understanding of the field
and work environment.
3. Assist the student in considering learning objectives as well as goals set within the internship
experience time frame.
4. Provide the student with any necessary training and supervision to ensure that learning
objectives and appropriate ethical, safe practices are met.
5. Communicate as needed with Mount St. Mary’s University personnel during the course of the
internship, particularly with Career Center staff and student’s faculty sponsor.
6. Complete the two required evaluations of the student’s performance at appropriate midway and
end points during the internship.
7. Reserve the right to discharge the student for just cause after consultation with Career Center
staff.
8. Abide by the Department of Labor Standards for Internships, including Fact Sheet #71:
Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act.
9. Agree not to concurrently act as both a faculty sponsor and site supervisor for the same student
(if supervisor is a Mount St. Mary’s University faculty member).
Faculty Sponsor Responsibilities:
The role of the faculty sponsor in maintaining academic excellence is a critical one. All academic
courses at the Mount are developed with the expectation that certain goals and objectives will be
attained; internship programs are no exception. Although internships are conducted in the field and not
in a classroom setting, they are learning activities and a specific part of a student’s total academic
experience. In fact, it is not the job itself where credit is earned, but the learning that results from
working in the internship.
The Faculty Sponsor will:
1. Serve as a liaison between the student, the department chair, and Career Center staff.
2. Agree not to concurrently supervise the student for an internship (as a site supervisor) and
assume the role of faculty sponsor for the same student.
3. Meet with the student to prepare the Learning Agreement. At minimum, this will include:
Establishing learning objectives.
Scheduling required progress report meetings (faculty are also encouraged to schedule
a site visit).
Specifying, in writing, the criteria by which the student’s grade will be determined.
4. Meet with the student at scheduled times while the experience is in progress. The purpose of
these meetings is to see that the student’s progress toward completing the requirements, stated
in the Learning Agreement contract, is satisfactory.
5. Review the students mid-term and final evaluative forms provided by Career Center staff.
6. Perform the evaluation procedures specified in the Learning Agreement at the end of the
experience, and submit a final grade to the Registrar’s Office according to standard procedures.
Department Chairperson Responsibilities:
1. Develop criteria for determining which students are eligible to register for internship credits in
their particular department. These criteria will include:
The standard eligibility criteria listed in the “Undergraduate Student Eligibility” section of
this document.
The maximum number of credits that may be counted toward the major.
Any other criteria that are deemed necessary in order to maintain the academic quality
and standards appropriate to the discipline, such as prerequisite courses, program
objectives, and guidelines for the types of programs that are acceptable for credit in that
department.
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Department Chairperson Responsibilities (Continued):
2. Be responsible for maintaining the academic standards of the programs for which credit is
awarded in the department. This will include:
Ensuring that an appropriate faculty sponsor has been chosen by the student for each
program and will help the student reach his/her learning objectives.
Approving the Learning Agreement prepared by the student, employer, and faculty
sponsor.
Communicating with Career Center staff when there are issues, questions of
appropriateness, or updates to department requirements.
Career Center staff will:
1. Maintain a list of potential sites and resources to help students with an internship search.
2. Work with faculty and employers to expand the current list.
3. Assist and advise departments and faculty sponsors as necessary.
4. Develop and maintain the Learning Agreement and all formal program documents.
5. Instruct and inform students about application and registration procedures.
6. Assist students in identifying appropriate positions.
7. Review and approve agreements between students, the university, and employers.
8. Submit all credit information to the Registrar’s Office on a timely basis.
9. Submit to the Human Resources Office a finalized payroll list of faculty sponsors at the end of
each semester.
10. Maintain all student internship records.
Credit Approval Process
In order for a student to register academic credit for an internship experience, the student must follow
the following process.
1. The student must search, apply for, and obtain an internship experience that has a learning
focus and be oriented towards the internship definitions listed in this document (the position
may be called a full- or part-time position, seasonal work, or specified as an internship).
2. Once the position is obtained (the student has received confirmation and is hired for the
position), the student must complete the Credit-Based Internship Learning Agreement form,
available online at the Career Center’s website www.msmary.edu/career and
https://www.msmary.edu/internships) and begin gathering information to complete the
Learning Agreement.
3. Ideally, the student will first fill out their “Student Information”, then proceed to fill out the
“Internship Site Information” and “Internship Description / Learning Objectives” sections while
being in conversation with their internship site. Upon the completion of the section and
obtaining the signature of the site supervisor, the student will then proceed to the “Faculty
Sponsor and Course Information” section. Discuss with the chosen faculty sponsor the number
of credits, how the internship will fit within their academic schedule, and any “Grading Criteria”
which the faculty sponsor will assign.
4. Once all areas of the form and signatures are collected, the student must meet with or speak
with appropriate Career Center staff to review the Learning Agreement. The credit-based
internship is not finalized until Career Center staff approve and send the information to the
Registrar’s Office for processing.
5. The Career Center then forwards the information to the Registrar’s Office for official course
registration if all registration information is in order.
6. Students exceeding normal semester credit hours and registering overload credits must obtain
permission from the associate provost.
Internship Credit and Assessment Guidelines
Guidelines for determining the number of credits that can be earned for an internship experience have
been established to ensure that a standard university policy may prevail. As part of this, each academic
department has final approval of the number of credits permitted for each internship experience and
reserves the right to further limit the number of credits allowed towards major requirements.
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Internship Credit and Assessment Guidelines (Continued)
A student may earn up to a total of twelve (12) credits for internship experiences, with the exception of
any students participating in the Mount in Washington Internship Program, who may earn up to fifteen
(15) credits. The department chair is also responsible for setting the guidelines on how many credits are
allowed to be earned for a major’s requirement. In all instances, a Learning Agreement must be
completed for each internship experience where credit is being earned. Submitting the Learning
Agreement Form for a credit-based internship does not guarantee approval. Career Center staff will
make every effort in guiding students to appropriate internship and academic requirement solutions.
All internships will meet the following criteria:
1. A minimum of forty (40) hours of work with the internship site is required for each credit hour.
Additional work hours do not automatically constitute additional credits. There cannot be a
reduction in credit if the minimum hour requirement is not met. Instead, a faculty sponsor may
allow the student to receive an Incomplete until the minimum amount of hours are completed
or assign a final grade which includes a reduction commensurate with the incomplete
requirements.
2. The quality and quantity of work to be completed for each credit must be clearly specified in the
Learning Agreement. To the extent possible, this should be comparable to the work demand of
a regular college course of equal credit value.
3. The range and complexity of the internship work should be consistent with the academic
standards expected at the college level.
4. The student will complete and return a Mid-term Student Report at a designated time near the
middle of the internship and a Final Student Report at the close of the experience. The site
supervisor will also complete a Mid-term Performance Evaluation and a Final Performance
Evaluation. Both the Internship Report and the Performance Evaluations will be returned to the
Career Center by a set deadline date. These evaluations will then be sent to the faculty sponsor
to contribute to the overall grading process.
5. Faculty sponsors are asked to be in regular contact with the interns they are sponsoring. The
Career Center suggests a weekly or bi-monthly meeting take place either in person or via email
or phone. This is to ensure that the student is completing the academic work required as well as
to ensure that there is academically-based learning going on during the course of the internship.
6. No credit will be granted retroactively for internship experiences. All arrangements for credit
must be completed prior to the start of the internship experience and before the registration
deadline date. Credits registered for an internship experience may not be applied to a
subsequent semester.
Grading System
Each department will develop its own criteria for assigning grades for internship programs, subject to
approval by the Associate Provost.
These criteria should include the following:
1. Internships will be processed on a Letter Grade basis
2. The methods of evaluation to be used, in addition to the required time, student report, and
employer evaluation forms listed above, may include oral and written reports, journals,
presentations, special projects, final exams, or other appropriate methods.
Internships Outside of a Student’s Major or Minor
Ordinarily, it is expected that internship experiences will involve work related to the student’s major or
minor. However, in cases where it is clear that the student will benefit from work experience in some
other field, the student may apply for such an experience. In this case, the student should meet with a
Career Center staff member to discuss the internship plans. Afterwards, Career Center staff and the
student will correspond with the academic departments relating to the student’s major and the potential
internship experience.
Credit-Based Internship Program Undergraduate Policies & Guidelines
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Tuition
Internships for credit are a course, and as such, credits earned through an internship must abide by
university requirements for tuition and fees.
Credits earned during a regular semester as part of the full-time, sixteen (16) hour maximum are not
billed separately. Credits earned in excess of 16 credit hours are billed at the supplemental tuition
rate and require permission from the associate provost (see Overload Credits in Academic Catalog).
Summer semester/sessions are distinct terms. All credits earned for this period are billed at the
summer term rate and include a comprehensive fee. Summer internships are processed in the
Summer III Session.
Campus Residence
Students engaged in a full-time work experience off-campus and carrying 12 or more credits may retain
campus residence. Students carrying less than twelve (12) credits during a regular semester may not
live on campus. Students engaged in internship assignments and living away from the campus are
eligible for campus housing the following semester, although specific rooms or apartments cannot be
guaranteed. There will be no penalty for breaking a housing contract in order to accept a Career Center
approved, credit-based, full-time internship position. Students participating in a summer internship and
are not taking any on-campus summer courses may apply for housing. For more information
concerning housing opportunities, please contact the Residence Life office.
Undergraduate Internship Course Numbers (phone numbers begin as 301-447-####)
COURSE CODE
DEPARTMENT / MAJOR
COURSE CODE
Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business (x5396)
College of Liberal Arts (x7435)
Accounting
ACCT 480
Communication (x5367)
COMM 480
Business (including
business concentrations)
BUS 480
English (x5365)
ENGL 480
Economics
ECON 480
Foreign Language (x5322)
Information Systems
IFSY 480
French
FREN 480
Sport Management
BUS 480
German
GERMN 480
Entrepreneurship
ESHIP 480
Italian
ITALN 480
Spanish
SPAN 480
School of Natural Science and Mathematics (x6826)
History (x5375)
HIST 480
Mathematics and
Computer Science (x5291)
Philosophy (x5368)
PHIL 480
Computer Science
CMSCI 492 or 493
Political Science (x5374)
Mathematics
MATH 492 or 493
International Studies
IS 480
Cybersecurity
CYBER 480
Philosophy, Political
Science, Economics
PPE 480
Psychology (x5394)
PSYCH 480
Political Science
PSCI 480
Science (x5376)
Sociology (x5373)
Biology
BIOL 480
Criminal Justice
CJUST 480
Chemistry
CHEM 480
Human Services
HS 300 / HS 400
Environmental Studies
BIOL 480
Sociology
SOC 480
Health Sciences
BIOL 480, PSYCH 480,
or SOC 480
Theology (x5370)
THEOL 480
Visual and Performing
Arts (x5308)
Division of Education (x5371)
Visual & Performing Arts
FAAR 480
Education (non-teacher
internship)
EDUC 399
Music
FAMU 480
Theatre
FATH 480
Please type or print neatly to complete the Internship Learning Agreement. Then, acquire the necessary signatures for internship approval.
The Internship Learning Agreement should be submitted to the Career Center by the deadline stated at www.msmary.edu/internships.
INTERNSHIP SITE INFORMATION
INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION / LEARNING OBJECTIVES
FACULTY SPONSOR AND COURSE INFORMATION
Credit-Based Internship Learning Agreement
Mount St. Mary’s University Career Center
STUDENT INFORMATION
Date:
Student ID: (the six numbers following the zeroes on the back of the student ID card)
Last Name:
First Name:
Middle Initial:
Mailing Address During Internship (Street, City, State and Zip Code):
Mount Email Address:
Telephone Number:
Major(s) or Program:
Concentration / Minor (if applicable):
Anticipated Graduation Date:
Organization Name:
Organization Website:
Site Supervisor Prefix:
Site Supervisor: (Person directly supervising you during internship)
Site Supervisor Title:
Site Supervisor Telephone:
Site Supervisor Fax:
Site Supervisor Email:
Is the supervisor a Mount
alum? Yes No
Site Address: (site supervisor’s business address)
(Street, City, State and Zip Code)
Average Weekly Work Schedule:
(number of days and hours)
Compensation: (e.g. hourly,
stipend, unpaid, etc.)
Type of Internship:
(check one)
Off-Campus
On-Campus
Virtual
Start Date: (month, day, year)
End Date: (month, day, year)
How did you find your internship? Career Center
MountHired
Family/Friends Faculty Website Independent Research
Describe the internship responsibilities, projects, or tasks the student will have. (Please provide typed attachment if additional space is needed.)
Describe what learning objectives and goals the student has for the internship. (Please provide typed attachment if additional space is needed.
This section should be completed by the student under the guidance of the faculty sponsor and/or the site supervisor.)
Faculty Sponsor:
Department/Program:
Department Telephone:
(301) 447-
Semester and Year of Internship:
Course Number:
Number of Credits: Please mark this box if any of these
(minimum of 40 work credits will be overload credits.
hours is required per credit) (see academic catalog for more info)
GRADE CRITERIA (TO BE COMPLETED BY FACULTY SPONSOR)
Criteria / Assignment:
Mid-term and Final Student Internship Reports, Mid-term and Final Evaluations from Supervisor, and Work Hours Log
Percentage:
Criteria / Assignment:
Percentage:
Criteria / Assignment:
Percentage:
Criteria / Assignment:
Percentage:
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Learning Agreement - Page 2 of 2
Student Agreement
1. Keep enrollment in a degree program at Mount St. Mary’s University.
2. Report any changes in schedules or any event which prevents the fulfillment of responsibilities to employer, faculty
sponsor, and the Career Center.
3. Not terminate the internship before the agreed upon date without prior approval of the employer, faculty sponsor,
and the Career Center.
4. Maintain frequent contact with faculty sponsor, satisfy all the requirements established by the faculty sponsor, and
return all forms and evaluations by the stated deadlines.
5. Pay the appropriate fees for the number of credits registered.
6. Understand that wages are not entitled while in this internship unless it has been stated and agreed that the
internship is a paid internship.
Student Signature:
Date:
Site Supervisor Agreement
1. Provide the student with a challenging and meaningful learning experience as outlined in the internship description.
2. Provide the student with any necessary training and supervision.
3. Communicate with the Career Center during the course of the internship when appropriate.
4. Complete the required two evaluations of the student’s performance (midway through and at the end of internship).
5. Reserve the right to discharge the student for just cause after consultation with Mount St. Mary’s University.
Site Supervisor Signature:
Date:
Faculty Sponsor Agreement
1. Meet with student prior to the start of the internship to establish learning objectives, grading criteria, and the number
of credits to be registered.
2. Be available to guide and counsel the student in relating his/her internship experience to the educational program.
3. Visit or communicate via phone or email with the student and the employer to discuss the student’s progress.
4. Meet with the student to evaluate the experience and the end of the assignments.
5. Assess the students grading criteria and follow proper procedures in reporting a final grade.
Faculty Sponsor Signature:
Date:
Department Chair / Program Director
I have reviewed the Learning Agreement as prepared by the student, employer, and faculty sponsor, and approve of
what has been set forth in it.
Department Chair Signature:
Date:
Submit Learning Agreement to the Career Center when the above signatures and dates are complete.
Career Center Internship Coordinator
I have reviewed the Learning Agreement as prepared by the student, employer, and faculty sponsor, and approve of
what has been set forth in it.
Career Center Internship Coordinator Signature:
Date:
ALL sections must be completed in order for the Career Center to process your internship!
Mount St. Mary’s University Career Center - McGowan Center Phone: (301) 447-5202 Fax: (301) 447-5243
16300 Old Emmitsburg Road Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Email: CareerCenter@msmary.edu
Last updated: April 3, 2020