Independent Study and Internships

Independent Study

Opportunities for independent work are available through all college departments. A student, with the approval and consent of a faculty member, may enroll for independent study provided that the following guidelines are observed.

Application forms, which describe the independent study project, are available from the Registrar's Office. The form must be completed and filed with the registrar prior to beginning the work.

• All applications for independent study must be co-signed by the student, the student's advisor, the faculty member who will assign the final grade, and the appropriate department chairperson.
• A student may not enroll for more than 3 credits of independent study in any one session without the permission of the Curriculum Council.
• Independent study does not substitute for regularly scheduled course work.
• A faculty member may refuse to supervise an independent study project only with the permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
• A faculty member may, at the beginning of an independent study project, require that the work be done on a Pass-Fail basis.
• Work done on a Pass-Fail basis will not count toward requirements for a major, minor, or general graduation. See Pass-Fail Option regulations under Policies and Procedures.

Internships

Internships are planned, structured, supervised experiences that enable students to develop skills for organizing information and solving routine problems expected of professionals in a given discipline. Internships offer off-campus learning experiences that engage students in the practical application of academic knowledge. Communication, teamwork, and leadership skills are often tested and honed within an internship/employment setting.

Some internships are already established; some are designed by students. Internships are offered every term, including summer. When it is clear that the experience will require an integration of knowledge from the classroom with work experience, then academic credit may be earned. Past students have interned with state and national government agencies, local hospitals, veterinarians, doctors, newspapers, television stations, and high-tech and finance companies.

Internship credit is offered by most college departments. Students may enroll for internship credit provided the following guidelines are observed:

• As part of the application process, students first meet with staff in the Center for Experiential Learning (CEL) to determine their readiness for an internship opportunity and to discuss likely internship prospects. At that meeting the student will be provided with an application form.
• After the student has located an internship host, the student finds a faculty member who is willing to supervise the academic portion of the internship experience. The completed application must be on file with CEL and the registrar before the internship begins.
• Normally, no more than 3 credits may be earned with any one internship host. However, institutionalized, nationally recognized summer internships may be eligible for 6 credits with the approval of supervising faculty, departmental chairs, and the director of CEL. Year-long internships may also be eligible for 6 credits with the approval of supervising faculty, department chairs, and the Director of CEL.
• Generally no more than a total of 6 internship credits of are allowed in the undergraduate program. Where 6-credit internships have been approved, no more than a total of 9 internship credits are counted toward the 124 credits required in the undergraduate program.
• CEL will request a standardized written evaluation of the student intern from the host agency and provide a copy for the faculty supervisor's files. Some academic departments may request additional evaluation forms from the host.
• Each student intern is required to complete both faculty and CEL requirements before a grade is posted.
• Students must register for internships in the term in which the internship work is scheduled to begin. Summer-term internships are charged separately from Fall and Spring terms.