Academic Internships: 

The CSB/SJU internship experience 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 in various departments across the disciplines offered for study at CSB and SJU. Academic (for-credit) internships are a work/learning arrangement and constitute a three-way partnership between CSB/SJU, the host organization, and the student intern. The internship is usually the length or equivalent of an academic term, may be part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid. An integral component of the experience, which distinguishes it from other types of work, is one or more forms of structured and deliberate reflection contained within the required internship learning contract's goals and objectives. Internships are usually offered as DEPT 397. 

--adapted from Michael True's Internship-Net listserv definition created in April/May 2010.

1. On-Site Component. Academic internships at CSB/SJU would require students to complete a minimum of 40 hours on-site over the course of at least four weeks with increasing hours required on-site as credit hours increase (see Table 1 below). It is up to each academic department, under the purview of department chairs and faculty moderators, to determine whether or not minimum institutional policies are appropriate and/or allowed for credit-bearing internships within their discipline (or if requirements would need to be expanded). Further, institutional and department-specific guidelines for internships must frame experiences that continue to incorporate the learning goals. Lastly, students are also advised to check with their internship host organization to identify whether or not they will be required to complete more than the 40 hours over four weeks minimum required to earn one credit at CSB and SJU.
2. Academic Component. Students seeking academic internship credit must be able to demonstrate what they have learned at the internship site through complementary academic work (a.k.a. the "internship evaluation components," which should be outlined on their Learning Contract). Faculty moderators should assign evaluation components that are both fitting within their academic discipline, as well as appropriate for the number of credits sought. Academic work should increase as credit hours increase. It should be noted that typical internships are registered for academic credit in the amount ranging from 1-4 credits. To align academic internships with EX Designation requirements, evaluation components must minimally include either a weekly reflective journal or a final paper, as well as a virtual visit and internship reports outlined by The Experience Hub. Faculty members may assign both a journal and a final paper or other means of evaluation that could include: an annotated bibliography, portfolio, final presentation, regular meetings with faculty moderator, required readings, etc. For more information on registration and academic internship guidelines, please visit the Academic Internship page.

REVISED INSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR ON-SITE HOURS AND MEANS OF EVALUATION RELATED TO ACADEMIC INTERNSHIPS

Institutional Standards for On-Site Hours

Number of Credits	Minimum Total Hours On-Site	Minimum Internship Duration(Weeks)	Minimum Academic Component (Means of Evaluation)
1	40	4	Weekly journal or final, reflective paper
2	80	4	Weekly journal or final, reflective paper and additional coursework determined by faculty moderator and outlined on the learning contract.
3	120	4	Weekly journal or final, reflective paper and additional coursework determined by faculty moderator and outlined on the learning contract.
4	160	4	Weekly journals, academic paper (6-10 pages, citing peer-reviewed sources) or discipline appropriate assignment and final reflective paper
5	200	5	Weekly journals, academic paper (6-10 pages, citing peer-reviewed sources) or discipline appropriate assignment and final reflective paper and additional coursework determined by faculty moderator and outlined on the learning contract.
6	240	6	Weekly journals, academic paper (6-10 pages, citing peer-reviewed sources) or discipline appropriate assignment and final reflective paper and additional coursework determined by faculty moderator and outlined on the learning contract.
7	280	7	Weekly journals, academic paper (6-10 pages, citing peer-reviewed sources) or discipline appropriate assignment and final reflective paper and additional coursework determined by faculty moderator and outlined on the learning contract.
8	320	8	Weekly journals, academic paper (6-10 pages, citing peer-reviewed sources), or discipline appropriate assignment, final reflective paper, and a second, larger project (e.g., another academic paper, presentation or portfolio)

These are Academic Curriculum Committee approved guidelines, please consult with your faculty moderator for specific information.

Please note: Academic internships over eight credits are rare and the workload for such an internship would require correspondingly more hours of on-site and academic work. The terms of an 8+ credit internship will have to be negotiated with the sponsoring academic department and The Experience Hub.

Policies for F-1 Visa International Students (includes Graduate students).

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Requirement

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization is required for any off-campus activity that constitutes employment, whether paid or unpaid, and that is an integral part of an established curriculum.

For purposes of this policy, employment is defined as work performed for an external organization that provides a direct benefit to the employer, including internships, practicums, cooperative education placements, or similar experiences.

• Required Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
  • F-1 visa International students participating in practical experience(s) that are required for their major must get CPT authorization. Examples include student teaching (education) and clinicals (nursing).
• Optional Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
  • F-1 visa International students seeking to participate in a paid or unpaid internship in the U.S. must have CPT work authorization.
• Full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
  • Full-time CPT is not allowed while classes are in session. However, full-time CPT is allowed during the Summer break.

Service Learning and Academic Experiences

Participation in a service learning activity as part of a course does not require CPT authorization when all of the following conditions are met:

• The activity is faculty-directed and part of a graded academic course
• The primary purpose is student learning rather than providing labor to an organization
• The student is not placed in a formal role resembling an employee or intern
• The organization does not rely on the student to perform ongoing operational work
• The engagement is limited in scope and duration