Internships

Academic Internships

Earn academic credit for the time you invest gaining hands-on, high impact experience during an internship.

Definition of an Academic Internship

Students can earn academic credit for internships in most degree plans. These internships allow students to acquire field or on-the-job experience and are structured so that the students are encouraged to relate their classroom activities to their field experience.

Interested in completing an academic internship? Reach out to a member of the Internship team today or attend an upcoming Academic Internship Information Session.

Curious to learn about all of Southwestern’s internship programs, or have questions on where to begin with finding an internship opportunity? Attend an Internship 101 Information Session, hosted every Tuesday at 4 pm through November, 2023.

Get ready to network with employers by attending one of the Prepare for the Fair Information Sessions leading up to the fall 2023 Internship & Career Fair on October 17 from 11:00 am - 1:30 pm.

Contact us or make an appointment

Fall 2023 Information Sessions (All sessions are located in Prothro 233): CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

  • Wednesday, November 29, 4:00 - 5:00 pm (PRC233)
  • Tuesday, December 5, 12:00 - 1:00 pm (PRC233)

Academic Internship Process

BEFORE THE INTERNSHIP: We have a new application process for academic internships. If you are interested in doing an academic internship here are your next steps:

1. Please complete the Experiential Learning Application with (HireSU).

  1. Use SU email credentials to log-in
  2. Click on the Experiential Learning box in the upper left hand corner
  3. Add new application

2. Once your Experiential Learning application has been approved, you can submit an academic internship placement form.

Before you complete and submit this form, make sure to secure a faculty supervisor, an internship placement, and site supervisor. Also determine your learning objectives.

You will need to secure a faculty advisor from the department in which you are seeking academic credit. Start this process early as you may need to contact multiple faculty members, if your first choice is unavailable during the semester of your academic internship.

Need help finding an internship? Schedule an internship advising appointment with the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) here. Be sure to additionally attend CCPD’s upcoming professional development events, including the Internship & Career Fair, hosted every fall and spring semester.

You may also research internship opportunities on the university’s internship and job platform, HireSU, and/or connect with SU alumni in your professional field of interest on PirateConnect.

Once you find an internship, be sure to confirm a site supervisor at your internship location. This can be a direct supervisor or boss, but it must be someone who will work with you one-on-one as a mentor during your internship experience. They will need to agree to develop learning objectives with you as well as review timesheets and complete a student performance evaluation at the completion of your internship.

Notes to keep in mind about your placement form:

  1. You may begin your placement form even if you do not have all the required information and save it as a draft. Start this form early - it can be a work in progress as you gather all the required information for your academic internship.
  2. Once you submit your placement form, if additional info is required you will receive an email - please make edits and then resubmit it.
  3. Your placement form will be approved by your faculty supervisor and site supervisor.
  4. Once your placement form is approved, the Registrar will enroll you in the approved academic internship course number.

DURING THE INTERNSHIP: All internship site hours and tasks, along with the following additional activities, must be completed by the agreed-up deadline in order to earn academic credit for internships:

  1. Complete a timesheet log. (Exceptions to this policy are those students participating in the New York Arts Program, Washington Semester Program, or Texas Politics course.)
  2. Complete any additional activities required by your faculty supervisor, such as a journal, reflection paper, or research paper. 
  3. Complete the midterm and end-of-semester evaluations.
  4. Create a slide (template provided) detailing your experience, reflections, and what you learned from the internship. The Office of Internships will assist some students in turning these into a poster to be presented at the Research and Creative Works Symposium. (Students completing academic internships toward Paideia with Distinction must present in the Experiential Learning track of the Research and Creative Works Symposium.)
  5. If you are doing your internship for 4+ credit hours (except Psychology capstone students), complete an ePortfolio. Nine required ePortfolio assignments will be provided if applicable. 

International Internship

Students may receive funding through the Funded Internship Program if they are participating in an international internship that is offered as an approved internship abroad program. Students apply for programs through Via and must be approved by the Office of Study Abroad and International Student Services

International Students

International students (F-1 visa) may participate in an internship or training program only under  specific circumstances:

  • The internship or training must be an approved Academic Internship in the United States and the student must have approved CPT or OPT prior to the start of their internship or training. Students should consult with the Office of Study Abroad and International Student Services for assistance.
  • Or, the international student is participating in an internship or training program outside of the United States. In this situation, the international student is not eligible for the Funded Internship Program. To receive academic credit, the international student may participate in an approved international internship program and receive academic credit from a third-party provider (not directly from SU).