How To Earn Academic Credit for Internships
Qualified students, usually in their junior or senior year, may receive credit from cooperating departments for an approved program that provides an opportunity to apply and expand knowledge under expert supervision for an on-campus or off-campus position. These internships should provide a structured learning experience and must be approved in advance by the department and evaluated by a William and Mary faculty member.
- Business majors and minors can go through the School of Business to arrange for academic credit.
Academic credit is awarded for a project that incorporates the hands-on experience of the internship but which also includes an analytic or research component, and a final, written report. Individual departments determine the number of credits in an academic internship that may count toward the minimum number of credits required in a concentration. Normally three hours are awarded, but in exceptional and approved cases a department may award more. No more than six credits in academic internships may be applied to the 120 credits required for graduation.
The Steps You Must Take
- Secure internship with site supervisor's agreement.
- Get approval from faculty member in relevant academic department -- must agree on research project to be graded by participating faculty member. (If interdisciplinary, students can approach the Charles Center, [[jxschw, Joel Schwartz]], Blow Memorial Hall, for advice)
- Get the internship credit application form from [[dcreyes, Dorothy Reyes]], Administrataive Assisstant to Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, Ewell Hall 123. This form is available on-line as a pdf document.
- Complete form and return to Dorothy Reyes' Office, 123 Ewell Hall.
- Students undertaking internships that will take them away for a semester or year should notify the Office of the Dean of Students before beginning the internship.
- International students who receive payment/academic credit should contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs concerning F-1 and J-1 visa requirements.