Gaining Academic Credit for your Work/Internship/Volunteer Experience

There ARE ways to get credit for your internship experience abroad; you just need to take the initiative to find them.   Here are some steps you can take:

1. Within most majors, there are “Internship” and “Independent Study” classes (usually a 390-399 level class), look on your major or minor’s website to find out if it has these options.
2. Make sure this class can fit in your schedule, and in your major/minor.
3. Find a professor in the department who would be willing to do an Independent Study or Internship with you.  You WILL need a professor as an advisor.
4. Tell them you are interested in interning abroad, and see if they are willing to work with you to make your internship a class in which you can gain credit.
5. This may mean that there will be extra work your professor requires of you, such as papers and reports, during your internship-but its well worth it!

**If you take your internship during the summer, and obtain credit for it, you WILL have to pay tuition over the summer to obtain this credit.

**To avoid this, there are ways to have your internship over the summer while the class is technically in the Fall or Spring.  If you have the room in your schedule, sign up for the “Internship” or “Independent Study” class in either the Fall or Spring, this then will be when you meet with your advising professor to discuss either what is expected of your summer internship or asses the internship you have already done.   Talk to your advising professor about this option.