Ready to gain experience beyond the classroom?
CGS internships connect your academic experience with real-world work, helping you build skills, explore career interests, and make professional connections. Whether your internship is required for your program or you are pursuing one for the experience, we’ll help you understand the process from finding an opportunity to earning academic credit.
Who Can Enroll?
Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements before enrolling in an internship course.
To enroll in an internship, students must:
- Be in good academic standing with an overall GPA of at least 2.0.
- Have completed at least six credits in the major and 55 credits toward the degree. Completion of 12 credits in the major is sufficient to waive the 55-credit degree requirement.
Academic Credit for Internships
Your internship becomes an academic experience through coursework, reflection, and evaluation.
You must be registered for an internship course while completing your internship in order to earn academic credit.
Internship courses include formal and reflective writing, journaling, and analysis of your work experience and its connection to your academic and career goals. Class workshops and group discussions provide additional opportunities to reflect on your experience and develop your skills.
The following rules apply:
- One to three credit hours may be granted for an internship, with up to six credits available with special permission.
- Credits and grades are based on both the hours spent at the internship and the academic work completed.
- Grades are reported as S (satisfactory) or NC (no credit).
- A maximum of six internship credits may be used toward requirements in a major.
- Three additional internship credits may be applied toward graduation, for a maximum of nine internship credits counted toward graduation.
- A faculty member must sponsor the internship. For CGS 1900, PUBSRV 1900, and NPHS 1900, the sponsoring faculty member is the internship course instructor.
Planning your internship? Use our Internship Checklist to make sure you complete the necessary steps to secure your internship and receive academic credit.
Internship Approval
Before you begin, your internship site and responsibilities must be approved for academic credit.
To be considered for approval, an internship must:
- Have clear relevance to your academic program.
- Include duties and responsibilities appropriate for university credit.
- Provide a new learning experience that deepens and broadens your knowledge and skills.
- Be supervised by a qualified individual at the internship site.
Your site supervisor must agree to supervise the internship and complete the appropriate section of the CGS Internship Agreement.
Additional Site Requirements
Some internship sites may require additional screening or clearances before you can participate. Depending on the site, you may need:
- A criminal background check
- ACT 33/34 clearances
- A drug screen
Requirements may vary by site and may affect your eligibility to participate. Some professional licenses and employment opportunities may also require disclosure of certain criminal or substance-related offenses.
Internship Waiver Appeals
Internship waivers are granted only under exceptional circumstances and require approval by an Assistant Dean.
Students considering a waiver must first meet with their CGS advisor to determine whether a waiver is a viable option and to review the documentation required for an appeal.
Waiver requests are reviewed by the CGS internship committee on a case-by-case basis and are not automatically granted. Requests must be submitted one term in advance, and the review process may take one to three weeks.
Students are responsible for submitting all required documentation and securing any necessary letters of reference. An appeal will not be considered until all supporting documentation has been submitted.
Students who receive a waiver must make up the required credits by taking an elective course in their field of study.
CGS Internship Waiver Appeal Form