An academic internship is a pre-professional work experience, sufficiently rigorous so that students earn credit for participation. Below you will find all the information you need to participate in—and earn credit for—an academic internship.

(Note: For junior accounting majors who are interested in a full-time, 14-week internship during the spring semester, please see Special Internship Programs for information about the Spring Accounting Internship program.)

Prerequisites

To participate in an academic internship, a student must have:
 
• full-time, undergraduate student status in the Villanova School of Business or business minor program
• sophomore standing (minimum 30 credits completed)
• a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 (note that some employers may require a higher GPA)

General Guidelines

Please review the following general guidelines regarding academic credit for internships. Click here to download a printable version of these Academic Internship Guidelines

• Credits earned: Students will earn three (3) free elective credits for successful completion of an academic internship. Note: An internship course fulfills free elective credit requirements only and does not fulfill major or minor credit requirements.

• Multiple internships: Students may complete more than one internship in the same academic discipline provided that the nature of the two experiences is significantly distinct, as determined by the faculty chair of the sponsoring academic area.

• Maximum number of credits: The maximum number of internship and CoOp course credits a student can use to fulfill graduation requirements is six (6).

• Credit approval: Students must secure academic credit approval and complete course registration before the internship commences. No academic credit will be awarded for an internship retroactively.

• Grading: Internships are graded by the faculty chair of the appropriate academic area on a satisfactory(S)/unsatisfactory(U) basis. An internship will appear on a student’s transcript according to the academic area by which it is approved.

• Study abroad: Internships that are part of a study abroad experience are administered by the Office of International Studies. Credit approval for international internships is granted by the faculty chair of the appropriate academic area or faculty coordinator of the international program.

• Compensation: Monetary compensation for an internship does not affect eligibility for receiving academic credit.

• Cost: Students registered for a summer internship course will incur a tuition fee (approximately $600) for the three free elective credits granted.

Registration Process

To participate in a VSB internship for academic credit, follow these steps:

1. Meet with the VSB internship/CoOp coordinator (Clay Center, Bartley 1054):
    a. Discuss interests and internship options
    b. Review academic requirements for credit
    c. Complete Student Internship Application/Agreement

2. Meet with a Career Counselor (Career Services Office, Corr 106):
    a. Prepare and refine resume
    b. Establish a GoNOVA account (Career Services' web-based recruiting system, formerly known as eRecruiting/Experience):
        1. Complete profile (i.e., personal info, academic info, career preferences, and continued academics sections)
        2. Upload resume(s) and post to resume book(s)
    c. Participate in Career Services' practice interview program

3. Explore and apply to internship opportunities via:
    a. Clay Center leads (check postings in GoNOVA and in Bartley 1054) 
    b. Career Services leads via GoNOVA postings*
    c. Personal/business contacts*
   
*Note: If the student pursues an internship lead not previously approved for credit by VSB, he/she must provide the VSB internship/CoOp coordinator with employer contact information so that appropriate information can be solicited for the academic credit approval process.

4. Meet with VSB internship/CoOp coordinator after accepting internship:
    a. Supply supervisor contact information for accepted internship
    b. Review academic requirements and timeline for completion
    c. Sign Student Internship Application/Agreement
    d. Complete registration for appropriate internship course

Registration Deadlines

Please review the registration deadlines for academic internships:

Course Requirements

Students participating in a VSB academic internship must complete the following requirements. Click here to download a printable version of the Academic Internship Course Requirements.

• Time: Students must complete a minimum of 150 work hours over the course of a single academic semester or a minimum 8 week summer period. NOTE: accounting internships require a minimum of 320 work hours over the course of the spring semester (as a participant in the Spring Accounting Internship program) or a minimum 8 week summer period.

• Learning Objectives form: In conjunction with an internship supervisor, each intern will establish three to four learning objectives to provide focus to the internship experience. A learning objectives form must be completed, initialed (by intern and company supervisor), and forwarded to the Clay Center within the first two weeks of the internship. Download the Learning Objectivesform.

• Daily Activity Log: Interns must maintain a Daily Activity Log to record dates worked; number of hours completed; nature of projects, tasks, and responsibilities; and the relationship of each activity to the established Learning Objectives. Supervisor will initial the log on a weekly basis. Download the Daily Activity Log .

• Final Paper: Interns are required to complete a 10–12 page final paper documenting:
    o nature of the internship work (projects, assignments, responsibilities)
    o process of meeting Learning Objectives
    o relationship of intern experience to past and/or future academic coursework
    o insights gained in regard to industry, profession, leadership styles, etc.
    o possible professional opportunities and impact on student’s career interests
    Note: Intern must include name, phone number, name of company, and internship title on a cover sheet. Appendices may be attached that are outputs of completed work.

• Evaluation: Intern will complete a Student Evaluation form to help determine the effectiveness of the internship experience, including assessment of work load, quality of supervision, professional development, and the overall quality of the internship experience. Download the Evaluation form.

Submission Deadlines

Due dates for submitting Daily Activity Log, Final Paper and Student Evaluation are: