Internship
Berea College supports experiential education opportunities for students in the form of internships, and defines an internship as a supervised, credit-bearing, career-related learning experience in the workplace that allows students to apply knowledge acquired through their classes and studies to practical situations and problems. Such experiences promote engaged learning by helping students find connections between theory and practice, between learning in the classroom and learning outside the classroom, and between their academic interests and potential career possibilities.
Process and Learning: Berea's internship experiences are intentionally designed to include reflection and assessment to optimize learning. A student participating in an internship will meet with their faculty sponsor prior to the experience and develop an Internship Proposal. Throughout the internship the student will submit reflective journal entries to the faculty sponsor. At the end of the internship the student will be evaluated by the internship site supervisor, complete a summative evaluation of the experience, submit a final paper, give an oral presentation, and receive a final grade.
Academic Course Credit: Upon successful completion of an internship, students typically earn one course credit and meet the Active Learning Experience requirement. Up to three of a student’s total course credits may be earned through internships. However, an internship may not be used to meet the Practical Reasoning (PR/PRQ) or any Perspective Area in the General Education Program. Internships are registered using a department rubric and are numbered 395 or 495 (i.e., ENG 395, CSC 495 with 495 being reserved for more advanced experiences or capstones). To be considered for course credit, internships must:
- enable exploration related to the student's educational and/or career interest
- provide the opportunity to gain skills and experience relevant to a possible career choice
- be approved by the student’s Faculty Sponsor(s), Academic Advisor, Department Chair, Study Abroad or International Advisor (if applicable), and the Internship Director.
Eligibility/Hours/Timeline: Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, who are not on probation, are eligible to participate in internships. Internship experiences are typically full-time in the summer and part-time in the fall or spring based on the following parameters:
- Summer: 35-40 hours per week for 8-10 weeks, with a minimum of 300 total work hours
- Fall/Spring: 12 hours per week for 15 weeks, with a minimum of 180 total work hours
Students should begin researching and identifying potential summer internships in the fall term, so they will be aware of early employer application deadlines (some are as early as September or October, although most are in January and February). To be prepared to apply for internships, it is recommended that students utilize the varied resources provided by the college for resume and interview preparation (online tools, workshops, and individual appointments).
Prerequisites and Additional Information: Students who wish to participate in an internship should complete the Internship Agreement and the self-paced online Internship Prep Course by early February deadlines. The modules of the Prep Course walk through options for identifying and applying for internships, as well as the proposal process for receiving credit and funding. The deadline for submission of Internship Proposals is in mid-April.
Pay/Funding: Internship employers are encouraged to provide some form of compensation to student interns, such as an hourly wage, a stipend, housing, meal cards, or transportation passes. However, if the employer is unable to offer compensation, or can only offer partial compensation, the College will help cover related student expenses for up to two summer internship experiences, subject to availability of funds and in accordance with policies. No funding is available from the Office of Internships during fall or spring terms. In order to obtain funding from any campus program, the internship must bear academic credit and be approved by the Office of Internships.
Prerequisites and Additional Information: Students who wish to participate in an internship should attend each of the prerequisite information sessions, Finding or Creating Your Ideal Internship, Applying for Internships and How to Receive Credit and Funding for Your Internship. Visit www.berea.edu/icd to see the schedule of sessions and learn more about connecting with internship sites, policies regarding international internships, and the deadline for submitting internship proposals.