Earning Academic Credit for Practical Experience
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The Parker College of Business Internship Program is an academic program designed to complement a student’s formal education with practical work experience. It is a supervised program, intended to allow upper-division students the prospect to receive practical experience in their chosen field of study. An internship provides the opportunity for students to apply concepts and theories learned in the classroom to practical situations, projects, and problems under the supervision and guidance of a practicing professional.
Internships are fantastic opportunities to gain insight about your major field in practice, learn more about an intended career path, and gain competitive work experience prior to graduation.
In the Parker College of Business, students receive course credit for internships and, therefore, register for class and pay all associated tuition and fees.
Download the Parker College of Business Internship Application
UNDERGRADUATE Application for Internship Credit
GRADUATE Application for Internship Credit
UNDERGRADUATE Application for Internship Credit
GRADUATE Application for Internship Credit
Applications should be submitted to Danielle L. Smith ([email protected]) in Parker College of Business 3300B. All deadlines for submitting applications during the 2019-2020 Academic Year are as follows:
- Fall 2019 – August 12, 2019
- Spring 2020 – January 6, 2020
- Summer 2020 – May 4, 2020
*Please note: the Parker College cannot award credit for internships or co-op rotations completed with Gulfstream, per their policy.
Process
- Review the internship program requirements, policies, and FAQs to ensure that you understand the Internship Program.
- Search for an internship several months before your ideal start date. Give yourself time to find a position that meets your personal needs, and educational aims.
- Ensure the internship is of a substantial length: Spring and Fall internships tend to be part-time (20 hours per week for the term), while Summer internships are often full-time (40 hours per week for the term). Hospitality Management students should confirm the minimum hour requirement with their program coordinator. In any case, the student must meet the obligation to work the number of hours determined by the employer.
- Make sure that the job responsibilities are appropriate for the type of credit you will seek.
- Read and complete the Application for Internship Credit, and submit to the Director of Experiential Learning and Student Engagement prior to your intended term of registration. Review the deadlines posted above.
Requirements and Policies
- Applicants for credit must be in good academic standing and have junior standing (at least 60 earned credit hours) by the internship start date.
- Applicants must have completed at least one upper division course in the major or minor area by the internship start date. (Example: a student who wishes to earn accounting internship credit must have completed at least one upper-division ACCT course.)
- The internship must meet the following guidelines:
- Work performed during the internship must be applicable and provide “value added” to your program of study;
- Internships with current employers may only be considered if the internship is in a different area (e.g. department, division) than your current job;
- Internships in a business owned by your own family are not permitted.
- Internships performed within the U.S. are awarded 3 credit hours; internships performed abroad are awarded 6 credit hours.
- Students will be allowed to register for a maximum of twelve (12) semester hours (including internship hours) during the semester of his/her internship.
- Students may only apply one internship for credit to the major and minor requirements. A single internship may not be “counted twice” for two different majors or minors. A second internship may be completed for the second major or minor, or for general elective credit.
- Students should complete the internship during the same term that academic credit is awarded.
- A complete application must be submitted by the advertised deadlines. All applications submitted after these dates are automatically denied.
- Students must pay tuition and fees for the internship credit awarded.
- All internship credit is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students can learn more about the Internship Program by reading through these FAQs.
Why should I complete an internship?
Internships give employers an opportunity to evaluate an intern’s skills, work-ethic, and cultural assimilation before incurring the expense of hiring the employee full-time. Internships help employers build relationships, maintain talent flow, and meet recruiting and employment goals. Internships provide interns a chance to learn new skills and obtain real-world experience. They may provide students an opportunity to see if a particular career path, or field of study, is right for them, to hone skills and apply academic knowledge, or to gain specific field-related exposure and network connections for the future.
Where can I find an internship?
The good news for students is that employers want interns in all business majors. In fact, employers often are looking for more interns than the number of students who choose to participate in an internship. This means there are a lot of competitive opportunities available to you.
Getting started is often as easy as researching a company of interest to find out if they offer a structured internship program. For many companies, you can go to their webpage, type “internship” into the search engine, and get right to the application. If you don’t see these options, then contacting its Human Resources department or representative to inquire about internship possibilities is also encouraged. You may check the notebook in the Parker College of Business Student Services Center, Room 1101, for a list of companies inquiring about interns. Utilizing the resources offered through the Office of Career and Professional Development’s Eagle Career Net is another option available to students. Companies do often post internship openings here.
Start planning for your internship sooner rather than later. Take advantage of the Eagle Expo, Career Fairs, and Professional Development Day to begin networking and meeting with prospective employers face-to-face.
For a sample list of companies that have employed interns from Georgia Southern University, click here.
When should I start planning for an internship?
The majority of internships take place in the summer, but they are usually available throughout the academic year. Internship programs are often offered by private businesses, government organizations, and non-profit organizations and may be paid or unpaid positions. Paid internships are highly encouraged.
Internships are competitive and can be a path to gainful employment. The hunt for an internship should be treated as a traditional job search, and students should start searching, networking, and connecting with potential internship providers 6-9 months before the term in which you would like to complete the internship.
Some students need to plan financially, as well, if an internship takes place out of state or away from Statesboro or your hometown. The Office of Career and Professional Development offers an Internship Scholarship Program for students who would have to miss out on the opportunity of an internship due to cost.
How can I pursue an internship for credit?
Complete the Parker College of Business Internship Application by gathering and submitting all items to Danielle Smith ([email protected]) in Parker College 3300B. Only complete applications will be accepted.
- The internship application must be approved prior to the intended term of registration. Do not wait until the last minute! Internships will not be approved for credit retroactively.
- A maximum of three (3) credit hours for internship may be applied to your program of study as either major, minor, or elective credit.
Even though an internship may only award 3 credit hours, it should be treated as though it is a full-time job. Concurrent enrollment in a full course load of classes (more than 9 credit hours) while completing an internship is not advised and is rarely approved.
What can be approved as an internship?
Because internships serve a specific function in enhancing your degree, the job description of the internship you present as part of your application will be evaluated closely. Keep in mind the following as you are selecting your internship:
- Work performed during the internship must be applicable to your program of study;
- The internship opportunity must provide “value added” to your program of study;
- Internships with current employers may only be considered if the internship is in a different area (e.g. department, division) than your current job;
- Internships in a business owned by your own family are not permitted.
In cases where the applicability of an internship is unclear, the department chair or program director will be asked to make a final determination. As an important note: the job description is far more important than the job title for determining whether an internship is applicable.
How do I register for the internship course?
Registration cannot be done by the student, and will happen as follows:
- Once the internship application is approved, an email will be sent to you and your advisor stating permission to move forward with the internship;
- A scanned copy of the internship application will be sent to your advisor and he or she will register you for the internship course;
- Prior to the first day of the term, you will receive communication and a syllabus from your instructor.
How will I be graded?
All internships grades are awarded as satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U). This means no letter grade is awarded, and the grade is not calculated in your GPA.
- Students will complete weekly logs and short reports that are submitted during the internship. At the completion of the internship, you will submit a final portfolio to your internship instructor for review. The portfolio is a reflection of your professional work experience and should be treated as a professional product. All registered students will be provided a syllabus with more guidelines at the beginning of their internship term.
Georgia Southern Parker College of Business interns bring fresh perspective, the latest knowledge, and energy to your operation. Many organizations employ interns for specific fields of work and projects, and hiring an intern is a great way to identify candidates for future full-time positions.
Majors
Students from the following undergraduate majors in the Parker College of Business are readily available to participate in an internship:- Accounting
- Economics
- Finance
- Hospitality Management
- Information Systems
- Logistics/Supply Chain Management
- Management
- Marketing
Each student should have the opportunity to add value to their degree, and students in all fields are encouraged – and in some cases required – to complete an internship for credit.
Compensation
Unpaid internships are acceptable, but we suggest offering students a fair salary during the internship period; this is often paid as an hourly wage. The goal is to commit to student interns and provide an experience that adds value to their program of study: increased practical knowledge, skill, and abilities that are developed by working alongside and being treated as other employees.
Timing and Schedules
Internships typically run according to the university’s scheduled Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. Students are eligible to pursue an internship for credit during any of these terms. Please note that students must submit their application for credit prior to the start of the term in which they plan to earn credit, and must work their hours during this term.
The length of an internship and the number of hours worked are determined at the discretion of the employer based on your needs. We do encourage students to seek out internships of a substantial nature, though, since they are earning credit hours to apply to their degree requirements.
Typically Fall and Spring internships will be part-time (roughly 20 hours per week), while Summer internships are often full-time (roughly 40 hours) over the course of the term.
Employer Responsibilities
Should you choose to take on a Parker College of Business intern, the following are expected of all employers:
- Provide the intern with carefully planned, varied assignments that enhance their degree program objectives. Unskilled, clerical labor should not comprise the bulk of an intern’s expected workload;
- Prepare a written job description;
- Verify the student’s arrival to the internship site and notify the internship coordinator if the student departs the internship prior to the agreed upon end date;
- Supervise the intern’s work in a manner that adds value to the learning experience;
- Explain work rules and standards of conduct to the intern at the start of the internship;
- Complete an evaluation of the intern’s performance and review said evaluation with the intern.
Advertising an Internship
All employers are welcome to list an open internship position via Eagle Career Net with the Office of Career and Professional Development.
For assistance advertising an internship position directly to a specific Parker College of Business student demographic, please contact Danielle L. Smith, Director of Experiential Learning & Student Engagement. She can be reached via email ([email protected]) or phone (912.478.6047).
Conclusion
The best advice anyone could offer on internships is to start early; don’t wait until the last minute! A successful internship takes time and planning. The process starts with research regarding potential internship sponsors, polishing your résumé, and submitting a thorough and error-free application. Qualification interviews often follow where important considerations like the venue, job description, beginning and ending dates, and training opportunities are discussed.
Internships continue to be increasingly popular with Parker College of Business students. Make plans, now, to join the growing ranks!
Last updated: 10/21/2019
Parker College of Business • P.O. Box 8002 • Statesboro, Georgia • 912-478-2622