Academic Credit Internships
Am I eligible to do an academic internship?
Many academic programs at RU offer academic credit internships. Check with your academic advisor or internship coordinator within your department to determine the requirements for your major. Also check with your departments’ website to see what internship information is shared there, before you ask. The department from which you are seeking academic credit will determine if the internship option you are exploring are related to your degree program and substantial enough to earn credits.
Who should I talk to about my major?
Consult with your academic advisor or department internship coordinator to see how an internship can fit into your course of study. Most academic departments have an internship course as part of their curriculum. Learn more about academic advising and who your advisor is.
How do I get started
View flow chart (PDF)
For academic credit internships, meet with you academic advisor or internship coordinator early in the process. Your academic departments will determine if the internship options you are exploring are related to your degree program and substantial enough to earn credit.
Career Services provides an array of resources to assist students with the internship process. These include internship databases, resume and cover letters writing assistance, portfolio, and interview skills.
Resources
- Hire-A-Highlander – Sign in with your Radford e-mail and password to access jobs and internships offered to RU students
- Internship.com – Create your own account to search for local and national internships
How do I apply for the internship?
The application process for an internship is the same as applying for a job. Follow the employers directions, usually the employer ask for a resume and cover letter. In some cases the employer may ask for a writing sample or a portfolio. These documents will be used to help prospective internship sites evaluate your qualifications.
Visit the Office of Career Services for assistance with your resume, cover letter, and portfolio. This is your chance to make a good first impression!
How do I accept an internship?
Before accepting your internship, make sure that it meets your departmental requirements. Clarify that the internship meets the learning goals and objectives that you and your academic advisor/internship coordinator agreed on, start and end dates, and the number of hours required by your academic department to earn credits. Asks questions before you officially accept the offer. The internship must meet the following criteria:
- The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
- The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
- The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
- There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
- There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
- There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
- There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.
What forms do I need to complete?
Once you have obtained an internship which has been approved by your department, you need to have the required Internship Contract signed by the Internship Site (Agency) and Radford University Director of Procurement and Contracts (this contract must be completed before you can register for the internship course). In addition, a Student Internship Agreement, and Memo of Understanding need to be completed and signed by the student intern (you), Academic Advisor/Internship Coordinator , and the Internship Site (Agency).
May I decide later if I want to earn credits?
No, internship credit cannot be retroactive. Do not commit to an internship and try afterwards to get academic credit for the experience.