1. James W. Stuckert Career Center University of Kentucky
Internship Basics
James W. Stuckert Career Center
408 Rose Street
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
Introduction: I’m _______, an Assistant Director at the Career Center. I work with students in the College of ______, and there is a counselor assigned to work with each of the colleges on campus. Even if you haven’t declared a major, there is a counselor who works specifically with students in Undergraduate Studies. If you will open the Student Brochure I gave you, you will see that career counseling and coaching is only one of the services that the Career Center provides. You can make an individual appointment with your career counselor to discuss your career plans and options, to do assessments, to get help with your resume, or to schedule a practice interview. You can make an appointment by calling the phone number on your brochure. Our hours are Mon thru Fri, 8:00 to 5:00, and if you just have a quick question, we have drop-in hours from 3:00 to 5:00 every day. Drop-in hours are really just for things that would take 10 minutes or less—for instance, if you needed to get someone to sign your Learning Contract, you could just stop by between 3:00 and 5:00. Be sure to look through the rest of the brochure at your convenience, but for now, let’s talk about internships.

2. What is an internship? Supervised career-related work experience
Allows you to apply classroom learning to
real-world situations
An opportunity to obtain valuable professional level experience in a chosen career field and reflect on what you’ve learned from the experience
May be full-time, part-time, local, national, or international
May be paid or unpaid/for academic credit or for non-credit (Note that employers must follow labor law requirements.)

3. How Can I Benefit Obtain relevant professional experience
Gain insight into your strengths and weaknesses, values, likes and dislikes
Develop professional skills such as leadership and problem-solving
Gain valuable contacts and networking opportunities
Relevant experience for your resume
Help define your career path

4. How can I find an internship?
Wildcat CareerLink, the Career Center’s online database for jobs and internships
Employer websites and other internet sources (i.e., Internships.com)
Networking with friends & family
UK’s Education Abroad office or other international programs
Your career counselor & faculty
Attend the UK Employer Showcase held every fall and spring semester

5. Will I have to interview?
Obtaining an internship typically requires an application process and an interview
Employers usually require a resume and cover letter prior to scheduling an interview
You may want to learn and practice interviewing skills and have your resume critiqued by a career counselor

6. Do I have to register for credit?
The employer specifies whether
you must register for credit
or if you may choose to register.
Labor laws require that all for–profit organizations offer paid internships, or if position is unpaid, students are required to register for academic credit.
Immigration laws require that international students
be registered for credit.
Academic Internship (for credit)
Non-academic Internship (non-credit)

7. What’s the difference? Academic Internship
Done for credit on a semester basis
Learning Contract is required
May be paid or unpaid
May be full-time or part-time
May be local, national, or international
Non-Academic Internship (Non-credit)
Done for experience gained, not for academic recognition
Must be a paid position unless the internship is with a
non-profit or government organization

8. Why register for credit?
Alternative way to earn credit you need
Recorded on your transcript
Learning Contract provides written documentation of the experience
Guidance from faculty sponsor throughout the semester
Provides a documented reference for your future job search

9. How does the program work?
Finalize your internship site
Choose a Faculty Sponsor
Complete a Learning Contract
Register for an internship course
EXP 396, Dept. 399, or EXP 397
Attend a Reflection Session (fall and spring semesters only)
Submit a timesheet at the end of the term

10. How do I choose a Faculty Sponsor?
You can ask any faculty member to be your sponsor—it is your choice and their choice to agree to work with you
Sponsor must have faculty status (may include adjunct
and part-time faculty or graduate teaching assistants with faculty oversight)
Usually someone within your major, but not always—should be knowledgeable of the field in which you are working
Meets with you for discussion, guidance and reflection throughout the semester
Makes assignments and determines pass/fail grade

11. What about the Learning Contract?
The Learning Contract serves as your syllabus for the internship course. It is not an employment contract, although the employer will receive a copy. It must be typed.
Learning Contract form can be downloaded from the Career Center website.
Use the completed sample as a model for filling out your Learning Contract

12. What information will I need to complete the Learning Contract?
Student information
Course information
Internship site, supervisor and contact information
Starting/ending dates
Job description/duties
Learning objectives
Assignments and meeting dates/times
Signatures (Note: employer does not sign)

13. Course Options for Academic Credit
EXP 396 Experiential Education
Learning Contract required
General elective credit
Variable credit hours
Pass/Fail (letter grade with departmental permission in some colleges)

14. Course Options for Academic Credit
EXP 397 Experiential Fieldwork
Only for undergraduates doing a full-time internship and not enrolled in other classes A one credit hour general elective credit that grants full-time student status
Offered fall and spring semesters only
Learning Contract required
Pass/Fail only

15. Course Options for Academic Credit
Departmental 399 Courses
( i.e., PS 399, PSY 399, A-H 399)
Learning Contract required
Departmental credit
Variable or fixed credit hours
Pass/Fail or letter grade with departmental permission

16. Credit Hours = Work Hours
The number of credit hours you can earn from an internship is related to the number of hours worked. Below are the minimum work hours required to earn the credit hours specified.
1 credit hour = 48 total work hours
2 credit hours = 96 total work hours
3 credit hours = 144 total work hours
Divide the total number of work hours by the number of weeks you will be working to find how many hours you will need to work each week.
144 work hours /16 weeks = 9 hours per week
144 work hours/8 weeks = 18 hours per week

17. More about Academic Credit
Credit policies vary depending upon your College. Check with your academic advisor or the career counselor assigned to your College so you can make informed choices.
Tuition is charged for credit hours earned through internship courses the same as it would be for other University courses.

18. More about Academic Credit
International students must receive academic credit for internships. Undergraduate international students may register for one of the course options above.
International graduate students must be enrolled for graduate-level course credit approved by the Office of International Affairs.

19. Starting and Ending Dates
The starting date should be the actual date you start the internship. It can be earlier or later than the first day of the semester.
The ending date may be sooner than the last day of the semester, but it should not be later—even though you may work beyond that date.
Make sure you have submitted your Learning Contract for approval before you start working.

20. What else should I know?
Contract should be completed before starting the internship.
You cannot register for EXP courses until the Learning Contract is submitted to the Career Center and the registration hold has been lifted.
You can add the course up until the Registrar’s “last day to add” for the term.
A copy of the Learning Contract is sent to your employer, your faculty sponsor and your department chair.
You could be nominated for the Intern of the Year award!

21. Drop-ins Tues. Wed. Thurs. 12:00pm - 3:00pm
For assistance in planning your internship: Cindy Edwards Coordinator for Experiential Education or the career counselor assigned to your College
Appointments:
For Minute Quick Internship Questions:
Drop-ins Tues. Wed. Thurs. 12:00pm - 3:00pm