Business & Economics
Department of Business & Economics
Policy Statement on Academic Internships
An academic internship is preferably an off-campus learning/practicing experience in which the student applies a body of knowledge and skill in a structured non-classroom setting. It can take place in many settings: governments, social organizations and agencies, churches, business enterprises. It can make use of almost every knowledge and skill area in Bethel’s curriculum.
1) An acceptable internship is one which expects the student to: a) Make a deliberate application of one’s academic knowledge and skills; b) Continue to learn as stimulated by the problems and issues encountered; c) Grow in one’s personal maturity and confidence in one’s abilities; d) Develop empathy with and understanding of persons, groups, and settings typically not encountered on campus.
2) The proposed internship must embody significant academic purpose and content, equal in quality to a regular course, yet be of such a nature that it cannot be obtained within the existing course structure.
3) It is conducted under joint supervision of a Bethel faculty member and in on-site supervisor outside the student’s major or minor department. Both parties agree on the specific objectives and assignments before beginning and jointly evaluate the student’s work during the experience and at the end. There should be a plan for on-going processing of the experience (log, weekly meetings, etc.). It is expected that the Bethel Faculty supervisor will meet at least bi-weekly with the students.
4) The position may be part-time or full-time and may be salaried or non-salaried. Routine jobs or work which repeats previous experience do not qualify for an academic-credit internship. The work must provide an opportunity to meet academic/educational objectives.
5) The student must meet the following criteria: a) Declared major or minor in the department of the internship being proposed; b) Junior or senior standing. c) Minimum of 20 credit hours completed in the department; d) Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 and a 2.25 GPA in the major (individual departments may require a higher GPA) e) Meet additional criteria as established by each department.
6) An internship must be 3 or 4 credits with the following minimum time required on-site: 3 credit internship 135 hours 4 credit internship 180 hours 7) A maximum of 9 credits in internships may be taken within the 122 credits required for graduation. Each separate internship must have goals and objectives different than the prior ones taken for credit.
8) Internships are graded S/U (see university catalog under Grading System).
9) This policy identifies minimum university-wide requirements. Departments may choose to supplement this with additional requirements.
10) Students must submit a completed and signed Internship Proposal for approval to the Registrar no later than the 5th day of the internship.
1) An acceptable internship is one which expects the student to:
a) Make a deliberate application of one’s academic knowledge and skills;
b) Continue to learn as stimulated by the problems and issues encountered;
c) Grow in one’s personal maturity and confidence in one’s abilities;
d) Develop empathy with and understanding of persons, groups, and settings typically not encountered on campus.
2) The proposed internship must embody significant academic purpose and content, equal in quality to a regular course, yet be of such a nature that it cannot be obtained within the existing course structure.
3) It is conducted under joint supervision of a faculty member and in on-site supervisor outside the student’s major or minor department. Both parties agree on the specific objectives and assignments before beginning and jointly evaluate the student’s work during the experience and at the end. There should be a plan for on-going processing of the experience (log, weekly meetings, etc.). It is expected that the Bethel Faculty supervisor will meet at least bi-weekly with the students.
4) The position may be part-time or full-time and may be salaried or non-salaried.. Routine jobs or work which repeats previous experience do not qualify for an academic-credit internship. The work must provide an opportunity to meet academic/educational objectives.
5) The student must meet the following criteria:
a) Declared major or minor in the department of the internship being proposed;
b) Junior or senior standing.
c) Minimum of 20 credit hours completed in the department;
d) Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 and a 2.25 GPA in the major (individual departments may require a higher GPA)
e) Meet additional criteria as established by each department.
6) An internship must be 3 or 4 credits with the following minimum time required on-site:
3 credit internship 135 hours
4 credit internship 180 hours
7) A maximum of 9 credits in internships may be taken within the 122 credits required for graduation. Each separate internship must have goals and objectives different than the prior ones taken for credit.
8) Internships are graded S/U (see university catalog under Grading System).
9) This policy identifies minimum university-wide requirements. Departments may choose to supplement this with additional requirements.
10) Students must submit a completed and signed Internship Proposal for approval to the Internship Coordinator no later than the 5th day of the internship.