Internship Programs

Academic Internships

Earn academic credit for the time you invest gaining hands-on, professional training through a high impact internship experience.

Prepare for your Academic Internship

Students can earn academic credit for internships in most degree plans. These academic internships are offered in Business, Psychology, Kinesiology, University Studies, and more, and allow students to acquire field or on-the-job experience and are structured so that the students are encouraged to relate their classroom activities and learnings to their professional experience.

Interested in completing an academic internship? Reach out to Internship Programs in the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) today.

Curious about all of Southwestern’s internship programs? Please watch the following video to learn more about Academic Internships and the application process.

Internships 101 Information Session Dates: (All sessions are located in the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) Career Cafe, Prothro #140): 

Planning to do an unpaid or low-paying internship during the summer semester, learn about the Funded Internship Program and application process at a Funded Internship Info Session.

Contact us or make an appointment

Academic Internship Application Process

FALL 2026 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP ADD DEADLINE: Thursday, September 3

STEP-BY-STEP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

BEFORE THE INTERNSHIP: If students are interested in enrolling in an academic internship, here are the next steps:

1. Submit an Experience form in Handshake’s Career Center Experiences section.

2. On the Experience form, select “Academic Internship Application” for the Experience template.

3. For the term, select the semester in which you intend to complete your academic internship.

Please note: The Experience form needs to be completed all at once, so it is advised that students secure an internship placement, faculty advisor, and site supervisor, as well as determine learning objectives before beginning the form. Students must upload the syllabus from their faculty advisor before their Experience form can be processed.

4. Students need to secure a faculty advisor from the department in which they are seeking academic credit. Faculty advisors need to be tenured, tenure-track faculty members or an Academic Affairs staff with faculty rank. Students should start this process early as they may need to contact multiple professors if their first choice is unavailable during their academic internship semester. 

If students are seeking academic credit from the Business Department for their internship experience, they should contact Professor Andy Ross, who is the faculty advisor for all business academic internships.

5. Confirm a site supervisor at the internship location. This will be the student’s direct supervisor working with them one-on-one as a mentor during their internship. The student’s site supervisor cannot be a family member.

6. Determine learning objectives for the internship. Students should consider incorporating the eight career readiness competencies published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) into their learning objectives. 

Notes for students to keep in mind about their Experience form:

  1. Once the Experience form is submitted, if changes need to be made or additional information is required, the student will receive a notification in Handshake to make the requested edits and additions, and then they will need to resubmit the form. 
  2. Each Experience form will be reviewed and approved by Internship Programs in the Center for Career & Professional Development, the Office of the Registrar, as well as the student’s faculty advisor, and site supervisor.
  3. Once the Experience form is approved, the Registrar will enroll the student in the approved academic internship course number.

HOUR REQUIREMENTS  BY CREDITS AND DURATION MINIMUM:

  • 1 credit: 40 site hours
  • 2 credits: 80 site hours
  • 3 credits: 110 site hours
  • 4 credits: 120 site hours + ePortfolio
  • 5 credits: 160 site hours + ePortfolio
  • 6 credits: 200 site hours + ePortfolio
  • 7 credits: 230 site hours + ePortfolio
  • 8 credits: 240 hours + ePortfolio, unless the student is doing a Psychology capstone

Internship Duration: Internships must be a minimum of 10-weeks during the fall and spring semesters, and a minimum of 6-weeks during the summer semester.

DURING THE INTERNSHIP: All internship site hours and tasks, along with the following additional activities, must be completed by the agreed-upon deadline in order for students to earn academic credit for their internships:

1. Students are required to submit weekly timesheets for all hours worked at their internship. These hours will be verified by their employer. There are exceptions to this policy for students participating in the New York Arts Program (NYAP), SU London Semester, or Texas Legislative Politics Internship.

2. Any additional activities required by the student’s faculty advisor, such as a journal, reflection paper, or periodical check-in meetings. The faculty advisor will provide this information in their syllabus.

3. Reflection poster (template provided) detailing the student’s experiences and what the they learned from the internship. Internship Programs in the Center for Career & Professional Development will assist interested students in showcasing these posters at the Research and Creative Works Symposium (RCWS) or the High Impact Experience (HIE) Poster Presentation. 

4. If doing an internship for 4+ credit hours (except Psychology capstone students), students must complete an ePortfolio. Nine required ePortfolio assignments will be provided, if applicable. 

5. Employer end-of-semester evaluation. 

6. Self evaluation.

International Internships

Funding Eligibility: Domestic students participating in an approved internship abroad program may apply to receive funding through Southwestern University’s Funded Internship Program. International students are not eligible for Funded Internship Program support for international internships.

Program Approval: All students must apply for internship abroad programs through Via and be approved by the Office of Study Abroad and International Student Services if they want to receive funding or academic credit.

Options for Participation: Students may participate in an international internship for experience only, or to earn academic credit. Credit may be awarded directly through Southwestern University’s Academic Internship Program, or as transfer credit through an approved program provider. (Note: Earning credit through an approved program provider is often the most financially advantageous option.)

International Students and Work Authorization

International students on an F-1 visa may participate in an internship or training program under two scenarios:

Internships in the United States: Any internship in the United States must be an approved academic internship, and the international student must have approved Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT) prior to starting work. Internships are typically in the student’s primary major, though academic credit may also be received through University Studies. For guidance, please consult the Office of Study Abroad and International Student Services and Internship Programs in the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD).

Internships Outside the United States: International students may participate in internships outside the United States for experience only, or to earn academic credit (either through Southwestern University or an approved program provider). Please note that international students are not eligible for the Funded Internship Program for international internships.