Internships: Where Learning & Experience Meet!

Internships provide students with the opportunity to relate their academic expertise to the challenges confronting practitioners in a variety of governmental, business, and non-profit organizations. Keeping in accordance with the college’s mission to “offer students access to an educational process which encourages them to lead lives that are both creative and generous,” internships offered through Saint Anselm College promote student professional and academic development by serving as a contextual learning resource for the communities we serve locally, nationally and abroad. An internship allows the student to integrate the advantages of a liberal arts education with practical experience and theoretical application.

Part A
The following general guidelines, adopted by the dean of the college in consultation with the Curriculum Committee, are to be followed by departments in submitting internship proposals.

1. The Philosophy of the Program
   The respective academic department is to state clearly what it expects the student to obtain through an internship experience which cannot be provided in academic programs on campus and which enhances the academic formation of the student.
2. The Method of Screening Candidates
   Each academic department is to determine how application is to be made to the respective internship program. The program governed by the Internship Office will require students to submit cover letters and resumes to each agency to which application is made.
   

   Additionally, students must be in good academic standing (minimum GPA of 2.0 at time of application) as well as in good disciplinary standing. The Internship Office will not pre-screen applicants for prospective internship agencies. It is the responsibility of the internship agency to interview prospective interns and determine which, if any, students will be offered an internship with the agency.

3. The Method of Supervision
   
   • Visitation to the internship agency by a designated faculty member is to be arranged with regard to frequency, time and place.
   • Consistent supervision by an agency supervisor is to be arranged between the supervisor and intern.
   • A job description is to be determined with the company or agency in advance to assure that the student’s internship experience is at the “entering professional level.”
     
4. Specific Academic Areas in the Internship Program
   • There is to be a seminar, course, or other approved academic component that parallels the internship program.
   • The student is required to complete some academic project, i.e. journal, major papers, as determined by the respective department.
   • Students participating in an internship through the Internship Office will attend a bi-weekly seminar, which serves as the reflective component of the internship program.
     
5. Grading of Student's Internship Experience
   
   • The department in concert with the dean of the college and the registrar, is to determine how many courses the internship program replaces.
   • The department is to determine how many hours of work are required of each intern. For students interning through the Internship Office 120 hours is required for a three credit (one course) internship; 240 hours is required for a six credit (two course) internship.
   • The department is to indicate how the grade is computed.

Part B
The following specific requirements adopted by the dean of the college in consultation with the Curriculum Committee apply to internship programs in every department.

1. It is the prerogative of the chairperson of the student’s department to decide who will be chosen for an internship. No student has the right to an internship.
   
2. A student who has achieved a grade point average of 2.0 in major at the end of five semesters is eligible for consideration for an internship.
   
3. Some type of academic requirement, i.e., papers, required readings, seminar work, must be submitted to the department as an integral part of the internship program.
   
4. Each department will use a system of pass/fail or a letter grade as determined by the chairperson and the dean of the college.
   
5. Students are permitted to only take one internship worth four or more courses (this includes practice teaching)
   
6. Students are permitted to participate in a maximum of two internship experiences throughout their undergraduate career.