2. Which advisor do I see if I have a double major?

Either internship advisor is available to you. You may prefer to speak with the one that is closer to the field of your desired internship. But if you’re unsure of what you’d like to do, our advice is to see whomever is first available.

3. What are the requirements for an internship?

All internships for academic credit need to be at least 12 weeks long, and the work should be no more than 15% clerical. The number of hours per week required depends on the number of credit you’d like to earn.
1-2 credits 8 – 10 hours per week
3 credits 15 – 16 hours per week
6 credits 20 – 24 hours per week
Other departments and schools may designate additional criteria. Click here to see about your discipline.

4. Can I get paid if I’m getting credit for my internship?

Absolutely. Credit-worthiness is based on the substantive nature of the internship (15% or less clerical) and not on whether or not you are paid.

The Career Center is happy to help you with both. The difference is the SUBSTANCE of the internship and the ACADEMIC LEARNING that takes place.

For-credit internships are generally more substantive, with no more than 15% clerical or administrative tasks. Students work with a faculty member on academic assignments related to the content of their internships. For-credit internships must be done over at least a twelve-week period of time (generally during one semester), and if you hope to earn 3 credit hours, you should be working at least 15 hours a week. Students must be at least a sophomore, a transfer or graduate student, with at least one semester completed at American University. For-credit internships are generally as academically challenging as any class.

A non-credit internship is something a student does independent of their university work. It's a great way to explore a career field, to learn about the inner workings of an office, to help choose a major, and to start networking! Generally, these positions are more clerical in nature, or only one day a week.

6. Can I get credit for an internship I’m already doing?

Usually not, unless you are going to have significantly new duties that will last the 12 week minimum. You still have to meet registration deadlines for a given semester, and you can’t get credit for an internship you’ve already completed.

7. What’s a co-op or cooperative education?

At American University, these terms can be interchangeable with one exception. The federal government offers co-ops (cooperative education positions) which differ from internships in that at the end of the work period, the student may have the opportunity for the position to become permanent without re-applying for the position. Federal government internships do not offer this option. As with for-credit internships, co-op students work with a faculty member on academic assignments, and the position may be no more than 15% clerical work. In order to earn 3 credits, students need to work a minimum of 15 - 16 hours per week over at least a twelve week period of time (usually during one semester). ALL co-op applications are processed through the Career Center.

8. Do I need to have my internship finalized before I register?

Yes. You need to have been offered and accepted a position before you register. All your contact information and the position description are required to complete the registration process.

9. How do I register for an internship?

An internship or cooperative education field experience (co-op) is a combination of academic study and substantive work experience, approved by a supervising faculty member in advance. Registration for internships and federal co-ops is open to degree students in good academic standing. Academic departments may have additional requirements, but generally the prerequisite for registration at the undergraduate level is completion of 30 credit hours of course work (12 credit hours for transfer students) with a minimum grade point average of 2.0; at the graduate level, completion of 9 credit hours with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
All students are encouraged to work with an advisor in the Career Center.

For additional information about internships and Cooperative Education, call or visit the Career Center, Butler Pavilion 5th floor, 202-885-1804.
Registration for internships or co-ops is during the registration period for the fall or spring semester or summer session.

Students may add these courses until the end of the second week of classes in the spring semester or summer session and the third week of classes in the fall semester.

Students must have met all prerequisites, secured the work position, and confirmed their work schedule with their site supervisor prior to registration. The student and supervising faculty member must agree upon and document the credit value of the field experience, depending on the nature of the academic component and the number of hours required for the work component. The recommended standards for academic credit may vary but typically are: 8–10 hours per week for 1–2 credits; 15–16 hours per week for 3 credits; and 20–24 hours per week for 6 credits. Students work throughout the term (12 weeks or more).

Students must submit a completed and approved Internship/Cooperative Education Registration Form, along with the Internship Consent and Release Form (in the back of this schedule) to the Registrar’s Office.