Benefits of Credit-Bearing Internships

Listed below are some key ways in which employers benefit when their interns receive academic credit for their internships.

  • Students who register for LA 495 internship credits receive a grade based partly on their written work and partly on their midterm and final evaluations from their supervisor. This setup is beneficial in two ways: First, students who know they will be evaluated on their performance—and that their evaluations will comprise a portion of their course grade—are likely to put more effort into their internship, improving the quality of the work they do for your organization. Second, students who write about their internship experience (through a journal, formal papers, or both) necessarily reflect on that experience, which can lead to positive attitudes and improved decision-making on the job.
  • Receiving academic credit for their internship keeps interns on track for graduation, often preventing them from overburdening themselves with an extra course the semester they complete the internship.
  • If you are a for-profit organization but are financially unable to compensate your intern, you can legally offer that student an unpaid internship if that student receives academic credit. (If you are able to compensate your intern, that intern can receive both wages and credit.) See our page on Compensation for more information.
  • Students who do not register for internship credits are rarely considered for financial support (in the form of enrichment funds) from the College.
  • If your intern is receiving internship credit through the College of the Liberal Arts, you have multiple contacts within the College—including the College Internship Coordinator and your student’s internship instructor—should you have any questions or concerns about your intern’s performance.