St. Olaf students have the option to complete an internship for academic credit. Academic internships include intentionally written learning goals and objectives. Site supervisors play a key role as co-teacher, providing students opportunities in which they may: apply academic coursework to a real-world work situation, explore career options, obtain practical and professional experience in a field of interest, and network with professionals.
Required components of an academic internship:
1. Required Hours for Academic Credits
Students may receive 1.0 credit, 0.5 credit, or 0.25 credit for an internship. Below are the minimum number of hours for each type of academic credit:
| Credit | On-site hours | Academic activities | Total required hours |
| 0.25 | 55 | 10 | 65 |
| 0.5 | 80 | 20 | 100 |
| 1.0 | 120 | 40 | 160 |
NOTE: 0.25- and 0.5-credit internships cannot be completed during Interim, St. Olaf’s January term.
2. Learning Agreement and Plan
Students are required to complete an Academic Internship Learning Agreement & Plan and have it approved by a Site Supervisor, Faculty Supervisor and a representative from the Piper Center.
3. Formal Evaluation
Mid-point and/or final evaluation form(s) must be completed by supervisors of students undertaking an internship for academic credit, as they provide students with helpful feedback and tools for critical reflection. The Piper Center corresponds with site supervisors of academic interns to obtain completed evaluation form(s) and will distribute to the faculty supervisor. These forms may also be used by supervisors of non-credit internships to guide discussion regarding an intern’s performance.
Throughout the internship, it is the employer’s responsibility to:
- Review the following information:
- Create a job/project/position description for the student intern to include with their completed Academic Internship Learning Agreement & Plan.
- Provide intern with appropriate orientation, training, and feedback to ensure a successful internship.
- Provide intern with a copy of your office and sexual harassment policies.
- Complete a Mid-Point and/or Final Evaluation Form. Forms will be e-mailed to the Site Supervisor directly from the Piper Center. Discuss the evaluations with your student intern and return the completed forms via e-mail or fax to the address from which they are sent.
The employer is also strongly recommended to:
- Review and clarify the intern’s Learning Agreement & Plan throughout the internship. Please provide an updated copy to the Piper Center if any changes are made.
- Schedule regular meetings with the intern; act as a mentor; provide the intern with descriptive feedback; discuss assignments; answer questions; and discuss dynamics of the organization.
- Whenever possible, allow the intern to attend meetings.
- Explain to the intern how decisions and office policies are made. What are the options? How did the supervisor draw certain conclusions? What is the office culture?
- Discuss various career opportunities in the field and career paths of college graduates.
- If problems occur or if you are unsure about how to deal with a particular situation, speak directly with the intern and/or faculty supervisor or Piper Center staff member.