Registering an Internship for Credit

Fall or Spring terms – The last day to register an internship for credit is the Add/Drop deadline for that semester. A one-week extension may be granted by the Internship Program for those students who need more time to finalize arrangements for an internship “in process”.

January/Interim term – The last day of the Spring term pre-registration period (usually in early December).

Summer term – The last day to register an internship is the Friday before Memorial Day.

1. Meet with your Faculty Sponsor

• Once you have confirmed your internship, ask a faculty to be your sponsor. Meet to develop learning objectives and goals.
• Discuss how many hours you will complete and how many credits.
• Create a communication plan to share your progress throughout the semester.

2. Complete your Learning Contract in Handshake to receive credit

• Review the Step-by-Step Guide for assistance.
• Log in to Handshake using your Macalester username and password.
• Click “Career Center” along the top, then “Experiences”, then “Request an Experience.” Complete the form with your internship details. Be sure to upload a Position Description.
• Once submitted, the learning contract will go through an approval process – our office, faculty sponsor, and site supervisor. You can check the status within Handshake. Once your internship is approved by all parties, you will receive an email to move to step 3.

3. Register your Internship for Credit

• Stop by the Internship Program for your add/drop slip and to sign our Student Agreement form.
• Last step: Bring your signed add/drop slip to the Registrar.

Please note: All students registering an internship for academic credit for the first time will be required to complete a brief (15 minute) online orientation. Once your forms have been submitted and approved you will receive an email with information on how to access the online orientation course.

Additional Documentation Required for January/Summer

1. January Registration Form (signed by you and Internship Program Director)
2. If your internship is taking place outside of the Twin Cities your parents will need to complete the Parent Waiver form. Student Accounts will also have to sign off that your account is clear. (Summer only)

The minimum number of hours worked per week at the internship site in relation to registered credits is as follows:
Fall-Spring-Summer Internships    (Internships must last a minimum of a ten-week period)
4 credits = A minimum of 140 hours per semester or 10-12 hours per week
3 credits = A minimum of 105 hours per semester or 8-9 hours per week
2 credits = A minimum of 75 hours per semester or 5-7 hours per week
1 credit = A minimum of 45 hours per semester or 3-4 hours per week (at least 60 hours in summer)

January Internships   (Minimum of three weeks)
2 credits = 100 hours per semester or approx. 40 hours per week
1 credit = 50 hours per semester or approx. 20 hours per week

View Macalester’s academic calendar

(from the 2017-2018 Macalester College Catalog):

Students are advised to refer to the Courses sections for Course 624 and to consult individually with  faculty members regarding departmental policies governing internships, including grading. The following college policies apply to internships:

1. Only Macalester departments may offer internships and only if they are listed in the departmental course offerings.
2. Students are required to complete a learning contract for each separate internship experience and have it reviewed and signed before they can register for an internship.
3. A maximum of twenty-four 600-level credits may be counted toward graduation.  This includes preceptorships (601-604), independent study projects (611-614), internships (621-624), tutorials (631-634) and honors independents (641-644).
4. Students with first year status are not permitted to undertake an internship for credit during their first year at Macalester, including January.
5. Students may not take an internship if they have any incompletes, unless they have the permission of the instructor who assigned the incomplete.
6. Students on academic probation may not undertake internships.
7. Students may not register in a single term for more than six semester hours of internship credit that takes place outside of the Twin Cities area, or for more than four semester hours of credit for a single internship in the Twin Cities.
8. Students may not earn more than four credits for an internship at a host site doing a single defined job function.  Earning additional credit at the same site would require the student to move into a substantially different role that involves new work and learning challenges.  Exceptions must be approved by the faculty sponsor and Internship Director.

To drop or withdraw from an internship after the Add/Drop deadline has passed, students must obtain the faculty sponsor’s signature and the signature of the Internship Program Director. (Refer to the College Catalog section on Dropping and Withdrawing From Courses for more detailed information.)