Internships and Field Experience Opportunities

There are two ways to arrange an internship or field experience:

• Independent Approach: Identify a preferred setting, conduct your own inquiries, and then collaborate with a UMN Morris faculty member to finalize arrangements with the field agency and establish suitable course requirements.
• UMN Morris Resources: Utilize Career Services and other university resources to locate a field setting, working alongside faculty and staff to coordinate all necessary arrangements.

Whichever route you choose, plan ahead—typically about six months—to ensure ample time for arrangements. For instance, if aiming for a summer internship after junior year, start planning during the early part of the previous fall semester.

Most internships typically require the following:

• A specific field supervision plan
• Keeping a daily log documenting activities and reflections
• Writing a paper about your internship experience (details below)
• Receiving a satisfactory evaluation from your field supervisor

Note: You are not necessarily required to do new reading or to engage in research, unless it's necessary to understand your field setting better. While reading is encouraged, it's not always required as part of the internship. The focus is on gaining practical experience rather than academic study. However, credit is awarded for the intellectual and academic growth derived from the experience. Reflecting on your activities is crucial to demonstrate this impact. You are also encouraged to conduct research in your field setting, with permission from the authorities there.

At the conclusion of your internship, you must submit a paper structured in two parts.

Instructions for Writing the Paper:

• Part I: Briefly outline the types of activities you participated in during your internship and the approximate time spent on each (1-2 pages).
• Part II: Reflect on the connections between your internship experiences and your academic learning. Discuss how your academic studies informed or sometimes misled you during your practical work. Explain how you applied academic principles to real-world tasks, evaluated theories in light of practical experiences, and reconciled or found discrepancies between what you learned in courses and what you encountered during your internship.

To approach Part II, review your course notes and texts, match them with topics in your journal, and articulate your insights. These connections aim to deepen your academic understanding.

While the length of your paper should reflect the scope and complexity of your internship, the following guidelines apply:

• 1-6 credits: 15 pages
• 7-9 credits: 20 pages
• 10-12 credits: 25 pages
• 13 or more credits: 30 pages

Grading: Internships are graded on a satisfactory (S) or non-satisfactory (N) basis only. To receive an S, all components—daily log, paper, and field supervisor evaluation—must meet satisfactory standards. Excelling in one area does not compensate for deficiencies in another.

To register your internship, you are required to do the following: 

• Internship Agreement Form: Signed by the student and faculty supervisor, approved by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
• Learning Contract: Detailed description of the internship, including goals, activities, hours allocated, total learning hours, location, and organization details such as the city and state.
• Academic Requirements: Includes maintaining a daily journal of activities and completing a final research paper based on readings and internship insights. You may also need to read scholarly books and present orally on your internship experience.
• Supervision and Evaluation: Confirmation from the field supervisor to the faculty supervisor approving the internship plan and agreeing to supervise and evaluate the student. A letter of evaluation from the internship supervisor should be arranged upon completion of the internship.

Due to the challenge of balancing an internship with a full academic course load, especially if the field site is distant from Morris, many students opt to complete their internships during the summer after their junior or senior year. 

For seniors, if the internship is the final requirement before graduation, arrangements can usually be made to participate in commencement exercises before completing the internship. However, the degree will be awarded only after all requirements are fulfilled.

The University Senate rule stipulates that each credit of coursework equates to about three hours of weekly effort throughout the semester, totaling 48 hours per semester, including exam week. For example, a typical four-credit course requires approximately 192 hours of educational activities such as classes, labs, readings, papers, and tests.

Calculating credits for internships and field experiences is more complex due to varying levels of educational value in field activities. Some routine tasks may become less educational over time, while others remain continuous learning opportunities.

To determine internship credits, estimate the educational hours involved and divide by 48 to determine the appropriate credit allocation. Alternatively, structure the internship to ensure it meets the required 192 hours for a four-credit equivalent, including time for daily logs, a final paper, and specified readings.

• Information about internships may be obtained from either a faculty member or Career Services. Once an internship opportunity is secured, the field supervisor may wish to interview the intern so that all responsibilities are understood.
• The student must find a UMN Morris faculty member who is willing to serve as the faculty supervisor for the internship.
• The student completes an Internship Form with the faculty supervisor. Download an Internship Approval Form
• The Internship Form must be approved by the student and the faculty supervisor and brought to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean (315 Behmler Hall) for approval by the dean.
• The student must pick up the approved internship form from the Dean's Office and register with the Office of the Registrar.
• Students are responsible for distributing provided copies of the internship forms to their faculty supervisor and field supervisor.
• At the end of the internship, an evaluation should be completed by the student and submitted to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for

Academic Affairs and Dean. A blank evaluation form is attached to the faculty supervisor's copy. Download an Internship Evaluation Survey

Field supervisors are essential to the success of internships at UMM, and their dedication is greatly appreciated. They are professionals employed at the internship site who provide day-to-day supervision of the intern's activities through regular consultations. Occasionally, the official field supervisor may delegate direct daily supervision to another qualified professional under their guidance, providing less frequent feedback, typically weekly. However, the official supervisor retains responsibility for the internship's educational quality.

At the internship's conclusion, the field supervisor submits a written evaluation of the intern's performance to the faculty supervisor. Qualified field supervisors possess academic credentials and relevant professional experience, which are crucial for their role. They evaluate how well interns met expectations and performed professional duties relative to industry standards for their level of preparation. While encouraged to provide comprehensive feedback on the intern's work style, including strengths and weaknesses, this is not mandatory.