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Internship Policy

USAO Internship for Academic Credit Program Policy Statement

An internship at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) typically spans one academic semester and may be either paid or unpaid. While employers may or may not view internships as a recruitment tool, the experience offers students the opportunity to work in positions related to their field of study. This allows students to gain valuable professional experience and enhance their academic and career development. Please note, this policy does not apply to Student Teaching or other experiential learning opportunities within the School of Education and Speech Language Pathology, which has its own approval process and governing policies.

  • Students are recommended to begin the process of securing academic credit for an internship, at the minimum, one semester prior to the term in which they plan to participate in an internship.
  • Only students in good academic standing may apply for an internship for credit. A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 is preferred, but the final decision rests with the individual academic department. Required internships must meet program guidelines.
  • Internship credit will not be granted retroactively; students must have internships approved in advance.
  • Students who would like to participate in an internship and who have not already obtained an internship on their own, may contact career success for guidance in searching for an appropriate opportunity. Please note locating and securing an internship is ultimately the student's responsibility.
  • A maximum of 7 credit hours from internship experiences may be earned during the student's college career.
  • Internship credit may not be used in lieu of a required course in the student's major without advance permission from their Faculty Advisor and the School Dean.
  • Students are required to meet with their Faculty Advisor to discuss and define learning outcomes and specific objectives tailored to their individual internship experience. Following this meeting, students must fill out the Submit an Experience form through Handshake, which includes detailed information about their proposed learning outcomes and objectives.
  • Federal regulations allow federal financial aid to cover one repetition of a previously passed course. A course passed with a grade of D or higher may be repeated once and still count toward enrollment status for aid eligibility. If the same course is passed and repeated twice, it is excluded from federal financial aid enrollment status. All repeated courses count as attempted credits for pace and maximum time-frame calculations, even if ineligible for aid. Faculty advisors should keep in mind if a student needs to, or plans to, repeat an internship for academic credit more than once and select the credit hours associated with each internship accordingly. 
  • All internship experiences for academic credit must be formally approved through Handshake. The approval process involves the following individuals and offices:
  1. Internship Employer - to confirm details of the roles and responsibilities.
  2. Faculty Advisor - to ensure the internship aligns with academic goals and curricular relevance of the academic department.
  3. Dean of Program School - to verify alignment with departmental standards.
  4. Vice President of Academic Affairs - to provide institutional oversight.
  5. Registrar's Office - to ensure proper course registration and credit assignment.
  • Requests for an internship for credit must be submitted by the first day of the term in which the internship for credit will take place. All required approvals must be completed before the last day to add a course for the term in which the internship for credit will take place. Students can determine the last day to add a course for the semester by viewing the Academic Calendar.
  • A minimum of 30 hours of internship work must be completed for every 1 hour of academic credit. Internship hours must be completed within the term or sub-term in which the student will receive academic credit.

This policy ensures all parties involved-the university, company, and students-understand their roles and responsibilities in making the internship experience successful and beneficial for everyone. 

For any questions or clarifications regarding the internship program, students should contact their faculty advisor or the USAO Career Success Office.