The aim of every internship at Fitchburg State University is to connect students with meaningful, real-world experience through valuable, applied learning. Depending on the academic program, internships are available to all undergraduate and graduate students either for academic credit or as non-credit experiences, herein referred to as “experience internships.”
Internship Program Manual - Undergraduate and Graduate
See the internship manual above for everything you need to know about internships including information for international students, academic credit, funding, and academic department internship opportunities. Sample forms are in the manual but individual forms like the Internship Contractual Agreement and evaluation forms can be downloaded below.
Forms
- Internship Contractual Agreement (PDF)
- Internship Log of Hours Worked (PDF)
- Intern Mid-Term Evaluation (PDF)
- Supervisor Mid-Term Evaluation (PDF)
- Student Final Evaluation (PDF)
Where Do I Start?
The first step for undergraduate students interested in an internship is to decide whether to pursue a for-credit or an experience (non-credit) internship.
If you are undecided about which internship option to pursue, you can make an appointment with Career Services and Advising (CSA). An advisor there will walk you through options and next steps to reach your goal of completing an internship experience that is a good fit for your specific academic and/or professional goals.
If you wish to apply academic credit for your internship, begin by talking to your faculty advisor about your options and then in the academic department where the Internship Coordinator will guide you through next steps.
Graduate students interested in pursuing a graduate-level internship should visit the Graduate Catalog to determine which programs allow internship options.
Internship Program Manual - Undergraduate and Graduate
Mission
The aim of every internship at Fitchburg State University is to connect students with meaningful, real-world experience through valuable, applied learning. Depending on the academic program, internships are available to all undergraduate and graduate students either for academic credit or as non-credit experiences, herein referred to as “experience internships.”
An internship is a practical work experience in a student’s chosen major/field of study. Learning objectives, established with a faculty member, guide the student through their internship. A representative from the internship site and a faculty member from Fitchburg State work together to monitor the internship and the intern’s progress.
Internships are an important feature of the student educational and career development process. Internships allow students to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to real-world contexts and to build additional marketable skills desired by employers. They also provide an opportunity for students to explore various fields to determine whether those fields align with their career goals.
Internships for academic credit allow undergraduate students to apply credited work at the internship site toward their university degrees.
All undergraduate students at Fitchburg state are eligible to participate in an internship. Graduate students should refer to their program requirements in the graduate catalog to determine if their program offers an internship option.
While each academic department may have specific goals for their interns, the overall objective of the internship is to:
- Develop career-readiness competencies that will prepare students for a successful transition to the workplace.
- Develop an understanding of fields of career interest, including skills and responsibilities of professionals within the field.
- Cultivate a professional network within a student’s career/field of interest.
- Further clarify a student’s values, interests, strengths and skills.
- Help a student connect and articulate their academic knowledge and skills, including their liberal arts background, to the world of work.
- Demonstrate openness, inclusiveness and the ability to interact respectfully with all people and to understand individuals’ differences.
- Further develop the skills necessary to become lifelong learners and civic and global leaders.
- For graduate students, in addition to the above, they will advance their knowledge in a specific field, deepen their connections to peers and leaders in their community of practice, and broaden their ability to contribute professionally to their chosen field.
As part of an internship, students can expect to:
- Work with their academic departments and/or the Career Services and Advising Center (CSA) to search and apply for internship opportunities.
- Receive support during the application and interview process.
- Receive guidance and preparation support before starting their internship.
- Receive continued support and communication from academic departments and/or CSA throughout the internship experience.
- Receive opportunities to develop skills to enhance their marketability.
- Receive supervision and guidance from the internship site during the internship, in addition to providing regular communication with the student’s faculty supervisor. This communication may include a mid-term evaluation, a final evaluation, and onsite visits.
Students pursuing internships are expected to:
- Maintain communication with their academic advisors and CSA throughout the process.
- Complete a pre/post evaluation of their internship experience.
Experiential learning is a hallmark of a Fitchburg State education.
The campus Strategic Plan notes that “Experiential learning opportunities… will be available to all undergraduate students, and this learning-by-doing will extend classroom learning to ‘real-life’ business and industry, as well as non-profit settings, preparing Fitchburg State graduates to be career-ready, civically engaged learners and leaders.”
Internships are one type of experiential learning opportunity, and the university makes available three types of internship experiences for undergraduate students:
- Required for-credit internships: integrated into some academic majors.
- Optional (but recommended) for-credit internships: possible within certain undergraduate academic programs. For Graduate Students, Optional for-credit internships are available for some programs. Please review the University Catalog to determine if your program offers an optional for-credit graduate internship.
- “Experience Internships”: non-credit experiences managed through CSA.
The university also provides assistance with Curricular Practical Training (CPT) internships at the graduate and undergraduate level for international students with F-1 visas.
Academic Credit vs. Experience Internships for Undergraduate Students
Students in all majors with the minimum GPA requirement can complete an internship, whether for academic credit or not.
If students wish to complete an internship for academic credit (required or optional), they must begin by reaching out to their department internship coordinator or advisor.
Students seeking to complete an internship for academic credit will require supplemental materials, specified by their academic department (see Appendices).
All students pursuing an internship (required, optional, or non-credit) will receive CSA support to complete an internship during Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters.
Certain undergraduate majors at Fitchburg State require internships as the capstone, or culminating, experience.
These programs are listed below.
If your major requires the completion of an internship as part of your graduation requirements, please refer to Appendix A at the end of this document for specific information related to each department’s required internship program in the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, and the School of Health and Natural Sciences:
- School of Arts and Sciences
- Communications Media
- Human Services
- School of Business and Technology
- Engineering Technology
- School of Education
- Educational Studies
- School of Health and Natural Sciences
- Exercise and Sports Science
- Public Health Science
In each department, begin by working with the internship coordinator (or your faculty advisor) regarding specific internship requirements. Each department has different processes and standards in awarding internship credit. Your departmental internship supervisor will evaluate your performance and experience with you.
Depending on the academic department, the type of acceptable internship and expectations (minimum GPA, requirements for hours, etc.) may vary. The number of credits earned through the internship depends on the hours completed at the internship site (note: not all majors allow for all credit variations).
| Credits | Approx. hours/week | Total Hours/Semester |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9-10 | 120 |
| 6 | 15-18 | 225 |
| 9 | 22.5-27 | 337.5 |
| 12 | 30-36 | 450 |
The department internship coordinator/faculty advisor will assist you in locating a relevant internship site. CSA
can also provide support with searching for opportunities. Your departmental internship coordinator and CSA
can help you complete the necessary paperwork if you wish to earn academic credit for your internship.
Certain undergraduate majors at Fitchburg State offer credit for academic internships. Though these internships are not required for graduation, the programs below allow for-credit internships to count toward the major:
- Biology/Chemistry
- Business Administration
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Earth/Geographic Sciences
- Economics
- English Studies
- History
- Humanities
- Mathematics
- Political Science
- Psychological Science
- Sociology
As with required internships, begin by working with the departmental internship coordinator to explore specific internship options in the department in which you wish to earn optional internship credit. The department internship coordinator will assist you in locating a relevant internship site. CSA can also provide support with searching for opportunities.
Depending on the department in which you undertake the internship, the type of acceptable internship, number
of hours, and expectations may vary. Your faculty internship coordinator and CSA can help you complete the necessary paperwork if you wish to pursue an optional for-credit internship.
Certain Graduate Programs offer an option for-credit internship experience. See the graduate catalog to review
your program requirements and determine eligibility.
For graduate for-credit internship options, see the graduate catalog to review program requirements and determine eligibility.
This option allows undergraduate students who do not need or want academic credit to gain valuable experience through
an internship. If you select this option, you can receive support and assistance from CSA in planning your internship.
Prior to the internship, you have the opportunity to work with an advisor in CSA to formulate learning objectives
to ensure that you can articulate what you hope to gain from the internship.
Any student can engage in an “Experience” (non-credit) Internship in addition to the required internship their
major program may require.
For this type of internship visit the Career Services and Advising (CSA) Center
Internship Option Questions?
Make an appointment with Career Services and Advising. CSA supports all undergraduate students who are looking to complete an internship opportunity, either for academic credit or as a non-credit “experience.”
Hammond Hall 318 | careercenter@fitchburgstate.edu | 978.665.3151
Curricular Practical Training Internships (CPT) for F-1 International Graduate and Undergraduate Students
An international student on an F-1 visa who wishes to accept employment outside the campus must have an
authorization to work outside the campus. There are two kinds of practical training:
- Curricular practical training (CPT) and
- Optional practical training (OPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of off-campus work permission for F-1 international students who are
currently pursuing a program of study in the United States and want to gain applied experience in their field
of study.
CPT is defined as employment that is an integral part of an established curriculum, including “alternate work/
study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered
by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school” (Source: [8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)]).
International students must request Curricular Practical Training (CPT) using Fitchburg State University’s established processes.
Questions about CPT? Contact your DSO in the Office of International Education | Hammond Hall 316 | inthelp@fitchburgstate.edu | 978.665.3089
Paid vs. Unpaid Internships
Both Academic and Experience Internships can be and are, preferably, paid. Many, however, are unpaid.
If you are undertaking an unpaid internship, you will want to consider the following guidelines set by the Department of Labor to ensure that employers are abiding by appropriate labor laws:
- The internship should be an extension of your classroom education.
- Work activities should be related to your career goals.
- The employer should not use your intern position to offset the need for another employee.
- The student should be assigned a mentor.
If an internship is paid, student interns should be compensated at a rate of minimum wage or higher.
Funding Opportunities
The Internship Scholarship is a state and university funded program that provides financial support to students participating in internships.
Learn more about the Internship Scholarship from Financial Aid.
Where Do I Start?
The first step for undergraduate students interested in an internship is to decide whether to pursue a for-credit or
an experience (non-credit) internship.
If you are undecided about which internship option to pursue, you can make an appointment with Career Services and Advising (CSA). An advisor there will walk you through options and next steps to reach your goal of completing an internship experience that is a good fit for your specific academic and/or professional goals.
If you wish to apply academic credit for your internship, begin in the academic department, where the Internship Coordinator will guide you through next steps.
| Internship Options | Academic Credit | Experience (Non-Credit) |
|---|---|---|
| Who do I meet with to learn about options? | You faculty advisor | CSA Center |
| Where do I fill out paperwork/register? | Academic Department | N/A |
| Recorded on your official transcript? | Yes | No |
| Must be approved by a faculty supervisor? | Yes | No |
| Eligible to receive support through CSA? | Yes | Yes |
| Can I be paid at the internship? | Yes | Yes |
| Eligible for FSU Internship Scholarships? | Yes | No |
Required Internships
- Communications Media
- Education Studies
- Engineering Technology
- Exercise and Sports Science
- Human Services
- Public Health Science
Optional Internships
- Biology/Chemistry
- Business Administration
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Earth/Geographic Sciences
- Economics
- History
- Humanities
- Mathematics
- Political Science
- Psychological Science
- Sociology
Please contact the appropriate department or the Career Services and Advising Center if you have any questions.
CSAC | Hammond 318 | careercenter@fitchburgstate.edu | 978.665.3151
Communications Media
Communications Media students are required to complete an internship as part of their graduation requirements. The full-semester, 12-credit internship requires the completion of a semester of 30-40 hours per week of mentored practicum experience. The 6-credit internship requires the completion of a semester of 15-20 hours per week. Both internships require successful completion of the Internship Qualification Program in the semester prior to internship (fall semester for spring internships; spring semester for summer and fall internships), successful defense of a professional-caliber portfolio, and recommendations from concentration
faculty.
For more information, please contact the Communications Media Internship Director at 978.665.3260.
Human Services
Human Services students are required to complete 12 credits of internship as part of their program graduation
requirements. (Note: Beginning in or after Fall 2023, students will have the option of completing 9 or 12 credits of internship.) The 12-credit internship requires 450 hours in the field (approximately 30 hours per week). The 9-credit internship requires 337.5 hours in the field (approximately 22.5 hours per week). During the internship, students are supervised by mentors in the field who are responsible for orienting them to the site, providing daily tasks, helping connect fieldwork to coursework, and evaluation. In addition, students participate in a seminar experience that provides both individual and group supervision with a faculty supervisor. Students must apply to complete the internship the semester prior to their
intended internship experience and receive approval from the Human Services Review Committee based on academic and professional criteria.
For more information on the required internship experience, possible internship opportunities, eligibility requirements, and any questions, please contact the Human Services Fieldwork Coordinator at 978.665.3241.
Optional Internship Programs—School of Arts and Sciences
Students in the following majors have the opportunity to earn academic credit toward their degrees through internships. Please contact the department offices for more information.
Engineering Technology
The Engineering Technology Department provides students with valuable, real-world experiences through its high-quality partnerships and its internship sites. Students will find support from the department to help them identify and prepare for meaningful internships.
For more information, please contact the Engineering Technology Department Chair at 978.665.4843
Optional Internship Program—School of Business and Technology
Students in the following majors have the opportunity to earn academic credit toward their degrees through internships. Please contact the department office for more information:
Educational Studies
The educational studies program offers a culminating internship experience that connects course work with real-life applications. The internship is a required component of the Educational Studies degree.
For more information, please contact the Education Unit office at 978.665.3239.
Optional Internship Programs—School of Education
Students in Education majors have the opportunity to earn academic credit toward their degrees through internships. Please contact the department office at the number above for more information.
Exercise and Sports Science
The internship program in the EXSS department is a required, 6-credit experiential education program. The student intern contracts with an organization to provide specific outcomes/services that meet the students’ learning objectives as well as the needs of the organization.
Using the actual work as the foundation, the students actively engage in their own educational and professional growth through conscious reflection and analysis. They grow by relating to professionals in the field, practicing what they have been learning conceptually, striving for high (but attainable) expectations, and systematically reflecting on their experiences.
For more information on the required internship experience, possible internship opportunities, eligibility requirements,
and any questions, please contact the Exercise and Sports Science Department.
Public Health Science
Students in the Public Health Science major are required to complete a 3 credit internship. The Public Health Internship provides field experience at an outside agency based on the student’s academic interest, chosen in consultation with a faculty supervisor.
For information about the public health internship requirement, please contact the department chair 978.665.3246.
Optional Internship Programs—School of Health and Natural Sciences
Students in the following majors have the opportunity to earn academic credit toward their degrees through internships. Please contact the department offices at the numbers below for more information.
The School of Graduate, Online, and Continuing Education offers numerous graduate programs, from Criminal Justice, Communication, History, English, Psychology, Art, and Interdisciplinary Studies, to Business Administration, Nursing, Computer Science, Counseling, and various areas of Education (licensure and non-licensure).
Students interested in pursuing a graduate-level internship should visit the graduate catalog to determine which program allow internship options.