Internship
Internship
An internship exposes students to a professional environment that is educational and meaningful for their short-term academic goals. Differing from a co-op, an internship is not always paid and will typically take up a student’s summer time.
An internship with RIT requires a final evaluation grade from a faculty advisor, documentation from the employer, and credit hours for completing an internship. An internship for academic credit is only for students in College of Art and Design and select programs in College of Liberal Arts.
Benefits
- Experience a typical day of work in your field
- Gain credits toward your degree outside of the classroom
- Develop additional technical skills and soft skills such as time management, teamwork, attention to detail, and more
- Create strong networks with professionals in your field to help in your future job search
- Stand out from the competition with internship experience in your field or with a notable company
Difference from Co-op
If a student needs academic credit, it is recommended to register for an internship. The internship must occur during the registered semester and credit can only be awarded during that time.
If a student does not need academic credit, it is recommended they register for co-op, which is tuition-free.
Employers often interchange internship and co-op in their job descriptions. As long as a job meets the definition of co-op or internship at RIT, it can be registered.
Qualifying Work
- Related experience to field of study.
- Part-time or full-time, length of a term.
Compensation
- Paid or unpaid.
Job Search
- Search through job listings through our office career platform, Career Connect, or find on own.
Tuition
- Tuition is charged for course credit hours.
Approval
- Pre-approval through academic department required.
Registration and Reporting
- Receive approval in advance by faculty advisor. Register in SIS as Internship class.
- Report internship through the Office of Career Services & Co-op.
- Note: A student must be registered for the class during the same semester in which the work occurs.
Financial Aid
- Financial aid status would stay the same.
- If credit hours exceed 18 credits, additional charges will be assessed.
- Note: Students should meet with their academic advisor and financial aid counselor to verify this information as it relates to their aid or to discuss any questions they may have related to this topic.
Evaluation
- Currently initiated by student’s academic department.
- Evaluation from employer or samples of student work with written summary and meeting with faculty advisor required to receive a letter grade.
Grading
- Managed by academic department chair or assigned faculty. Receive grade and credit hours.
- Note: Credit can only be awarded during the semester in which the work experience occurs, consistent with RIT policy.
Qualifying Work
- Experience directly related to your field of study.
- Full-time (minimum 35 hours per week), the length of a term.
Compensation
- Paid.
Job Search
- Search through job listings through our office career platform, Career Connect, or find on own.
Tuition
- No tuition charged.
Approval
- Pre-approval through academic department required.
Registration and Reporting
- Registration and reporting a co-op is required prior to the start of the co-op. SIS registration is done through the student’s academic department.
- Reporting co-op is done through the Office of Career Services & Co-op.
- Note: Full-time student status is maintained (as relates to housing, Pell Grants, gym, etc.).
Financial Aid
- Typically students do not get financial aid as they are not paying tuition. Exception may be Pell Grants.
- Note: Students should meet with their financial aid counselor to verify this information as it relates to their aid or to discuss any questions they may have related to this topic.
Evaluation
- Initiated by the Office of Career Services & Co-op evaluation system. Employer is sent a Work Evaluation that they must complete and submit online. Student is sent a Work Report; completion is required. Academic department chair (or assigned faculty) has access to review.
Grading
- Managed by academic department chair or assigned faculty. Appears on transcript with a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory grade.
- The academic department assigns grade based on Employer Work Evaluation and the completed Student Work Report.
Qualifying Work
- Experience directly related to your field of study.
- Full-time Co-op: Minimum 30 hours per week, the length of a term.
- Part-time Co-op: 10-15 hours per week (not to exceed 20 hours), the length of a term, carrying a load of at least 6 credit hours.
Compensation
- Typically paid. (Exceptions must be approved by academic department).
Job Search
- Search through job listings through our office career platform, Career Connect, or find on own.
Tuition
- No tuition charged.
Approval
- No pre-approval through academic department.
Registration and Reporting
- Registration and reporting a co-op is required prior to the start of the co-op. SIS registration is done through the student’s academic department.
- Reporting co-op is done through the Office of Career Services & Co-op.
- Note: Full-time student status is maintained if registered for full time co-op (as relates to housing, Pell Grants, gym, etc.).
Financial Aid
- Typically students do not get financial aid as they are not paying tuition. Exception may be Pell Grants.
- Note: Students should meet with their financial aid counselor to verify this information as it relates to their aid or to discuss any questions they may have related to this topic.
Evaluation
- Initiated by the Office of Career Services & Co-op evaluation system. Employer is sent a Work Evaluation that they complete online. Career services coordinator in the Office of Career Services & Co-op and academic department has access to review.
Grading
- Undergraduate programs: Completed by career services coordinator in the Office of Career Services & Co-op. Graduate programs: completed by academic department chairs. Appears on transcript with a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory grade.
- A Satisfactory grade is given if student successfully completes the co-op.
Eligibility
Academic Level
Undergraduate students must be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.0 GPA and have completed their sophomore year. Students are not eligible for an internship after they have completed all their degree requirements.
Graduate students must be in good academic standing with a minimum 3.0 GPA and have completed one academic year. Students are not eligible for an internship after they have completed all their degree requirements.
Majors
Some majors require internships where others require co-op. For example, the colleges of Science, Art and Design, and Liberal Arts most often require internships rather than co-ops. See where your internship falls in your Program of Study.