Course Options
Courses through your Academic Department
For internship credits and courses in your major, check with your academic department for the specific criteria they have for positions to qualify for internship credit. Most academic departments offer an internship course, usually numbered 495. It is important that you talk with your faculty sponsor to follow the requirements of your academic department. Here are some things to be sure of:
- Does the department expect you to have completed any specific courses before you enroll in an internship?
- Does the department expect you to have completed a minimum number of credits in the major before enrolling in an internship?
- What is the minimum number of hours on the job that the department requires to qualify for credits?
- What range of credits does the department allow and how is the number of credits decided? How many credits does your internship qualify for? How many should you register for (how many will apply toward your graduation)?
Courses as General Elective Credits
In addition, PLU offers internships as general elective credits. These courses are numbered 276 and 476. The PLU course catalog has a list of approved courses.
The AICE 276 and 476 courses are for part-time internships (AICE = Academic Internship Cooperative Education). You may register for up to 8 credits for either of these two courses.
The COOP 276 and 476 courses are for full-time internships (COOP = Cooperative Education). Each of these courses are for 12 credits, minimum for be a full-time student. COOP 477, International Work Experience, offers a 1 to 12 credit range. Please see the Wang Center for more information on international work experiences. The university allows a maximum of 16 credits of Academic Internships toward any undergraduate degree. Graduate students enter into COOP 576; requirements for this course may be different from those for an undergraduate internship.
For AICE and COOP there is no actual "class" to attend. It is a course you enroll in to earn the credits. How you earn those credits is unique to nearly all internship experiences and is determined by the faculty sponsor. You should keep in mind that the Learning Agreement you prepare serves as a syllabus for your internship and should reflect the number of credits in its challenges.
276 Internships
- Must be in your stated field of interest
- Must involve challenging, professionally related responsibilities
- Are intended for career exploration
The 276 courses are intended for lower division students or any student who would like to explore a career field before choosing a major field of study. If you are a student wanting an exploratory experience, the position should give you a glimpse of the skills and abilities that are necessary for success in the career field. You should be able to ascertain how successful you would be in pursuing studies related to that field and how happy you would be studying and doing this kind of work.
476 Internships
- Must apply academic concepts
- Must be in a career field related to your academic major or area of interest
- Must offer challenging, professionally related responsibilities
The 476 courses are intended for students who have completed courses in their major and are ready to apply the classroom studies to their chosen career field. The internship position for a 476 course should give you an opportunity to use the academic training you are receiving to develop knowledge and skills you will need as a professional. As you are reviewing potential internships, consider the academic program in which you are enrolled and how the concepts you have studied may be applied in the work you may be doing.
Grades
An internship may be taken for a letter grade or as pass/fail. Consider carefully the university's limitations on the number of pass/fail credits allowed toward graduation, both within the major and outside the major. Each experience must be evaluated on its own merits and the level to which you have achieved your objectives, including the academic quality of your documentation. The higher the number of credits, the more stringent is the documentation and grading criteria. The key is to follow through with all expectations stated on the Learning Agreement. If, at the time you are preparing your final documents, you are uncertain about anything, contact your faculty sponsor to clarify any questions you have.
PLU is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment and in education for all members of the University community without regard to an individual's race, color, creed, religion, gender, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, marital status, sexual orientation or any other status protected by law.