The Academic Internship

A course-based academic internship is an approved and monitored work experience of a pre-professional nature that meets specific learning goals and is related to an academic field of study, normally within the confines of a department internship course offering.  In course-based internships for academic credit, the work at the internship site is integrated with the goals and assignments of the course itself.  The student intern completes the internship under the direction of a site supervisor as well as the faculty member responsible for the internship course. 

Legal and Liability Issues

It is important to ensure that organizations hosting interns comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The U.S. Department of Labor has outlined six criteria for determining unpaid intern status:

1.  Interns cannot displace regular employees.
2.  Interns are not guaranteed a job at the end of an internship.
3.  Interns are not entitled to wages during the internship.
4.  Interns must receive training from the organization, even if it somewhat impedes the work.
5.  Interns must get hands-on experience with equipment and processes used in the industry. 
6. Interns’ training must primarily benefit them, not the organization.
7. The extent to which the intern and the employer understand that the internship is conducted without entitlement to a paid job at the conclusion of the internship.

For more detailed information on how to ensure organizations comply with the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, visit the U.S. Department of Labor website. If you have questions about liability issues pertaining to internships, clinical, field, or other placements, please contact the UMS Risk Management & Insurance Department.

Out-of-State Authorization Waiver Request

State laws require permission for out-of-state students to participate in on-site educational experiences. Numerous states participate in reciprocity agreements which do not require additional waivers for out-of-state internships or other placements. The only state currently not participating is California. In all other states, you do not need to submit a waiver form. To complete an internship in California, please complete the State Authorization Form and send it to usmcareers@maine.edu.

Faculty Member

The academic component of the internship will be defined by the faculty member offering the internship course and will include analytical activities such as reflective journaling, compiling a portfolio, and writing integrative papers. Classroom activities and meetings should include periodic, focused discussions of student progress in the internship and on academic assignments. The grade for the internship will be determined by the faculty member and will be based on the academic assignments completed by the student and the evaluation provided by the internship site supervisor.

Internship Site Supervisor

It is a best practice for each intern to have an internship site supervisor who is responsible for overseeing the work of the student intern. The site supervisor collaborates with the student to establish learning objectives tailored to the internship and outlines the intern’s responsibilities to meet these objectives. Additionally, they conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the student’s performance throughout the internship.

Earning Credit for Academic Internship

At USM, each department is responsible for its internship courses, number of credits, and credit hours earned.

Credit Hour Ratio

Per the USM Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs for 2024-2025, a credit hour is defined as “one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and no less than two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time”, i.e at least 45 hours.

The New England Commission of Higher Education’s (NECHE) Policy on Credits and Degrees goes on to require “at least an equivalent amount of work” for other academic activities that lead to the award of credit hours, such as internships.