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Thursday, March 28, 2024
The Observer

Arts and Letters grants credit for internships

This year, the College of Arts and Letters created a new policy that permits student internships to count for credit hours.

The University reassessed its internship policy to assure that the College fulfilled its commitment to academic rigor as more students participate in internships that could prove vital to their education, JoAnn DellaNeva, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, said.

“We certainly think that [internships] can be an important part of [students’] degree program,” DellaNeva said. “At the same time, the College is committed to offering a rigorous undergraduate curriculum, and this is one of the stated goals of Dean McGreevy [Dean of College of Arts and Letters]. Our new policy reflects our desire to balance these needs by offering our students opportunities to pursue internships for credit while maintaining an intellectually sound course of study.”

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Keri O'Mara | The Observer
 

DellaNeva also said the policy brings the College of Arts and Letters in line with the internship policies of other academic departments at the university.

The policy introduces two distinct kinds of internships: one-credit and three-credit, according to an email sent to Journalism, Ethics and Democracy minors.

DellaNeva said one-credit internships cannot be applied to a student’s major and are graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

“[One-credit internships are] characterized by mentored learning opportunities achieved through the completion of assigned tasks,” the email said. “The student does not typically take a lead role in determining daily activities or long-term projects."

The vast majority of internships fall into the category, and while students may do as many one-credit internships as they would like, only one will count toward their degree.

The second type of internship is the three-credit, or major, internship, according to the email.

“Major internships are characterized by independent, creative work that will be assessed by a Notre Dame faculty member and will be assigned a letter grade,” said DellaNeva.

Like the one-credit internships, only one major internship will be counted toward a student’s degree, DellaNeva said. The letter grade serves as a reward for the intensity and passion with which the student completes their internship, DellaNeva said.

“The distinction between these two kinds of internships will ensure that students who put extraordinary effort into an internship will be properly rewarded for their work,” Dellneva said. “At the same time, the intellectual integrity and rigor of the Arts and Letters degree will be highlighted and is certain to be appreciated in its own right by prospective employers and graduate/professional schools.”