Internship Credit
Academic Internship Program
The School of Business Administration offers an Academic Internship Program for students who wish to receive academic credit for approved internships. The National Association for Colleges and Employers issued a position statement on internships and believes that legitimate internships consist of the following criteria:
- The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
- The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
- The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
- There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
- There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
- There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
- There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.
Participation in an internship course for academic credit is beneficial to students for several reasons, including:
- Opportunities for reflection on internship experiences resulting in personal and professional growth
- A deeper understanding of civic engagement and responsible leadership
- Personal and professional support from the academic internship coordinator.
Courses
BSAD 220 is a one-credit internship and career preparation class that provides an introduction to the critical skills required for successful career planning and job searching. Students will complete self-assessment activities and learn about workplace issues, job searching, cover letter and resume writing, and interviewing. Topics addressed will also include professional correspondence and communication, personal branding, networking, personal finance, and career development resources. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.
BSAD 300 is a variable-credit internship course for elective credit, which is graded pass/no pass. Students must be working in an internship during the same academic term as the course enrollment. Contact Jana Lithgow to obtain permission for enrollment. Prerequisite: junior standing.
Variable credit is based on the following minimum work hours:
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One credit hour: 56+ work hours
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Two credit hours: 85+ work hours
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Three credit hours: 120+ work hours
BSAD 351 is a three-credit business internship course that fulfills the civic engagement core requirement. Topics addressed include developmental stages of an internship experience, business ethics, interpersonal and organizational dynamics, leadership development theory and practice, and Jesuit values in the workplace. Students must be working in an internship during the same academic term as the course enrollment.
Course Learning Objectives:
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Knowledge Competencies
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An introduction to leadership theory and practice
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An overview of the ethics of responsible leadership
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An understanding of civic engagement
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Skills Competencies
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Basic analytical and reflective practices as applied to the workplace in order to develop skills to be a productive employee
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Basic understanding of interpersonal and organizational dynamics in the workplace
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Basic understanding of the requirements for leadership skill development
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Values
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Developing a foundation on which a student may build a personal career vision
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Understanding the role of the Jesuit tradition as it relates to leadership and service to others
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Embracing the objective of responsible leadership
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The internship experience should be primarily related to one or more core business functions. Most of these experiences have been related to one or more of the 11 majors offered by the School of Business Administration. For internships that are not primarily related to business majors, students may take UNIV 390. Students will receive three credit hours and a letter grade for an internship performed concurrently with course enrollment. Prerequisites: complete BSAD 220 with a C- or better and junior or senior standing in the School of Business Administration.
UNIV 390 and other civic engagement options offered through the Center for Experiential Learning
The Center for Experiential Learning offers internship credit outside of the School of Business Administration. UNIV 390 is an internship seminar course offered during the fall, spring, and summer terms. For more information, visit http://www.luc.edu/experiential/internships.shtml. Students must be working in an internship during the same academic term as the course enrollment. Other Civic Engagment options CEL Civic Engagement options.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I take the internship class in the fall after my summer internship?
A: No. The internship must take place during the same term that you are enrolled in the internship course.
Q: What are the requirements for the BSAD 351 internship class?
A: Students must:
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Complete at least 120 hours of work during the academic term (eight-week summer term, 15-week fall and spring terms).
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Complete internship paperwork and course assignments as directed in the course syllabus.
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Work under the direct supervision of a professional staff member within the employer’s organization. This includes a learning agreement that is completed with the intern, and an end of term evaluation of the intern’s performance.
Interns may work for their family’s business, but may not be supervised by a parent, grandparent, sibling, or other close relative.
Some internship experiences do not conform specifically to the Loyola University Chicago academic calendar; contact Jana Lithgow (jlithgo@luc.edu) if you have questions about your situation and the hours requirement.
Q: I’m not sure if my job counts as an internship. What should I do?
A: Submit a position description or summary to Jana Lithgow (jlithgo@luc.edu) and request approval to count the job as an internship.
Q: My internship site is in my home state, which is outside of the Chicago area. Can I take an internship course through the School of Business Administration?
A: Currently, we require students to be on campus and in the Chicago metropolitan area to take the BSAD 351 course through the School of Business Administration. BSAD 300 or UNIV 390 may be an option for you. An online section of BSAD 351 is scheduled to begin in summer 2012.
Q: I haven’t taken BSAD 220, but I have secured an internship. What should I do?
A: If you declared a business major prior to fall 2009, you are waived from the BSAD 220 requirement. If you declared a business major during fall 2009 or later, you must take BSAD 220 before you can take BSAD 351. However, UNIV 390 may be an option for you to receive internship credit.
Q: My internship is for one year instead of one semester. Can I get additional internship credit for this?
A: School of Business Administration students are limited to six hours of internship credit toward graduation requirements. This can be earned through any combination of BSAD 300, BSAD 351, and UNIV 390 classes.
Q: It’s registration time, and I don’t have an internship yet, but I believe that I will by the time the semester begins. What should I do?
A: BSAD 351 is reserved for juniors or seniors in any major within the SBA. A student who is interested in enrolling must already have an internship or be prepared to start an internship by the start of the term for which he/she registers. Students will not be able to pass BSAD 351 without an internship.
Q: I’m an international student and would like to do an internship in Chicago. What should I do?
A: International students should consult with the Office of International Programs regarding internship eligibility before enrolling in an internship course.
Q: How do I find an internship? Will you assign me to a site?
A: Students requiring assistance with an internship search should contact Career Management Services and meet with a career advisor. Additionally, SBA Careers Online is a great internship search resource available only to School of Business Administration students at Loyola.
Q: My internship site requires that I show proof of academic credit before I can be formally hired. They also want the university to sign a hold harmless agreement.
A: Loyola University Chicago will not sign any agreement/verification holding the University responsible for an intern's actions (hold harmless agreement). We would be glad to provide a letter verifying that a student is enrolled in an internship class. Letters can be requested by filling out a request for letter form and dropping it off in Maguire Hall 220 or by faxing it to 312.915.7207.
Questions regarding the internship courses should be sent to Jana Lithgow, the School of Business Administration's academic internship coordinator.
