International Academic Internships

IMPORTANT: All paperwork for international academic internships is due earlier than for domestic academic internships!

Interim: All paperwork due to CEL by NOVEMBER 1st

Summer: All paperwork due to CEL by APRIL 1st

For many years now, St. Olaf students have found excellent opportunities to earn credit while gaining international internship experience.  If you are considering an international academic internship, it is crucial that you first read through the information below to ensure that you understand applicable policies and procedures. 

TRAVEL WARNING: St. Olaf does not allow students to receive St. Olaf credit via Independent Study, Independent Research, or Internships completed in countries under travel warning. See the U.S. Department of State’s website.

INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD: If your academic internship abroad will involve research activities with human subjects, be sure to see the Institutional Review Board’s website for steps to have your research project reviewed well in advance of the start date of your internship.

Hours and Credit

• For 1.0 credit, on-site experience plus academic work must total a minimum of 160 hours (120 on-site).
• For 0.5 credit, on-site experience plus academic work must total a minimum of 100 hours (80 on-site) NOTE: 0.5-credit internships cannot be completed during Interim.
• The academic internship counts as an elective credit and does not fulfill GE requirements. It can sometimes be counted toward the major or concentration (signature from the chair/program director of department is required).
• The academic internship is graded P/N and is listed as academic internship on your official transcript.

Required Paperwork & Sessions

• Academic Internship Learning Agreement & Plan or, Summer Academic Internship Learning Agreement & Plan
• Parent/Guardian Waiver - International/Off-Campus Studies
• Student Waiver - International/Off-Campus Studies
• Academic Internship Abroad Form
• Orientation: Students planning to do an academic internship abroad will be required to attend the International Off-Campus Study Office’s “Study Abroad Orientation.”  Contact the International Off-Campus Studies Office for date and time depending on the term you will be interning abroad.
• Reflection Session: Students returning from an academic internship abroad should plan to attend a reflection session facilitated by the CEL.  The CEL will contact students interning abroad with dates/times for reflection sessions.

Registration Process

• Secure an internship.
• Designate a faculty supervisor.
• Print the Academic Internship Learning Agreement & Plan. If you are completing the internship during the summer, use the Summer Academic Internship Learning Agreement & Plan form.
• Begin filling out the learning plan. Finish the form with your faculty supervisor and your site supervisor.
• You, your faculty supervisor, and your site supervisor need to complete applicable sections and then sign on the required signatures section on page 4. The department chair's signature is required only if you want the internship to count toward your major or concentration.
• Complete the job description - this can either be an official job description or a summary of what tasks you will be engaged in during the internship.
• Carefully read and sign the student release form.
• Make an appointment with Kathy Tuma in the International and Off-Campus Studies Office to receive information about traveling abroad, the required international waivers, and to obtain her signature on the internship form.
• Print and complete the Academic Internship Abroad form.
• After you have completed the paperwork (including the parent and student waivers you receive from Kathy Tuma) and obtained all the required signatures, call x3268 to make an appointment with the Assistant Director, Internships Program in the CEL to finalize the application. The Assistant Director is the last person to sign the form before it is taken to the Registrar's Office.
• CEL will keep the original Academic Internship Learning Agreement & Plan. Copies will be made for you, your faculty supervisor, your site supervisor, and Registrar's Office. You must take this paperwork to the Registrar's Office to officially register for the internship.
• Obtain an Interim Board Reimbursement form from the Businss Office window.

You should plan to register for your internship during the normal registration period. If you have questions about how you should register, please contact Sandy Malecha in the CEL.