Credit-bearing Internships

Before you begin an internship

Remember, credit-bearing internships must be set up in advance. All learning packet materials, complete with signatures, must be turned in prior to beginning the internship. Internship credit will not be given retroactively. No exceptions! 

Most Cleveland Institute of Art students can get credit for an internship. But there are exceptions within certain majors, so it is important to check with your department head, the Career Center or Academic Services prior to the experience. 

Getting Credit for Your Internship

Credit-bearing internships are part of your academic program, and must offer a learning component that advances your skills in your field. They are formal collaborations among you, your employer, CIA faculty, and the Internship Coordinator. Non-credit-bearing internships are less formal, but we still encourage interns and employers to follow our guidelines to maximize the success of the experience. You can still seek help from the Internship Coordinator during non-credit-bearing internships. 

For more information on receiving credit for your internship, download CIA's Credit-bearing Internship Policy.

Setting Up Your Internship for Credit 

To organize a credit-bearing internship, you must follow this process BEFORE the internship begins: 

• Download an Internship Packet 
• Write a set of learning objectives  for your internship (Download CIA's Guidelines for Writing Learning Objectives for details)
• Gather signatures from your employer, faculty sponsor, department head, the Director of Academic Services, and (for summer internships) the Business Office 
• Turn in your internship packet by the end of the semester drop/add week (the summer deadline is flexible but payment is due prior to starting the internship) 
• Negotiate your salary with your employer (CIA does not take part in compensation negotiations. Whether or not an internship is paid does not affect your ability to earn credit for the experience.) 
• Work a specified number of hours depending on how many credits you wish to earn 
• Complete an internship evaluation 

Evaluating your internship

You will work closely with your faculty sponsor and the Internship Coordinator to make sure that your internship provides a positive learning experience and that you are meeting your employer’s expectations and your department’s program requirements. At the end of the internship, the employer will complete an evaluation form and you will write a 750–800 word reflection paper. (Credit will not be awarded until the employer evaluation and the reflection paper are turned in.) A copy of the evaluation and the reflection paper will be sent to your faculty sponsor, who will assign a pass/fail grade.