Do I need to pursue my internship for academic credit?

Do I pay tuition for the internship course?

Is an internship an “internship” if I do not pursue academic credit?

Am I eligible to pursue academic credit for my internship?

Is my internship eligible for academic credit?

How do I get my internship approved for academic credit?

What do I do after my internship is approved for academic credit?

What is the deadline to have my completed Seidman Internship Agreement form turned in?

I’ve submitted my completed internship agreement, what do I do next?

What do I need to do to fulfill internship course requirements?

 

Do I need to pursue my internship for academic credit?
General Business majors are required to pursue an internship for academic credit to fulfill their degree requirements. For all other Seidman majors an internship for credit is an elective option. Before deciding to pursue an internship for credit please confirm with an academic advisor that an internship can count somewhere in your remaining degree requirements.

Do I pay tuition for the internship course?
Yes. If you decide to pursue your internship for academic credit you will enroll in an internship course and pay tuition dollars for that course, as you would any other course at GVSU. You will be required to complete assignments and fulfill course requirements as per the syllabus and instruction of your Internship Coordinator.

Is an internship an “internship” if I do not pursue academic credit?
Absolutely! Ultimately what we want you to have is the experience, that’s what your future employers care about. If the internship course can fit into degree requirements and is economically the right choice for you, factoring in timing and tuition costs, then great! If the internship course credit doesn’t work for you, you are encouraged to still pursue the internship for the experience and resume builder. You can still list the experience on your resume as an internship, regardless of the academic credit.

Am I eligible to pursue academic credit for my internship?
To be eligible to pursue credit for a Seidman College of Business internship, you must have completed your Seidman Success Standards (completed 55 credits with a 2.5 GPA, and completed ACC 212, BUS 201, ECO 210, ECO 211, STA 215, and MGT 268 which can be completed in the same semester as the internship).

You are limited to 6 credits of internship and/or independent study credit that you may pursue in your undergraduate degree. 

You are ineligible to earn academic credit for an internship if you received a ‘no credit’ grade for a previous 490/690 internship course, if you are seeking to do an internship to fulfill a Seidman minor degree, but your major is in a different college, or if your internship is within the marijuana/cannabis industry. While marijuana/cannabis is legalized in Michigan it remains illegal federally. GVSU is a federally funded institution and must follow federal laws and regulations.

Is my internship eligible for academic credit?
Internship eligibility requirements are as follows:
1. Your internship must be a new learning experience (meaning you have been in the position no more than 2 months). If the internship is not a new experience by our classifications then it is at the discretion of the appropriate academic department chairperson as to whether or not the internship can still count for academic credit. Please check with your appropriate Internship Coordinator first.
2. If you’ve previously pursued internship credit with a specific organization, you cannot pursue additional internship credit at that same organization.
3. To avoid potential conflict of interest, a student cannot intern for family members (father, mother, uncle, aunt, cousin, sibling, etc.)
4. The internship employer must be a multiple employee operation headquartered in an office and not out of a residential location. The intern must be working from the location of the employer's office. 
5. You are reporting to a professional working in your field of study. For example: A marketing intern must report to a marketing professional with background and experience in the marketing field.
6. If the internship position is a 1099 tax form independent contractor position it is not eligible for internship credit.
7. An internship has to be a current learning experience. Students cannot obtain academic credit for an internship that is done (or close to being finished) at the time academic credit is pursued.

How do I get my internship approved for academic credit?
You need to seek the approval of your Internship Coordinator to pursue an internship for academic credit. Please have your employer send the appropriate Internship Coordinator your internship job description via email
Internship Coordinators:
Professor Dori Danko, d[email protected] – Accounting Internships
Gerry Cooke, [email protected] – All other business internships

• If you are planning on participating in an international internship, see Seidman International Business Programs (3137 L. William Seidman Center) for details specific to this option. For U.S. and international students (F1 visa students) international internships are defined as internships outside of the U.S. and, if applicable, F1 visa students’ home countries.

 

What do I do after my internship is approved for academic credit?
Your next step in the internship process will be to complete and submit the Seidman Internship Agreement form. Review the Seidman Internship Agreement tutorial video prior to starting the online agreement form. You will only be able to submit a completed Seidman Internship Agreement form if all required fields are filled. Please be sure to have all the required information as this form cannot be saved and returned to at a later date/time.

What is the deadline to have my completed Seidman Internship Agreement form turned in?
Your completed Seidman Internship Agreement form must be submitted by the deadline established for each semester.
Fall Deadline - August 20th by 5 p.m. 
Winter Deadline- December 15th by 5 p.m.
Spring/Summer Deadline- April 20th by 5 p.m.

I’ve submitted my completed Seidman Internship Agreement form, what do I do now?

• Your Seidman Agreement form will be reviewed by the Internship Coordinator and Department Faculty Member for approval. You can follow your internship agreement form status throughout the process here.
• Once approved, the necessary permits/overrides will be processed by the Seidman Undergraduate Programs Office.
• You will receive an email to your GVSU email address when your Seidman Internship Agreement form has been processed, at which time you will be instructed to log in to Banner and register for the internship course.
• The course is structured as an online course. Course information will be posted in Blackboard where you will find the internship syllabus, information on internship assignments, grading policies, etc.
• Please regularly check your GVSU email address for the duration of your internship experience. You will receive very important information from your Internship Coordinator!

 

What do I need to do to fulfill internship course requirements?
The internship course is graded credit/no credit. You will have access to the internship syllabus in Blackboard for information on the point structure, how many points you need to earn credit in the course, assignment due dates, etc.
Minimally, you must complete 50 hours of work with your employer for every credit hour you are pursuing for your internship. A 3 credit internship course is equivalent to 150 hours of work with your employer. 10 hours of work a week in a standard 15-week semester would bring you to the minimal total hours.
*Your internship employer retains hiring and dismissal authority. Interns who are dismissed will be given a ‘no credit’ grade for their internship course.
*You are required to complete course requirements listed on the internship syllabus! This includes the following assignments: Log sheets, performance evaluation forms and the final report.

 

Internship Coordinators

Accounting Internships
Professor Dori Danko
(616) 331-7190
d[email protected]

Other Business Internships
Gerry Cooke MBA
(616) 331-7500
[email protected]


 

Questions

Contact:
Gerry Cooke
(616) 331-7500
[email protected]