Internships are experienced-based learning that will enrich your undergraduate education. You will work with employers to apply your skills and knowledge and to gain practical experience in your field of study and earn credits for your degree.

WHEN CAN I TAKE THE INTERNSHIP COURSE?

African/African American Studies (AAAS) internships are for students who are at the junior or senior level. The internship course is required for AAAS majors and is optional for AAAS minors. The internship course is offered two times a year: in the summer and fall semesters.

What are the qualifications?

• Must be a Junior or Senior at the time of internship
• Minimum G.P.A. 2.5
• Must have declared a major in an undergraduate program

HOW DO I FIND AN INTERNSHIP?

The major developer of internships is the MSCD Cooperative Education Internship Center located at 1045 Ninth Street Park (303-556-3290, http://www.mscd.edu/%7Ecooped/ ). Their goal is to help students with placements that match a course of study with relevant work experience. Suzanne Sullivan is EAS’ primary coordinator with Cooperative Education.

To use their services you will need to develop a resume (they offer a booklet of sample resumes, cover letters, etc. as models) and fill out an application through their office. You will receive information about current possibilities in your area and help with the interview process. They also post bright orange position announcements around the campus, and faculty receive them as well.

You can also find out about internships through your faculty advisor or you can develop one yourself.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

1. You are responsible for the paperwork. Pick up the forms in the EAS office or download the forms online at http://www.mscd.edu/~cooped/students_html/student_forms.htm. Make a copy of the APPLICATION form and the GUIDELINES AND AGREEMENT form to give to AAAS. When you have been placed in an internship position, you will complete the INTERNSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT form, and make a copy for AAAS.
2. Set up a time to meet with the AAAS internship advisor ______________. You and your advisor will fill out the APPLICATION FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT form, which includes determining learning objectives for your internship. You will also discuss special assignments or projects.
3. When you begin your internship, your internship supervisor needs to fill out one of the forms defining your responsibilities at the beginning of the semester. This initial form needs to be very complete to facilitate the evaluation. Your supervisor will also complete an evaluation form at the end.
Register for the internship course, AAS 499A?.

ACADEMIC CREDIT

What are the Evaluation Criteria? What are the African/African American Studies’ Expectations?

1. Time. You will keep a timesheet. Remember that 50 hours is required for each credit. The internship course is a professional experience, and we expect you to treat it as a professional job. Be on time.
2. Meetings. We expect you to meet with your internship advisor three times during the semester. Your meetings will occur once at the beginning of the semester, once at the mid-term point, and once at the end.
3. Final Report. You will be required to turn in a final report at the end of the semester. The first part of the report will demonstrate your knowledge of the organization for which you are working. Include things such as history, mission, goals, size, etc. The second part of your paper will talk about your internship experience, including what you did and what you learned.
4. Resume. You will submit a resume to your advisor detailing all of the things you did during the course of the internship.
5. Supervisor/Academic Advisor Evaluation. You will fill out a self-evaluation and your supervisor and advisor will use it to evaluate you at the end of the semester.
6. Assignments. Your internship advisor may give you other assignments such as research projects or research related to your internship.

OPTIONS FOR COMPLETING AN INTERNSHIP APPLICATION FORM

1. Fill out Online and then print
2. Print then fill out by hand

AFIRCAN AND AFRICAN AMERICN STUDIES MAJOR'S CAREER POSSIBILITIES