Philosophy
The academic internship program at CSU provides an opportunity for mutually beneficial, long-term relationships between the university and partners in businesses and other organizations. CSU students will benefit from valuable, real-world experience and our partners will benefit from the fresh insights and work contributions of the interns. The on-going dialogue between CSU professors and officials from sponsoring organizations will also be mutually beneficial.
University Requirements
Academic internships provide students with three (3) hours of credit and valuable experience in one or more of the functional areas of business, environmental management, or economics. Student interns work directly with an employer to enhance their academic experience by applying the concepts and techniques that they have learned in class. Interns must have junior status (61 semester hours) and at least a 2.75 GPR.
Following is a summary of the requirements for satisfactory completion of a business, economics, or environmental management internship:
1. A university representative will visit the work site prior to the placement of any interns with the organization. This visit is not required in cases where the internship is nationally recognized (e.g. FBI summer internships or nationally recognized corporate internships).
2. The student will be required to work at least 112 hours.
3. The supervising professor will assign a paper, five or more pages in length, to complement the on-the-job experience.
4. The student will meet with the supervising professor at least four (4) times during the semester to discuss work performance, research and progress on the assigned paper.
5. The supervising professor will communicate with the employer a minimum of three (3) times during the semester to discuss the student’s performance and ways that the internship experience might be enhanced. This communication can be by telephone, personal visit, or electronic means depending upon the particular internship.
The student’s grade will be based on workplace performance and completion of any assignments given by the professor. A grade of pass or fail will be awarded.
Employer Responsibilities
The employer will provide a valuable work experience in a safe environment for the student. If the employer experiences difficulty in working with the student, the employer will contact the supervising professor immediately. Specific employer responsibilities include:
1. Developing a job description for the internship and discussing it with the supervising professor and the student intern. The employer and professor will discuss job requirements prior to assigning an intern to a position.
2. Engaging in an on-going dialogue with the professor to ensure that the internship meets the needs of the employer, the university, and the student.
3. Supervising and training the student intern.
4. Providing an assessment of the student interns performance to the supervising professor.
Student Responsibilities
The student intern’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
1. Reporting to the internship on time, as agreed upon with the faculty advisor, employer, and immediate supervisor.
2. Abiding by all employer policies regarding dress and professional conduct.
3. Meeting with the employer as required to discuss responsibilities and
performance.
4. Communicating regularly with the faculty advisor.
5. Being a good representative of Charleston Southern University and the School of Business.
