Internships

Internship Eligibility

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Internship Eligibility

"An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting."
—The National Association of Colleges and Employers

For-Credit Internship Eligibility

For-Credit Internship Eligibility

MICA students can register an internship that meets the college's guidelines as a studio elective, and up to six (6) credits of internship during their studies. It is not required for all students to register for credit, though international students interning in the United States and a few programs of study are required to do so.

Students who register their internship for school credit are enrolled in a 1.5- or 3-credit studio course facilitated by Career Development.

 

 



MICA determines if an internship meets the requirements to award school credit, not the employer. Career Development evaluates internships based on the outlined responsibilities and goals established by the student and the employer to determine if the experience meets MICA’s academic standards.

MICA students are eligible to receive three studio credits for internships that meet the college's guidelines for approved experience. We encourage all students to pursue internships, though it is not a requirement of all students to register their internships for school credit. Students in Photography, Film & Video, and Product Design and the Curatorial Studies minor are required to complete a for-credit internship as a part of their degree plan. International student on F-1 visas are required to receive school credit for all internships conducted off-campus in the United States. Please review Internships for International Students for more information.

To be eligible to complete a for-credit internship, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Currently enrolled in a degree program at the time of the internship *
  • BFA students who have completed their Foundation year (at least 27 credits)
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above 

International students have specific eligibility requirements depending on their visa status. F-1 students can intern off campus in the United States if they are eligible and approved for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Visit Internships for International Students for more information.

* MPS degree plans do not allow students to register internships for school credit
  • Internship that is registered before it begins to ensure the experience meets MICA's requirements.
  • Internship should be within an industry that relates to the student's program of study and professional goals.
  • Internship can be on-site, hybrid, or remote.
  • The student is working with an established business that has been operational for at least one year, or a professional artist or creative. 
  • Experiences on MICA's campus relating to MICA's routine operations are not eligible, with the exception of internships with Globe Collection & Press, and RCCE’s E/Studio.
  • Students can serve as an intern for a faculty member’s creative practice or a MICA-affiliated program outside of their routine MICA teaching responsibilities. Students cannot be enrolled in a course led by that faculty member at the time of the internship.
  • Students may intern with MICA alumni who are at least 2 years post-graduation.
  • Unpaid internship experiences are to adhere to the “primary beneficiary test” established by US Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act
 

For more details, visit The Department of Labor's Fact Sheet #71: Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act

  1. The extent to which the intern and the employer clearly understand that there is no expectation of compensation. Any promise of compensation, express or implied, suggests that the intern is an employee and vice versa.
  2. The extent to which the internship provides training that would be similar to that which would be given in an educational environment, including the clinical and other hands-on training provided by educational institutions.
  3. The extent to which the internship is tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.
  4. The extent to which the internship accommodates the intern’s academic commitments by corresponding to the academic calendar.
  5. The extent to which the internship’s duration is limited to the period in which the internship provides the intern with beneficial learning.
  6. The extent to which the intern’s work complements, rather than displaces, the work of paid employees while providing significant educational benefits to the intern.
  7. The extent to which the intern and the employer understand that the internship is conducted without entitlement to a paid job at the conclusion of the internship.
  • The intern’s supervisor should be trained and more skilled in the specific type of work being completed by the intern.
  • Supervisors should be present and available when the intern is scheduled to work, including regular virtual check-in times if working remotely.
  • More details can be found on Build Your Internship Program.
  • The internship site should not be dependent on the work of the intern.
  • The majority of the work should provide the intern with a better understanding of the professional practice in this industry or organization. Some administrative tasks are necessary, but this should be kept to a minimum.
  • A work station including any necessary equipment, software, or technology, is to be made available to the intern.
  • Develop a framework for the experience, but allow flexibility to assign tasks based on the intern’s strengths and interests.
  • Clearly articulate expectations and goals from the beginning to ensure a mutually beneficial opportunity.
  • Learn more by visiting Build Your Internship Program.

The internship course is facilitated online through Canvas. Students will be added to the course once their Internship Learning Agreement has been approved. Students are expected to complete the following in order to pass:

  • Minimum of 60 (1.5 credits) or 120 (3 credits) working hours
  • Hour Log
  • Midpoint & Final Student Questionnaires
  • Midpoint & Final Supervisor Evaluations
  • Informational Interviews
  • Virtual Check-In with Career Development
  • Discussion posts on professional development-related themes
  • Submit Updated Resume
  • Internship Summary
  • Final Presentation with Photo Documentation

How to Register Internship for School Credit

How to Register an Internship
Internship Orientation
Internship FAQs
Internships for International Students
Internship Basics for Employers

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