Internship Program
Requirements for 3- to 9-credit Internship
- Enrollment at Hood as a degree candidate (non-degree or non-matriculated students are ineligible for internships).
- A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and 2.5 GPA in the internship discipline.
- Completion of a minimum of 45 college-level credits prior to the beginning of the internship.
- Completion of at least 9 credits or three courses at the 200 level or above at Hood in the internship discipline. (See additional department requirements.)
Requirements for 12- to 15-credit Internship
- Enrollment at Hood as a degree candidate (non-degree or non-matriculated students are ineligible for internships).
- A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and 2.5 GPA in the internship discipline.
- Completion of 75 college-level credits prior to the beginning of the internship.
- Students may enroll for 15 credits during the spring or fall only. Students may enroll for a maximum of 12 credits of internship during the summer term. The number of credits available also varies by department.
Note: Students may take a maximum of 15 internship credits throughout their academic career.
Applying for an Internship
Students considering an internship should visit the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education to explore internship options and pick up appropriate paperwork, including an Application for Internship, Student Learning Agreement, Student Waiver Form, Photo and Media Release Form, and Time Sheet. Each of these documents will need appropriate signatures which includes a Career Development staff member, faculty advisor, and internship site supervisor. Upon completion of the paperwork, the student must turn in all documents to the Center for Career Development to receive the final signature to register for the 399 internship credits. The completed and signed time sheet should be turned into the Center for Career Development by the last day of classes for that semester.
Internship Responsibilities
All parties have specific responsibilities for ensuring the integrity and success of the internship experience. Please refer to the Internship Handbook available on the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education website (www.hood.edu/careercenter) for additional details.
Supplemental Expenses and Time
In fulfilling the expectations of the internship, the intern may incur expenses in addition to the usual tuition and fees. Students who enroll in an internship must plan to provide their own transportation or use public transportation.
Due to the time requirements of an internship, students may need to work during breaks and holidays. Campus housing is available when the College is not in session. The completed and executed time sheet must be turned into the Center for Career Development by the last day of classes for that semester. Exceptions to this policy must be receive prior approval.
Placement is not Guaranteed
Interns are not placed in sites, and it is the student’s responsibility to find a site. The Center for Career Development and Experiential Education and departmental offices provide many resources to the student to assist in locating a suitable internship.
Termination of Internship
Under unusual circumstances, any party involved in the internship may terminate the agreement. Because the internship is essentially a professional commitment, Hood strongly encourages students to fulfill their obligations to complete the full term of service at the site. Unfortunately, on rare occasions, the intern or the faculty internship advisor may determine that the internship site is not an appropriate learning experience, or the internship site may determine that the intern is not a good fit for their internship. In either case, any of the parties may decide to terminate the internship. If this occurs, notify the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education immediately. Please note: If an internship is terminated for any reason, the student is responsible for following all procedures regarding adding/dropping credits and is responsible for all tuition, fees and penalties associated with credit coursework. Please refer to the Internship Handbook available on the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education website (www.hood.edu/careercenter) for additional details.
Time Requirements
A student must work a minimum of 40 hours at the internship site for each credit earned. The total hour requirement is as follows: a three-credit internship requires 120 hours; a six-credit internship requires 240 hours; a nine-credit internship requires 360 hours; a 12-credit internship requires 480 hours; a 15-credit internship requires 600 hours.