Internships, Research & Independent Study
This page contains information about internships, practical training, research, and independent study at Carnegie Mellon University.
Carnegie Mellon does not provide guidelines, practice or policy statements at the university-level for undergraduate or graduate internships, and most undergraduate programs or majors do not require an internship, work, or professional experience in order to graduate. Departments and programs have latitude to grant or withhold credit for internship experiences, and internships may be paid or unpaid. Advisors should confirm internship policies with their individual programs or departments.
Internships & Practical Training
During practical training or an internship, students undertake an experiential learning opportunity, typically with a company, non-profit, governmental, or community-based organization. The internship or practical training represents an educational strategy, an integral part of established curriculum, and in some programs a required component. Such experiences link classroom learning and student academic interests with the acquisition of knowledge in an applied work setting. To receive academic credit for practical training, students, in partnership with an instructor of record, must develop a training plan, including specific timeframes, explicit outcomes and clear expectations.
Career Internships
A career internship is a work experience that serves as “an extension of the classroom” rather than simply aiding in the everyday operations of an organization, as a traditional job would.¹ The main goal of a career internship is to “explore career options in a given field…gain some practical experience…and…build a resume.”²
Academic Internships
The main goal of an academic internship is learning. Students must be able to apply the knowledge they have gained in the classroom. The work the student performs should be related their academic coursework and the employer must be committed to supporting learning outcomes.
Research & Independent Study
Independent study allows the student to explore a topic of interest under the close supervision of a faculty member while earning academic credit. The course may include directed readings, applied work, assisting a faculty member with a research project, carrying out an independent research project, or other activities deemed appropriate. The independent study assigned units must align with the total hours of effort expected. Students must get approval from the faculty member who will oversee the work as well as their academic advisor prior to enrolling in an independent study course.
Notes
- From “National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE) Internship Position Statement,” by Kevin Monahan, 2013.
- From “Internships for Pay, Credit or None of the Above,” by Mary A. King, 2008.