Departmental Internships
(Policy 2.28)
The internship program is one method used by Blue Mountain Christian University to integrate theory with practice. Internships carry credit in the student’s academic major, but the rules of the program and the course descriptions are the same for all participating departments. Practical experience in the workplace is not only an education in itself, but it is also increasingly sought by potential employers. All eligible BMCU students are encouraged, therefore, to participate in an internship experience whenever possible.
There are two types of internships at the University with regard to requirements, guidelines, and procedures: (1) regular departmental internships and (2) student teaching internships. The information below is designed for regular departmental internships. Requirements, guidelines, and procedures for student teaching internships are available from the Department of Education.
Students interested in internships should contact their academic advisors as soon as possible. A Departmental Internship Handbook is available on the BMCU website. All forms related to internships must be completed and filed with the academic advisor and the Office of Academic Affairs prior to registration for the semester in which the internship is to be completed.
Deadlines to turn in internship application and resume:
April 1: for fall/summer internships
November 1: for spring internships
Course Credit. A maximum of 6 hours internship credit may be earned except for the internship in student teaching, which is 12 hours. Convincing documentation must be presented for more than four hours of undergraduate credit in an internship. Blue Mountain Christian University requires 45 hours on the job per one hour of undergraduate credit earned. To receive credit, students must complete an application for internship and submit it to the Office of Academic Affairs and when all requirements are met, the student will be registered for the credit by the Office of the Registrar. Students who will be interns during the summer must register before leaving the campus in the spring or at regular summer registration. A student may not receive credit for a previous work experience; i.e., a student cannot receive credit for a summer work experience after the student has started to work.
Background Checks. All students must have a background check before being registered for an internship. Students must provide their own background check through the company contracted to provide the service to the University. Students are responsible for paying for the background check. Information regarding the background check is available in the Office of Academic Affairs.
Placement in Internships. No student may initiate contact nor arrange his/her own internship for academic credit. Either the faculty supervisor or the Provost and Vice President must initiate all requests to an organization concerning an internship, but a student may request that an inquiry be made at a particular agency. Blue Mountain Christian University does not guarantee placement for any student. All attempts will be made to locate an internship for each approved student. Interns assume any potential risks to themselves by accepting placement at an internship site. Blue Mountain Christian University is not liable for any injury or damages sustained.
Eligibility. In order to be eligible for an internship, the student must meet the following criteria:
- be of junior or senior academic standing
- have completed at least 12 credit hours at Blue Mountain Christian University
- have a GPA of 2.00 and be in good academic standing
- have a declared major
- have the written approval of the faculty supervisor
The signed application must be submitted to the Provost and Vice President before a placement can be sought for the student. This signed application certifies that the student has met all departmental prerequisites. The student must register for the internship in the office of the Registrar. In addition, the student must do the following:
- submit an application for participating in an internship
- submit a resume
- provide documentation regarding the background check.
Payment for Internships. The Office of Academic Affairs and/or the intern do not request payment for an internship. However, agencies may offer payment at their own initiative. International students may not participate in paid internships per Immigration and Custom Enforcement regulations.
Internship Liability. Liability for an internship experience can vary depending on the circumstances of the internship. The University carries insurance to cover claims arising out of academic credit involving bodily injury or property damage of each student. Students may be required to purchase Student Malpractice Insurance before being allowed to begin an internship, which depends entirely on the internship site requirements.