Academic Internship Credit Information
Overview
Internships are a great way to gain practical experience for a future career. As part of the Signature Experience program, all students completing internships for academic credit will meet regularly with a Faculty Internship Advisor and other student interns as part of a cohort. These meetings throughout the term will help you draw connections between what you’ve learned at Gustavus, your internship experience, and where you are headed in the future.
To qualify as a Signature Experience, an internship must be a minimum of 4 credits during the fall or spring semester, 1 credit during the summer or (2) 2 credits fall or spring semester (this requires a minimum of 120 hours at the internship plus 20-30 hours of engagement with a Gustavus Faculty Internship Advisor and student).
Students who complete the SigX Internship will receive a digital credential.
Policy/Requirements to Participate:
- Academic Internship Eligibility: Students must have 32 completed credits and have completed at least 1 semester on campus as a full time student to register for an Academic Internship.
- Academic Internship Requirements: All semester/summer Academic Internship students are expected to fulfill the expectations for the internship as agreed upon with their Site Supervisor. In addition, to earn the SigX digital credential and academic credit, they must participate in the cohort and complete reflective work assigned by the Faculty Internship Advisor.
- Grading Policy: All Academic Internships will be graded on a pass/ fail basis by the Faculty Internship Advisor.
- Site Supervisor Guidelines: All Academic Internships must have a Site Supervisor to whom the student reports to at the internship site. While you can work in a relative’s office, your Site Supervisor cannot be a family member or relative.
- Credit Limitations: A student will be permitted to count a maximum of 16 credits of Academic Internship toward graduation requirements.
- Applying Internship Credit to a Major: Applying Academic Internship credit towards a major is determined by the academic department.
- Retroactive Credit Policy: Previously completed internships are not eligible for retroactive credit.
- Academic and Disciplinary Probation Restrictions: A student who is on academic or disciplinary probation will not be permitted to receive credit for an Academic Internship. Students who register for Academic Internships accept the financial risks associated with being barred from participating should they be on academic or disciplinary probation or suspended when the term begins. These financial risks include, but are not limited to, unrecoverable deposits, fares, reservations, and pro-rated group costs. Students who are registered for an Academic Internship and then are placed on academic or disciplinary probation prior to the start of the internship will be deregistered.
- College Authority on Internships: The College reserves the right to remove a student from an internship if it deems such action to be in the best interest of the student, the College, or the host organization.
- Summer Tuition: Please note that summer tuition is required to enroll for a summer internship.
- International Internships: International Internships are not eligible for academic credit unless the country you are doing the internship in is your home country.
Registration Deadlines
| Semester | Deadline |
| Spring 2026 | January 23, 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | May 8, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 | September 14, 2026 |
Registration Process
Register for the appropriate Internship cohort (SIG 340 for your first internship, SIG 341 and then SIG 342 for subsequent internships) in MyGustavus during your assigned registration period.
- Register for SIG-340 for your summer internship by May 8 in summer 2026
- Register for SIG-340 for your fall internship by September 14th, 2026
| Credits | Hours at Internship Site | Internship Cohort Engagement |
| 0 credit (summer option only; Gustavus paid internship) SIG-340-000 | 120 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
| 1 credit (summer only) SIG-340-001 | 120 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
| 2 credit ** SIG-340-002 | 60 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
| 4 credits SIG-340-004 | 120 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
| 8 credits SIG-340-008 | 240 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
| 12 credits SIG-340-012 | 360 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
If students end up deciding not to do an internship, they can drop/withdraw from the internship cohort according to the normal add/drop policy guidelines.
** To fulfill the Signature Experience through internships, a student must complete a minimum of 120 hours at an internship site and participate in the SigX cohort led by the Faculty Internship Advisor (approximately 20-30 hours of work). Students may combine multiple 2-credit internships (approximately 60 hours at the work site) to fulfill the 4 credit requirement.
Review this page for tips on finding opportunities and explore internship opportunities by interest area using the resources and career tools, browse through Handshake using your Gustavus email, or schedule an appointment to meet with a Career Development Specialist (to schedule an appointment, call 507-933-7575 or stop by Career Development Center in the Johnson Student Union).
Complete the SigX: Internship Registration Form on Handshake
Students must have a confirmed and approved internship in place via Handshake by the applicable deadline (listed above) for approval or they will be automatically dropped from the internship cohort.
Other Information
Fall 2025 Faculty Sponsor for SigX Internship Cohort: Eric Vrooman – English
Spring 2026 Faculty Sponsor for SigX Internship Cohort: Kate Knutson – Political Science
During the academic year, students may enroll for 2-12 credits in the semester. The minimum hours for each credit designation are below.
If students end up deciding not to do an internship, they can drop/withdraw from the internship cohort according to the normal add/drop policy guidelines.
** To fulfill the Signature Experience through internships, a student must complete a minimum of 120 hours at an internship site and participate in the SigX cohort led by the Faculty Internship Advisor (approximately 20-30 hours of work). Students may combine multiple 2-credit internships (approximately 60 hours at the work site) to fulfill the 4 credit requirement.
| Credits | Hours at Internship Site | Internship Cohort Engagement |
| 0 credit (summer option only; Gustavus paid internship) SIG-340-000 | 120 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
| 1 credit (summer only) SIG-340-001 | 120 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
| 2 credit ** SIG-340-002 | 60 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
| 4 credits SIG-340-004 | 120 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
| 8 credits SIG-340-008 | 240 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
| 12 credits SIG-340-012 | 360 hrs minimum | 20-30 hours |
Fall 2025 Faculty Sponsor for SigX Internship Cohort: Eric Vrooman – English
Spring 2026 Faculty Sponsor for SigX Internship Cohort: Kate Knutson – Political Science
All students completing internships for academic credit will meet regularly with a Faculty Internship Advisor and other student interns as part of a cohort. These meetings throughout the term will help you draw connections between what you’ve learned at Gustavus, your internship experience, and where you are headed in the future. You will spend 20-30 hours within your Internship Cohort to accomplish your learning outcomes and complete your learning tasks and assignments.
Tuition & Fees
- Credits during the academic year are included in regular tuition costs.
- Summer tuition is charged on a per credit basis.
Financial Support
Typically, financial aid does not apply to summer, but students may consult with the Financial Aid Office about additional loan options.
Students may apply for the Engaged Learning Fund to offset expenses related to their internship.
Questions
Contact Career Development, career@gustavus.edu, 507-933-7575