The economics internship classes (Econ 289 or Econ 489) are learning experiences in which the student works in a business, educational, or professional setting, performing tasks related to economics. The internship allows the student to apply the concepts and theories learned in course work to an actual work setting.
The internship is performed under the supervision of an employee of the sponsoring agency/organization and a department faculty member monitors its academic component. Please contact our internship coordinator, Professor Rebecca Neumann, for further information.
Prerequisites
To enroll in an internship, students must have:
- a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher;
- completed a 100-level course in economics for a 289 internship; or achieved junior standing and completed a 300-level or above course in economics for a 489 internship.
Procedures
- The student meets with the faculty member who will supervise the progress of the internship. The student and faculty member submit a Faculty and Student Internship Contract. The contract must contain a proposal that defines the focus of the internship, specifies the academic requirements, and outlines criteria that will be used to assign the student’s grade. Generally, the student’s academic requirement will include a final paper summarizing the internship and how it relates to economics. A sample proposal is below. The contract must be approved by the department chair and is then sent on to the College of Letters & Science Student Academic Services office in Holton Hall 118.
- The student arranges an internship with an employer and completes a Student Internship Application. The application defines the student’s responsibilities, outlines the nature of the training, and specifies the role of the supervising agency/organization.
- The agency’s internship supervisor completes the Agency Supervisor’s Evaluation of the intern and sends it to the supervising faculty member near the end of the internship. Alternatively, the supervisor may write an evaluation letter indicating the same type of information.
Requirements
The internship must provide the student with an experience that is not attainable through coursework. The position should use the student’s economic skills and not merely be clerical in nature. This must be a new employer or new position for the student. Employment that does not extend the student’s capabilities will not be accepted as suitable for an economics internship.
Internships may be paid or unpaid. The number of credits (1-6) granted for the internship is subject to the approval of the supervising faculty member. At a minimum, interns must work 40 hours for a one-credit internship. The typical internship will be a three-credit internship requiring 120 hours of work. The internship is retakable up to six credits; however, retaking the internship will require an extension of skills/capabilities beyond the initial three credits and may only be suitable if undertaken with a new employer.
Students who register for an internship without completing the necessary paperwork are dropped administratively from the course. Students who wish to add an internship course may do so during the first two weeks of a regular semester. Students may not register for internship credit for work already completed.
Evaluation of Internship (Sample)
Grading Procedures
- Internship paper – 75% of grade
- Supervisor’s evaluation of work – 25% of grade.
Internship Paper Requirements
Length
- Approximately 8-10 pages (double-spaced)
Content
Introduction:
- Provide the purpose and scope of the internship.
- Provide a brief description of the organization/department.
Body of paper:
- Describe specific job duties.
- Describe how certain tasks connect to course work completed.
- Report any seminars/meetings attended.
- Describe what was learned during the internship.
- Describe how the information and skills learned may be useful to your future learning/working environment.
Conclusion:
- Describe the connection with or contribution to career goals.
- Summarize and discuss the overall experience.