Marianne Able Career Services Center

Internships for Credit

Academic Internship Program

Along with the chance to gain knowledge about an industry or particular company and a possible full-time job offer, registering an internship for academic credit also provides the following benefits:

If you’ve already secured an internship or plan on securing an internship for the upcoming semester and want to register it for academic credit follow the steps below.

  1. Review the Eligibility Requirements, Frequently Asked Questions, and the Internship Program Policies sections in this packet.
  2. On the Career Services webpage, look for the link and log into Handshake using your Jefferson Campus Key and Password.
  3. Step 3: In Handshake, click on the “Career Center” Tab on the top of the page; click Experiences. Once in this section, click on the “Request an Experience” button to enter information about your employer site and job description. Make sure to click the green “Request Experience” button at the bottom of the form!

    ** You won’t be able to complete this step until you have secured an internship for the semester you plan on registering during. If you need assistance in your search, please log into Handshake to schedule an appointment or stop by during Walk-in Hours (M, W, F 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; T, Th 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.)
  4. Step 4: After submitting the Request an Experience form, the Career Services staff will review your record for eligibility and your internship content to ensure it meets required standards. ALL steps and electronic paperwork must be completed by the last day to add a class for the semester in which you are registering.

    **
    If you do not meet eligibility requirements, or your internship needs further information/is not meeting standards, you will be notified via email.
  5. After you have submitted all required electronic paperwork, Career Services will email you to schedule a brief meeting to review the information submitted, go over internship course/experience requirements, and answer questions. After you have met with Career Services, your internship electronic paperwork will be sent to your supervisor on site to review and approve and then to your assigned Faculty Internship Advisor for your academic program to review and approve.
  6. Once employer and faculty approval is received, Career Services works with the Registrar's Office to register you in the appropriate internship course. You will be notified via email once this has been completed.

If you do not meet the eligibility requirements, please contact Career Services to discuss the appeal process for waiving these requirements. 

Undergraduate Day Students on the Thomas Jefferson University - East Falls Campus:

  • 60 credits earned as a day student in East Falls programs (EXCEPTION: Architecture students must have 90 credits)
  • If a transfer student, at least 15 credits earned at Jefferson
  • Minimum of 2.5 GPA (cumulative and in major)
  • Internship opportunity must be related to major and/or career goals

**Students may enroll in a maximum of 6 credits of internship courses to meet graduation requirements.

Graduate Students on the Thomas Jefferson University - East Falls Campus*:

  • Good academic standing within one's academic program
  • Internship opportunity must be related to major and/or career goals

*Students in the following graduate programs should register their internships through the Career Services Center and follow the internship guidelines outlined on this page: Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, Geospatial Technology, Fashion Merchandising & Management, MBA, Interior Architecture, International Fashion Design Management, Real Estate Development, Sustainable Design, Surface Imaging, Taxation, Textile Design, Textile Engineering/Technology, User Experience and Interactive Design. Students in all other graduate programs should speak with their program director in order to follow internship registration guidelines for their specific program.

International Students

International students on F-1 visas can gain experience in their field of study through Curricular-Practical Training (CPT) (PDF) which for our purposes is an internship. CPT allows undergraduate and graduate international students to work in an internship during their academic experiences as part of their curriculum. Requirements of CPT include that the student be eligible for and register to earn academic credit in relation to the internship. It is strongly recommended that students interested in participating in CPT meet with their academic advisor to determine how an internship course can fit into their schedule and to begin their internship search one to two semesters before expecting to work. For additional information about CPT students should contact:

Laura L. Bickert Ciarlello
Director of International Student Programs
Jefferson, East Falls - Kanbar 102
T 215-951-2660
Laura.Bickert.Ciarlello@jefferson.edu

If you have questions, visit the Career Services Center (Kanbar 313) during Walk-In Hours:

Mondays / Wednesdays / Fridays:   10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesdays / Thursdays:  2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

OR schedule an appointment via Handshake

Contact:
Call 215-951-2930
Email TJU_EF_Intern@jefferson.edu

  • Students gain credit towards the completion of their degree and get valuable professional experience at the same time.
  • Students gain a formal opportunity to draw on and apply classroom-learned skills in a professional setting through reflective assignments and coursework. 
  • Learning objectives are created and attended to in a collaborative and intentional manner between students and internship employers/supervisors.
  • Faculty Internship Advisors oversee each student’s experience. 
  • Internship participation is recorded on the transcript and students can earn up to 6 credits for internships (used to fulfill free elective credit).
  • Employers are required to formally evaluate a student’s performance and share feedback with the student at the conclusion of their internship.
  • Many employers require academic accountability for their internship program offerings.

Deadlines to Register an Internship for Credit:

The deadline to register an internship for credit is always the same day as the last day to add a class for the semester in which you intend to register for. Career Services requires you to have submitted your online form in Handshake and to have obtained the employer and faculty approvals by the deadlines below:

  • Summer 2024: May 20, 2024
  • Fall 2024: August 26, 2024
  • Spring 2025: January 15, 2025

*Several steps must be completed by the deadline, including faculty and employer review and approval…so don’t wait to begin the registration process.