Why you Might Need Credit & How to Register for it

Earning credit for an internship is optional. It may be a requirement for a major or minor, an internship site requires academic credit or you are in need of additional credits for your degree. If none of these circumstances fit you, you may want to consider doing the internship for the experience and to build your resume. Please be aware that summer internships require a faculty advisor and will be an additional cost aside from tuition.

Applying for Credit? Where to start.

  • Summer internship - choose a Park faculty member to oversee your experience. Be sure to reach out to the faculty member first to ask. *NOTE: Summer credits cost $625 each credit.
  • Fall/Spring internship – your Career Engagement Specialist will oversee your internship experience or you can choose a Park faculty member if they agree to do so. There is no additional cost for credits in Fall/Spring, as they are included in tuition.
  • Winter Break internship - choose a Park faculty member. Be sure to reach out to the faculty member first to ask. *NOTE: Winter break credits cost $625 each credit.

Fill out the credit application.

The internship credit application is on Handshake at https://ithaca.joinhandshake.com/experiences. Click on “Experiences" under the “Career Center” tab and then “Submit an Experience.” You should use the outline below to enter in the info and upload the required documents.

View an example

Attach supporting documents.

After you complete your application, go back and attach the following docs to your Handshake Internship Experience (there is a button for attaching documents at the end of the application):

  • Harassment Prevention completion certificate – take the online tutorial HERE. The Branch Code is 1048-90995.
  • Letter of agreement from the organization’s Site Supervisor to include:
    • Supervisor’s name and contact information
    • Internship start and end dates, and rough hours per week
    • Activities that you will engage in & how your responsibilities will increase over the term
    • What you will be learning (since you are receiving credit, it must be a learning opportunity with mentorship and support)
    • Description of the workspace/resources that will be provided. (Note that internships cannot be undertaken in a home office.)
    • Terms of compensation, if any

 Once you decide if you wish to request academic credit for the internship, simply follow the submission guidelines in Handshake, following all required steps on the Handshake Guidelines document. 

Internship Frequently Asked Questions

  • You must complete 45 hours per credit registered.
  • You can work more than 45 hours, as negotiated with site supervisor.
  • Summer internships will be based on the per credit tuition determined by the Office of Extended Studies.
  • Winter Break and Summer credits cost $625 per credit as of Sept. 2024. Summer scholarships for unpaid internships are available in the Park School and Career Center, but require applications in the spring semester.
  • Fall/Spring internship are included in tuition as long as you don't exceed 18 credits.

No. Unless required by your internship site, you do not have to register for credit for an internship.

If your employer requires documentation of academic credit, we can send them a letter confirming this. Send Suzanne Brache  (sbrache@ithaca.edu) the name, title, and email address of the person requesting it.