Types of Internship Assignments
Internships in Landscape Architecture
Many definitions exist for the term "internship" and even more people use the terms "co-op" and "internships" interchangeably. For your convenience in navigating this process the following definitions have been provided:
Internship: Internships cover the broadest spectrum of experiential education and should include the following elements:
- An internship is an academic or career-related work experience. It can be paid or non-paid, part-time or full-time and coincide with the Fall, Spring or Summer academic terms.
- The internship should carry an intellectual, supervised and educational component.
- Guarantee a specific number of contact hours per unit of academic credit (e.g., typically 45 hours of total work per 1 unit of credit).
- There should be a description of the intern's duties.
- There should be a method for evaluating and supervising the intern.
Cooperative Education (Co-ops): Co-ops are a specific subset of experiential education.
- Co-ops are usually six month full-time, paid positions that are an integral part of a company's overall recruiting efforts.
- Work periods are typically from January through August or June through December and usually require the student to take a semester off from school.
- Employers sometimes bring a co-op student back for a second work period before they graduate.
- Successful co-op students are frequently offered permanent positions after they graduate.
Independent Study: Academic work chosen or designed by the student with the approval of the department(s) concerned, under an instructor's supervision. This work is usually undertaken outside of the regular classroom structure.
Volunteering: a person who voluntarily undertakes a task.
An Educational Experience, Not Just A Job
Even if academic credit is not granted for the successful completion of the internship, you should make an effort to view the internship as an educational experience and not just a job. Simply stated, this means that you will be asked to complete a short biography about the experience that can help guide others in their search for the perfect internship.
Internship Opportunities
Descriptions of internship opportunities currently available to students are accessible in 110 Bray Hall and on this website. (Link)
Monetary Stipends/Academic Credit
Many internships offer a monetary stipend. Because you may also be receiving academic credit, and because the internship is an educational rather than an employment experience, the college does not require that sponsors offer a stipend. Therefore, a stipend, academic credit, or both should be considered but not be the determining factor in your decision to pursue a specific opportunity.
