An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. —The National Association of Colleges and Employers

Visit our Internship F.A.Q.s page for a full list of questions and answers.

Credited Internship Qualifications

MICA allows eligible students to receive three studio credits for internships that meet the college's guidelines for approved experience. We encourage all students to pursue internships; however, it is not a requirement of all students to receive school credit for their experience. Students in photography and film & video majors and curatorial studies concentrators are required to complete an internship for credit as a part of their degree plan. International student on F-1 visas are required to receive school credit for all internships conducted off-campus in the United States. Please review Internships for International Students for more information.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to complete a credited internship, students must meet the following requirements:

• Are enrolled in a degree program at the time of the internship
• Have completed their Foundation year (at least 27 credits)
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above 
• International students also have specific eligibility requirements. Visit Internships for International Students for more information.

What Qualifies an Internship for Credit?

• Your internship must be registered and approved before your begin working. You cannot receive credit retroactively.
• The internship must be related to your program of study and in the art or design industry.
• The majority of the work should give you a better understanding of the professional practice in your field of interest. Some administrative tasks are necessary, but this should be kept to a minimum.
• You should have a designated supervisor to mentor you throughout the internship. This supervisor should be a trained professional in the area of the internship, and have the time to dedicate to your training. 
• The internship site should not be dependent on the work of the intern.
• You must be working on-site at an established business or with a professional artist or designer. Virtual internships conducted from home are not eligible for credit.
• A work station should be available to you, including any necessary equipment, software or technology.
• Credited internship experiences must adhere to the factors of the “primary beneficiary test” established by US Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act:

1. The extent to which the intern and the employer clearly understand that there is no expectation of compensation. Any promise of compensation, express or implied, suggests that the intern is an employee and vice versa.
2. The extent to which the internship provides training that would be similar to that which would be given in an educational environment, including the clinical and other hands-on training provided by educational institutions.
3. The extent to which the internship is tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.
4. The extent to which the internship accommodates the intern’s academic commitments by corresponding to the academic calendar.
5. The extent to which the internship’s duration is limited to the period in which the internship provides the intern with beneficial learning.
6. The extent to which the intern’s work complements, rather than displaces, the work of paid employees while providing significant educational benefits to the intern.
7. The extent to which the intern and the employer understand that the internship is conducted without entitlement to a paid job at the conclusion of the internship.

Required Coursework

All of these requirements are explained during the Internship Orientation, and will be given to you electronically when you receive your Internship Learning Contract approval confirmation. If you are currently completing an internship and needs these assignments resent to you, contact Career Development. In order to receive a passing grade for your internship, you must complete the following assignments:

• On-site work, a minimum of 120 hours unpaid or paid
• Midpoint and Final Logs of Hours
• Midpoint and Final Internship Questionnaires
• Midpoint and Final Supervisor Evaluations
• Three Informational Interviews
• Career Exploration Map
• Resume and Cover Letter Samples
• Final Internship Summary
• Final Presentation with Photo Documentation

Registering an Internship for Credit?

Review our How to Register an Internship page for further details.