Academic Internship Course

Academic Internships are available to juniors and seniors who wish to pursue an opportunity linked to their major or minor. Internships are supervised by an Internship Specialist who helps facilitate learning and self-reflection. 

• Students must be of junior or senior status during semester of completion.
  • Sophomores who wish to complete an Academic Internship must submit a written appeal to the Career Advancement Center. Contact cacintern@lakeforest.edu for more information.
• Students must be in good judicial and academic standing by time of application and must receive academic advisor approval.
• Academic Probation: Students on academic probation are not eligible to receive academic credit for an internship. Appeals to this policy may be submitted to the Academic Appeals Board.
• Disciplinary Probation: Students on disciplinary probation may not be allowed to earn credit for an internship while on probation. Students who are on probation, have displayed a pattern of behavior, or have had at least one serious violation, may need to discuss their eligibility directly with the Dean of Students.

Please refer to our Academic Internship Program Fact Sheet for additional information regarding the internship search process and timeline.

As mentioned above, some employers start recruiting for student interns several months in advance! Therefore, we recommend that you meet with your Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship search and application process within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern.

• Students interested in pursuing an Academic Internship must first complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. 
• Internship must be completed in a student’s major or minor.
• A minimum of 1 credit and maximum of 2 credits may be awarded for each internship per semester. 
  • 1 credit = 150 hours of on-the-job experience
  • 2 credits = 300 hours of on-the-job experience
  • A student will not typically be allowed to receive more than a total of 3 internship credits during their time at the College. 
    • Exception: Students in the Lake Forest College In The Loop program can earn up to 4 internship credits, with the 4th credit being taken during the In The Loop program. 
• Retroactive credit is not permitted. In order for you to earn credit for your internship you must complete required weekly assignments supervised by your Internship Specialist concurrent with the internship experience.
• 100% commission-based internships will not be approved for academic credit.  

The internship search is a two-semester process!

Therefore, we recommend that you meet with your Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship search and application process within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern.*

*Please be aware that some organizations, such as those in Business and Finance, may start recruiting for interns one year in advance! 

• The first step for all students in the internship search process is completing the Academic Internship Interest Form. 
• The next step is to connect with the CAC. As mentioned above, some employers start recruiting for student interns several months in advance! Therefore, we recommend that you meet with your Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship search and application process within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern.
• Be aware of these important timelines:
  • Fall and Spring Semesters: Students should work with their Internship Specialist to secure their Academic Internship and submit their internship application no later than one week prior to the add/drop date for classes to allow time for approvals.
  • Summer Terms: Summer applications are accepted on a rolling basis. However, the preferred registration deadline for summer Academic Internships is one week prior to the first day of the Summer 1 Term. All internship hours and required internship assignments must be completed by the last day of the Summer 2 Term, unless the student receives advance permission from their Internship Specialist. Learn more about summer internships on the Summer Internships page.
  • Acceptance of Offer: Once an offer has been accepted, the student is expected to stop applying for positions and decline subsequent interviews. Students must honor their commitment to their employer once they have accepted an offer. The Internship Specialist is available to help assist in evaluating an offer before accepting and committing to the position.
  • Start/End Dates: Academic Internships include required internship assignments. As such, internship start/end dates must coincide with those of the academic semester. Students may not start their internship before securing approval from their Internship Specialist. Any hours worked prior to the first day of classes will not count toward the required minimum. Additionally, if students complete their minimum required hours early, they may not end their internship prior to the last day of classes.

Academic (for-credit) Internships:
Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships. Students earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship, as well as completing required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist. Students will work with a Career Advancement Center Internship Specialist to identify and set internship goals, target employers offering meaningful learning experiences, and complete the accompanying coursework.

Continuation of Internship or Part-Time Job:
Internships must provide real career-building experience. Students wishing to continue an existing internship or part-time job as an Academic Internship must show that their responsibilities have significantly changed and that the new responsibilities will give the student a sufficiently different educational/academic experience.

Remote Internships:
Typically, the bulk of internship work should take place at a physical site. However, remote internships will be considered. Students must meet with their Internship Specialist to discuss the details of the remote internship and receive approval before starting in their position.

Commission-Based Internships:
Internships based solely on commission will not be approved.

Non-Credit Internships:
Students who are not yet eligible to complete an Academic Internship, have earned all available internship credits, and/or wish to pursue an internship that does not meet the Academic Internship Program Guidelines may choose to pursue a non-credit internship.  Non-credit internships are separate from our formal Academic Internship Program and are student-directed. Students may work with an Internship Specialist for additional career advising support and assistance developing their search strategy, however these internships are not supervised by the Career Advancement Center. * 

*Students should be aware that certain organizations may only offer internships for academic credit.

Pursuing an internship (for-credit or non-credit) is just one way a student may satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement. Please refer to the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage for a complete list of ways that students may fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement.

Types of Internships:

1. Academic (for-credit) Internships
   1. Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships, allowing students to earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship and completion of required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist.
   2. Please see the Academic Internship Course webpage for additional details.
2. Non-credit Internships
   1. Students may also satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement with an approved non-credit internship. A non-credit internship is separate from our formal Academic Internship Program and the process is student-directed.
   2. Should students wish to satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement with a non-credit internship, they will first need to complete the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Form, located in the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Guide, as well as identify a Faculty Project Supervisor. More information may be found on the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage. 
   3. Students may contact their Internship Specialist for additional support and assistance developing their search strategy. However, non-credit internships are not supervised by the Career Advancement Center. 
   4. Students should be aware that certain organizations may only offer internships for academic credit.

1. Complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. The Career Advancement Center will assign you to an Internship Specialist who will help you with your internship search. 
2. Review the complete Academic Internship Program Guidelines.
3. Connect with your Academic Advisor to ensure that an Academic Internship will fit into your academic plan.
4. Meet with your assigned Internship Specialist within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern, to discuss the Academic Internship search and approval process. Your Internship Specialist will also help you craft your resume and cover letters and prepare for interviews. 
5. Once you have secured an internship you must contact your Internship Specialist for information on how to register your internship. 

Academic Internships are available to international students with junior or senior status who wish to pursue an opportunity linked to their major. Internships are supervised by an Internship Specialist who helps facilitate learning and self-reflection. 

• Students must be of junior or senior status during semester of completion.
  • Sophomores who wish to complete an Academic Internship must submit a written appeal to the Career Advancement Center. Contact cacintern@lakeforest.edu for more information.
• Students must be in good judicial and academic standing by time of application and must receive academic advisor approval.
• Academic Probation: Students on academic probation are not eligible to receive academic credit for an internship. Appeals to this policy may be submitted to the Academic Appeals Board.
• Disciplinary Probation: Students on disciplinary probation may not be allowed to earn credit for an internship while on probation. Students who are on probation, have displayed a pattern of behavior, or have had at least one serious violation, may need to discuss their eligibility directly with the Dean of Students.

Please refer to our Academic Internship Program Fact Sheet for additional information regarding the internship search process and timeline.

As mentioned above, some employers start recruiting for student interns several months in advance! Therefore, we recommend that you meet with your Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship search and application process within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern.

• Students interested in pursuing an Academic Internship must first complete the Academic Internship Interest Form.
• International students must be registered for internship credit in their major field of study in order to participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT). See Employment and Eligibility for additional information regarding work authorization.
  • Students interested in pursuing an Academic Internship must first complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. 
  • A minimum of 1 credit and maximum of 2 credits may be awarded for each internship per semester. 
    • 1 credit = 150 hours of on-the-job experience
    • 2 credits = 300 hours of on-the-job experience
    • A student will not typically be allowed to receive more than a total of 3 internship credits during their time at the College. 
      • Exception: Students in the Lake Forest College In The Loop program can earn up to 4 internship credits, with the 4th credit being taken during the In The Loop program. 
  • Retroactive credit is not permitted. In order for you to earn credit for your internship you must complete required weekly assignments supervised by your Internship Specialist concurrent with the internship experience.
  • 100% commission-based internships will not be approved for academic credit.  

The internship search is a two-semester process!

Therefore, we recommend that you meet with your Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship search and application process within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern.*

*Please be aware that some organizations, such as those in Business and Finance, may start recruiting for interns one year in advance! 

• The first step for all students in the internship search process is completing the Academic Internship Interest Form. 
• The next step is to connect with the CAC. As mentioned above, some employers start recruiting for student interns several months in advance! Therefore, we recommend that you meet with your Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship search and application process within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern.
• Be aware of these important timelines:
  
  • Fall and Spring Semesters: Students should work with their Internship Specialist to secure their Academic Internship and submit their internship application no later than one week prior to the add/drop date for classes to allow time for approvals.
  • Summer Terms: Summer applications are accepted on a rolling basis. However, the preferred registration deadline for summer Academic Internships is one week prior to the first day of the Summer 1 Term. All internship hours and required internship assignments must be completed by the last day of the Summer 2 Term, unless the student receives advance permission from their Internship Specialist. Learn more about summer internships on the Summer Internships page.
  • Acceptance of Offer: Once an offer has been accepted, the student is expected to stop applying for positions and decline subsequent interviews. Students must honor their commitment to their employer once they have accepted an offer. The Internship Specialist is available to help assist in evaluating an offer before accepting and committing to the position.
  • Start/End Dates: Academic Internships include required internship assignments. As such, internship start/end dates must coincide with those of the academic semester. Students may not start their internship before securing approval from their Internship Specialist. Any hours worked prior to the first day of classes will not count toward the required minimum. Additionally, if students complete their minimum required hours early, they may not end their internship prior to the last day of classes.*
    
    *International students may not start their internship before receiving CPT authorization from either Sandra Ortiz (F-1 Visas) or Alexandra Olson (J-1 Visas). See Employment and Eligibility for additional information regarding work authorization.

Academic (for-credit) Internships:
Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships. Students earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship, as well as completing required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist. Students will work with a Career Advancement Center Internship Specialist to identify and set internship goals, target employers offering meaningful learning experiences, and complete the accompanying coursework.*

*International students must be registered for internship credit in their major field of study in order to participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT). See Employment and Eligibility for additional information regarding work authorization.

Continuation of Internship or Part-Time Job:
Internships must provide real career-building experience. Students wishing to continue an existing internship or part-time job as an Academic Internship must show that their responsibilities have significantly changed and that the new responsibilities will give the student a sufficiently different educational/academic experience.

Remote Internships:
Typically, the bulk of internship work should take place at a physical site. However, remote internships will be considered. Students must meet with their Internship Specialist to discuss the details of the remote internship and receive approval before starting in their position.

Commission-Based Internships:
Internships based solely on commission will not be approved.

Non-Credit Internships:
International students on an F-1 or J-1 Visa are not eligible to complete non-credit internships.

Pursuing an Academic (for-credit) Internship is just one way international students may satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement. Please refer to the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage for a complete list of ways that students may fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement.

Academic (for-credit) Internships 

1. Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships, allowing students to earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship and completion of required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist.
2. Please see the Academic Internship Course webpage for additional details.

Other qualifying experiences

1. Should students wish to satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement with one of the other qualifying experiences, they will first need to complete the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Form, located in the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Guide, as well as identify a Faculty Project Supervisor. 
2. More information may be found on the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage. 

1. Complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. The Career Advancement Center will assign you to an Internship Specialist who will help you with your internship search. 
2. Review the complete Academic Internship Program Guidelines.
3. Employment authorization is required for international students before they start their internship:
   • F-1 Visa international students, contact Sandra Ortiz, DSO SEVIS Coordinator, (x5202 or sortiz@lakeforest.edu).
   • J-1 Visa international students, contact Allie Olson, Coordinator of the Global Engagement Office, (x5231 or aolson@mx.lakeforest.edu). 
4. Connect with your Academic Advisor to ensure that an Academic Internship will fit into your academic plan.
5. Meet with your assigned Internship Specialist within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern, to discuss the Academic Internship search and approval process. Your Internship Specialist will also help you craft your resume and cover letters and prepare for interviews. 
6. Once you have secured an internship you must contact your Internship Specialist for information on how to register your internship. 

Transfer students must complete at least one semester on the Lake Forest College campus before pursuing an Academic Internship.

Academic Internships are available to transfer students of junior and senior standing who wish to pursue an internship linked to their major or minor (Note: International students on an F-1 or J-1 Visa must complete their internship in their major only). 

Internships are supervised by an Internship Specialist who helps facilitate learning and self-reflection. 

• Students must be of junior or senior status during semester of completion.
  • Sophomores who wish to complete an Academic Internship must submit a written appeal to the Career Advancement Center. Contact cacintern@lakeforest.edu for more information.
• Students must be in good judicial and academic standing by time of application and must receive academic advisor approval.
• Academic Probation: Students on academic probation are not eligible to receive academic credit for an internship. Appeals to this policy may be submitted to the Academic Appeals Board.
• Disciplinary Probation: Students on disciplinary probation may not be allowed to earn credit for an internship while on probation. Students who are on probation, have displayed a pattern of behavior, or have had at least one serious violation, may need to discuss their eligibility directly with the Dean of Students.

Please refer to our Academic Internship Program Fact Sheet for additional information regarding the internship search process and timeline.

As mentioned above, some employers start recruiting for student interns several months in advance! Therefore, we recommend that you meet with your Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship search and application process within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern.

• Students interested in pursuing an Academic Internship must first complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. 
• Internship must be completed in a student’s major or minor.
• A minimum of 1 credit and maximum of 2 credits may be awarded for each internship per semester. 
  • 1 credit = 150 hours of on-the-job experience
  • 2 credits = 300 hours of on-the-job experience
  • A student will not typically be allowed to receive more than a total of 3 internship credits during their time at the College. 
    • Exception: Students in the Lake Forest College In The Loop program can earn up to 4 internship credits, with the 4th credit being taken during the In The Loop program. 
• Retroactive credit is not permitted. In order for you to earn credit for your internship you must complete required weekly assignments supervised by your Internship Specialist concurrent with the internship experience.
• 100% commission-based internships will not be approved for academic credit.  

The internship search is a two-semester process!

Therefore, we recommend that you meet with your Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship search and application process within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern.*

*Please be aware that some organizations, such as those in Business and Finance, may start recruiting for interns one year in advance! 

• The first step for all students in the internship search process is completing the Academic Internship Interest Form. 
• The next step is to connect with the CAC. As mentioned above, some employers start recruiting for student interns several months in advance! Therefore, we recommend that you meet with your Internship Specialist to discuss the Academic Internship search and application process within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern.
• Be aware of these important timelines:
  
  • Fall and Spring Semesters: Students should work with their Internship Specialist to secure their Academic Internship and submit their internship application no later than one week prior to the add/drop date for classes to allow time for approvals.
  • Summer Terms: Summer applications are accepted on a rolling basis. However, the preferred registration deadline for summer Academic Internships is one week prior to the first day of the Summer 1 Term. All internship hours and required internship assignments must be completed by the last day of the Summer 2 Term, unless the student receives advance permission from their Internship Specialist. Learn more about summer internships on the Summer Internships page.
  • Acceptance of Offer: Once an offer has been accepted, the student is expected to stop applying for positions and decline subsequent interviews. Students must honor their commitment to their employer once they have accepted an offer. The Internship Specialist is available to help assist in evaluating an offer before accepting and committing to the position.
  • Start/End Dates: Academic Internships include required internship assignments. As such, internship start/end dates must coincide with those of the academic semester. Students may not start their internship before securing approval from their Internship Specialist. Any hours worked prior to the first day of classes will not count toward the required minimum. Additionally, if students complete their minimum required hours early, they may not end their internship prior to the last day of classes.

Academic (for-credit) Internships:
Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships. Students earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship, as well as completing required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist. Students will work with a Career Advancement Center Internship Specialist to identify and set internship goals, target employers offering meaningful learning experiences, and complete the accompanying coursework.

Continuation of Internship or Part-Time Job:
Internships must provide real career-building experience. Students wishing to continue an existing internship or part-time job as an Academic Internship must show that their responsibilities have significantly changed and that the new responsibilities will give the student a sufficiently different educational/academic experience.

Remote Internships:
Typically, the bulk of internship work should take place at a physical site. However, remote internships will be considered. Students must meet with their Internship Specialist to discuss the details of the remote internship and receive approval before starting in their position.

Commission-Based Internships:
Internships based solely on commission will not be approved.

Non-Credit Internships:
Students who are not yet eligible to complete an Academic Internship, have earned all available internship credits, and/or wish to pursue an internship that does not meet the Academic Internship Program Guidelines may choose to pursue a non-credit internship.  Non-credit internships are separate from our formal Academic Internship Program and are student-directed. Students may work with an Internship Specialist for additional career advising support and assistance developing their search strategy, however these internships are not supervised by the Career Advancement Center. * 

*Students should be aware that certain organizations may only offer internships for academic credit.

Pursuing an internship (for-credit or non-credit) is just one way a student may satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement. Please refer to the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage for a complete list of ways that students may fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement.

Types of Internships:

1. Academic (for-credit) Internships
   1. Academic Internships are credit-bearing internships, allowing students to earn academic credit for the hours spent on-site at their internship and completion of required weekly assignments supervised by an Internship Specialist.
   2. Please see the Academic Internship Course webpage for additional details.
2. Non-credit Internships
   1. Students may also satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement with an approved non-credit internship. A non-credit internship is separate from our formal Academic Internship Program and the process is student-directed.
   2. Should students wish to satisfy the Experiential Learning requirement with a non-credit internship, they will first need to complete the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Form, located in the FFC-EL Non-Credit Application Guide, as well as identify a Faculty Project Supervisor. More information may be found on the Forester Fundamental Curriculum webpage. 
   3. Students may contact their Internship Specialist for additional support and assistance developing their search strategy. However, non-credit internships are not supervised by the Career Advancement Center. 
   4. Students should be aware that certain organizations may only offer internships for academic credit.

1. Complete the Academic Internship Interest Form. The Career Advancement Center will assign you to an Internship Specialist who will help you with your internship search. 
2. Review the complete Academic Internship Program Guidelines.
3. Connect with your Academic Advisor to ensure that an Academic Internship will fit into your academic plan.
4. Meet with your assigned Internship Specialist within the first two weeks of the semester prior to your planned internship, but no later than 3 weeks before the add/drop date for classes in the semester you plan to intern, to discuss the Academic Internship search and approval process. Your Internship Specialist will also help you craft your resume and cover letters and prepare for interviews. 
5. Once you have secured an internship you must contact your Internship Specialist for information on how to register your internship. 

*INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS on an F-1 or J-1 Visa: 
Employment authorization is required for international students before they start their internship:

• F-1 Visa international students, contact Sandra Ortiz, DSO SEVIS Coordinator, (x5202 or sortiz@lakeforest.edu).
• J-1 Visa international students, contact Alexandra Olson, Coordinator of the Global Engagement Office, (x5231 or aolson@mx.lakeforest.edu). 

Economics/Business/Finance, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science

Albert Greene
Internship Specialist
847-735-5235
greene@lakeforest.edu

*Schedule an appointment via Handshake. Need help scheduling an appointment? View our Handshake Help Page here.

Art, Art History, Communication, English, Music, Music Education, Theater

Danielle Kelly
Pathway Leader and Internship Specialist
847-735-5235
dkelly@lakeforest.edu

*Schedule an appointment via Handshake. Need help scheduling an appointment? View our Handshake Help Page here.

American Studies, Area Studies, Asian Studies, Foreign Languages, History, International Relations, Latin American Studies, Legal Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Sociology and Anthropology

Jen Lazarus
Pathway Leader and Internship Specialist
847-735-5235
lazarus@lakeforest.edu 

*Schedule an appointment via Handshake. Need help scheduling an appointment? View our Handshake Help Page here.

Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Neuroscience, Physics, Pre-Health, Psychology

Kathi Ferrero
Internship Specialist
847-735-5235
kferrero@lakeforest.edu

*Schedule an appointment via Handshake. Need help scheduling an appointment? View our Handshake Help Page here.