Do I have to do my internship in Anne Arundel County?
No! Students have completed internships in nearby areas such as Annapolis, and as far away as Disney World in Florida. 

How many internships can I have? The number of internships you can have largely depends upon your individual long-term goals. Talk with the Internship Office about your options.

Do internships transfer to four-year colleges and universities?
An internship is a great elective toward a degree or certificate at AACC, and it is a superb vehicle to take you on an interesting journey from the classroom to a career. Depending upon the institution to which you would like to transfer, as well as the type of applied learning experience involved, the credit may or may not be accepted. Ultimately, the decision rests with the institution to which you transfer. But college credit should not be the only reason for seeking an internship. Enhancing learning, developing a professional network and applying theories to solve real problems in the workplace are excellent reasons to pursue an internship.

What are the eligibility requirements for credit internships?
Requirements and prerequisites for an internship vary according to your program of study. Consult the college catalog for specific program requirements. Most departments list the internship as a 275 or 276 course number.

If a department does not offer such a course, credit within courses 275, 276 or 277 may still be possible through the Internship Office as “Internship Experience” (IEX) courses if a faculty advisor is available to evaluate the academic rigor of the experience. The standards for courses 275, 276 and 277 are fairly exact as the college seeks to assure the quality of students placed in internships. Certain exceptions can be made for outstanding students who have permission from the department chair for the internship opportunity. For IEX courses 275, 276 and 277, you must: 

• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0
• Complete a minimum of nine credit hours in your major field of study 
• Provide a letter of recommendation from a professor supporting your readiness for an internship in that field

How many credits can I earn for an internship?
College credit varies depending upon the experience. In general, a three-credit course over a fifteen-week semester typically involves a minimum of fifteen hours of employment per week.

How is the course evaluated and graded?
The organization assigns a supervisor who assists in training the student and conducts periodic performance reviews. The faculty advisor assesses the student’s progress towards learning objectives and any other assignments (including papers, journals, etc.) as well as the employer’s evaluation of the student. The professor assigns the grade.

What do I do if the employer asks me to do something different from what we agreed to do–and it is not related to my learning objectives?
Your faculty advisor may be able to assist you in either working with the employer to focus more closely on your learning objectives if the tasks are not appropriate to an internship activity, or revising learning objectives to include those work-related activities because they merit connecting classroom theories with real-world applications.

What do I do if I the internship doesn’t work out because it was not a good fit or something comes up in my life?
If complications arise, consult with your faculty advisor and keep the Internship Program Coordinator informed of any challenges as well as any successes!

May I intern without seeking credit?
Yes! However, you must still communicate with the Internship Office. We are here to help prepare you for the experience and to be a resource in your search. A resume critique and brainstorming session are useful services available to you. You must receive approval prior to responding to postings or applying for internships.

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