Basic Internship Guidelines
Definition:
Internships at UC Davis are supervised work-learn experiences in a professional environment. Internships allow students to apply their learning in ways that complement their academic and career goals. Opportunities may be exploratory in nature, or they may offer advanced training.
To learn more, the Career Center recommends NACE’s guide to internship definition and best practices.
Time Commitment:
The minimum time commitment for student participation is typically 40 hours per 10-week quarter. See below for additional time guidelines to earn academic units.
Compensation:
Internships ideally are paid; however, if the internship is unpaid, duties may not replace those of paid employees. As an alternative to an hourly wage, some employers offer a stipend - a flat amount based upon an agreed number of hours completed in the internship. Internships may also qualify for Work-Study funding, depending on student eligibility. Monetary compensation does not affect eligibility for academic credit.
Learn more about the process of hiring students for an on-campus department.
Transcript Notation
Internships that meet some basic requirements are eligible for Transcript Notation, which documents a student's internship experience on their official transcript.
In order to qualify for Transcript Notation, an internship must:
- Be 40 hours over a ten week quarter (at a minimum).
- Be supervised and evaluated by professionals and not fellow students.
- Involve significant activities, assignments and/or projects.
As part of this process, internship sponsors are required to verify a student's timesheet and submit an evaluation.
Academic Credit
Academic credit is granted through academic departments and graduate groups, so check with your academic department regarding their policies. Many departments use a 92/192 course code. Some use a department-specific form to apply for credit approval and document the internship; check with departmental staff for more information about how to proceed.
The UC Davis Academic Senate has established guidelines to determine whether academic credit should be granted in connection with an internship. Departments may adopt complementary guidelines for when academic credit is appropriate. Visit the UC Davis Academic Senate to learn more.
Suggested Weekly Time Commitment and Unit Value
- 3 - 5 hours = 1 unit
- 6 - 8 hours = 2 units
- 9 - 11 hours = 3 units
- 12 - 14 hours = 4 units
- 15 - 17 hours = 5 units
- 18 - 20 hours = 6 units
- 21 - 23 hours = 7 units
- 24 - 26 hours = 8 units
- 27 - 29 hours = 9 units
- 30 - 32 hours = 10 units
- 33 - 35 hours = 11 units
- 36 - 40 hours = 12 units