Internship (Experiential Learning)

Three-credit internships are permitted in Fall, Wintersession, Spring, and Summer. Credit bearing internships are taken for a minimum of 100 hours total.

Note: Architecture students fulfilling professional internship requirements should refer to the Coursedog for the Architecture department internship requirement , ARCH 2199 for more information.

Undergraduates are eligible to take a Fall, Wintersession, or Spring internship once they have successfully completed their first year. They may take their first Summer internship after completing their sophomore year. Undergraduates must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 to participate in a credit bearing internship, and may take a maximum of six internship credits towards their degree.

Graduate students are eligible to take an internship once their program start date begins. Students may take a maximum of three internship credits toward their graduate degree, except where departmental requirements dictate that students acquire more experience beyond three credits. Graduate students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 to participate in a credit bearing internship. There is only one department, Teaching + Learning in Art + Design, that is grandfathered under former policy (pre-2008) where occasionally, a six-credit internship is allowed.

Enrollment in a credit-bearing internship requires completion of an online Internship Registration and Agreement in ArtWorks (RISD’s online system used for tracking internships) by the deadline posted on the academic calendar. International students on an F-1 Visa must obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization in order to participate in an internship in the United States. Please see the International Student & Scholar Affairs (ISSA) for more information. Applications for internships are subject to specific deadlines as outlined in the academic calendar. Registration for an internship requires special approvals through ArtWorks. Please see the Registrar’s Office website for more information.

Use this Student Internship Registration information and Internship Agreement for more details.

Students must follow internship application deadlines and registration add/drop deadlines when registering for a Professional Internship. Students may not retroactively register for internships after the semester has passed. Students must be enrolled in the internship during the semester in which the credit is sought. Exceptions will not be considered to retroactively add internships after the semester has passed. Students who participate in Summer internships for academic credit must be returning as enrolled students for the following Fall semester.

Students and employers must also complete an Internship Evaluation. Grading is Pass/Fail only. An online form for evaluating the student’s work as an intern is provided to the internship supervisor and student through ArtWorks as the internship is nearing completion. Supervisors and students will submit their internship evaluation forms electronically at the end of the internship period through ArtWorks.

Sample evaluation forms for students and internship supervisors can be viewed in advance to help clarify the educational expectations for the internship.

The student and supervisor sample evaluation form can be found at the following links: Student Evaluation Form and Employer Evaluation Form

Students are graded by the instructor on record for the registered internship. The grading process is supported by the supervisor and student evaluations submitted through ArtWorks.

The Career Center works cooperatively with academic departments to identify quality internships for students. Academic credit may be granted (with department approval) for student’s participation in an internship experience. Students often find that the professional experience and knowledge gained are invaluable in determining their career path and direction.

Any student interested in exploring internship opportunities should review the Student Internship Info at the Careers Center website.

Internship Deadlines