Aims of the Internships
To give students in the last semesters of their programs as wide and intensive an
experience as possible in the practice of college student affairs work, and in the
practice of all the activities that are ordinarily required of student affairs professionals.
Students work closely with the program coordinator to identify internship sites which
enhance students’ learning and career aspirations.
Internship Settings
Each intern is expected to work in one or more settings throughout the duration of
the internship. Possible internship sites include public and private two and four
year colleges with acceptable supervisors. Students are closely supervised throughout
the internship. Admissions, campus life, housing, financial aid, career counseling,
academic advising, and the office of the chief student affairs officer, and special
services are examples of specific department settings.
Internship Requirements
Each student affairs and higher education candidate must complete a six (6) credit
hour internship as part of the program requirements; students may choose to complete
an optional second internship. The mental health internship is nine (9) credit hours.
The internship site is to be consistent with the program of the counselor candidate.
A listing and description of sites used in the past by counseling students is available.
Internships reflect 600 hours (900 hours for mental health counseling) of actual work
at the professional site, with at least 40 percent of these hours in direct service
to clients and students. A group experience is expected to be included in the 40 percent
hours of direct service. Internships are usually done 20 hours a week for two semesters
or 40 hours a week for one semester with some flexibility on beginning and ending
dates. Internship credit arrangements include full time (600 hours for 6 credits)
and part time (300 hours for 3 credits). Students are limited to a maximum of 600
hours (6 credit hours) in a semester.
Students are to complete their internships in a site other than their current work
setting. Interns must spend at least three continuous hours in an internship day,
with a minimum of 15 hours per week during the normal operating hours of that agency
or school. Exceptions must be approved by the Counselor Education Department faculty.
At the internship site, a candidate has a responsibility to adhere to the agency or
college’s various rules and policies, such as that of confidentiality.
Each intern is expected to participate in individual supervision one hour weekly with
the site supervisor and group supervision one and one half hours per week with other
interns and a faculty supervisor. These weekly supervision experiences are required
during the entire period of the internship for both part-time and full-time interns.
An application must be submitted during the semester prior to the planned internship
and approved by the counseling program faculty. The internship site is selected by
the internship coordinator after consultation with the candidate and after approval
by the Counselor Education Department faculty.
Counselor education graduate students are expected to carry professional liability
insurance while participating in internship (CACREP accreditation manual — 2009 standards).