Take some time to review them, and you have any other questions, reach out to the Center for Career Development. We're here to help.
Internships provide students with real-world experience in an official or formal capacity. Internships allow students to gain work experience, explore different career options, develop marketable skills, and establish professional contacts. All of these things will make the student a more competitive candidate in their future professional pursuits.
A good internship should offer the student career-related experience in a professional setting where they will learn professional practice in a field of interest. The experience should also align with the student's professional goals. Having a supportive supervisor at the internship site to mentor the intern is also extremely important. They should give the student real projects and provide constructive feedback.
In most cases no, it is not a requirement. Credited internships are a wonderful compliment to a student's on-campus studies by practicing skills learned in the classroom in a real world setting. Students studying Photography or Film & Video, or concentrating in Curatorial Studies, are required to complete one internship for credit. Many for-profit employers require the student to receive school credit, especially if it is an unpaid experience. F-1 international students interning in the United States are required to register for school credit in order to be eligible to work off campus. See Internships for International Students for further instructions.
Complete the Online Internship Orientation once you begin applying to opportunities to familiarize yourself with MICA's requirements and to better understand what experiences will qualify for school credit. The orientation can be done at any time, from any computer, but plan ahead! This is a very important, mandatory first step and cannot be missed. You must complete the orientation to be eligible to submit a Learning Contract
Only submit a Learning Contract if you have been officially hired by the internship site. Do not submit a contract for every internship you apply to or interview for.
When registering an internship, always remember to plan ahead and be mindful of MICA's Academic Calendar. Internships must be registered and approved BEFORE you begin working at the internship and BEFORE the semester Add Deadline. You can start an internship at any time, but remember to complete the Internship Orientation and have your Learning Contract approved before you begin working. This also has to be completed prior to the Add Deadline of the semester on which you wish to receive credit. Internship contracts received after the Add Deadline must have their credits applied to a future semester. Late contracts will not be accepted, so plan your internship in advance! Review How to Register an Internship for further details.
Most students* are able to apply their internship credits to a future semester, within the two semesters following your internship. This allows students flexibility in their regular course schedule as well. For example, if you complete a summer internship, you can apply the credits to the fall or spring semester following the internship. *F-1 international students completing an internship in the United States are required to add their internship credits to the semester when the work is completed. See more information on Internships for International Students.
Internship Learning Contracts are approved through an automated, digital process. The time required for the approval depends greatly on those approving the contract. Give yourself at least 1-2 weeks for this process to be completed. Remember you should not start working until you receive confirmation of your internship's approval, because there is a possibility someone will reject the experience and you will not be eligible to receive credit.
We do not recommend starting an internship before registering it with MICA, because there is a chance we will not approve it. However, if you do begin working, any hours you work prior to the approval of your Learning Contract will not count toward the required hours you must complete. This means you will need to complete 120 hours from the day you receive your approval confirmation from MICA.
An internship is a generic 3-credit studio elective. Unless it is a requirement of your major/program, it will not count toward anything specific. We encourage you to speak with your Academic Advisor/Program Director in advance to be sure you have room in your degree plan to accommodate internship credits.
No, students must be working on-site (not from home) for the majority of their internship. MICA does not accept work-from-home internships because we want our students to take part in and to be held accountable for the rich experience of working on a team in the workplace. There is a lot of valuable learning that comes from working face-to-face with others, including the importance of business etiquette, presentation and communication skills. Virtual or remote experiences are hard to quantify and effectively evaluate in a virtual environment.
Of course! Most summer internships are not in Baltimore. Many students find opportunities near home in other states, and international students often intern in their home countries.
Yes. Our faculty members are professionals in their fields, and will often hire interns to assist them in their studio practice or with projects conducted outside of the classroom. Faculty cannot host an intern while the student is enrolled in one of their classes. The work conducted with the faculty must also be outside of MICA and the classroom.
Yes. Many students have interned with MICA alumni. With young alumni, they must be at least two years post-graduation in order to supervise an intern.
Absolutely. After two semesters in F-1 status, students can work as an intern off-campus United States through Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Remember you are required to receive school credit for internships in the United States. You are also welcome to complete an internship in your home country over the summer, where F-1 visa restrictions will not apply to the experience. Review Internships for International Students for further details.
No. If you are not enrolled in classes at MICA or are on leave, you are not able to take classes at MICA. An internship for credit is a class, and therefore you cannot receive school credit for that experience.
Keep in mind we will not provide credit letters for experiences that do not meet MICA's internship guidelines and requirements, or for students who are not eligible to complete a credit-bearing internship. Email your letter request to careerdevelopment@mica.edu. Allow 2-3 business days to process your request. Include the following details: 1) name of the company or organization and their mailing address; 2) the internship job description; 3) contact info for the person requesting the letter (full name, job title, email, and/or phone #); 4) method in which they want to receive the letter (digital, mailed, through the student, or sent directly by the Career Development staff); and 5) any other specific instructions from the company or organization.
Yes. MICA allows students to complete two internships for studio credit, but they must be at different sites under different supervisors. Career Development recommends students to complete multiple internships to broaden their experiences and learn about different industries, regardless of whether or not they receive credit.
We only allow students to receive 3 credits per internship experience. You cannot receive more credits for a second internship at the same site under the same supervisor.
No. If you have already done an internship for credit and completed the Internship Orientation in the past, you do not need to complete it a second time. If you would like a reminder of the process, you are welcome to view the orientation again, but it is not a requirement. Simply submit your Learning Contract within www.MICAnetwork.com for approval before your internship begins. Review instructions on How to Register an Internship if you need a refresher.
No. If you complete more than the required number of hours at your internship site, you will not receive additional credits. The requirement is not a limit, and many students often work over 120 hours throughout their experience.
Contact Career Development if you have any issues or concerns about your internship experience. We cannot help you if we are not aware of the issue. We can either coach you through a challenging situation, or intervene if there is a serious issue. We are open year-round and are more than happy to work with you.
Contact Career Development immediately. An internship for credit is a class and will be listed on your transcripts unless Career Development is notified of the cancellation. If you do not inform Career Development and never remove your internship from your schedule, you run the risk of a failing grade.