Internships

Dr. Herbert P. Norman, Jr., Assistant Program Director
Office: 101 UPLA Building
Phone: (517) 353-9054
E-mail: normanh@msu.edu

When an employer is screening applicants for a position, employment history is a crucial factor. One way to gain practical experience is through an internship experience. Internships offer students the opportunity to apply their university course work in a practical setting and in a responsible way. They also provide examples to carry back to the classroom which make discussions more meaningful for themselves and for other students. An internship is strongly encouraged but not required for completion of Urban and Regional Planning degrees.

Internship in Urban Planning (UP 480 or UP 893) is open to senior majors, graduate students, or by approval of the academic advisor. Students must have a 3.0 GPA in their major to be eligible for an internship. The following chart explains the academic credit gained for the experience in an agency:

A student may re-enroll for a maximum of eight internship credits. Internships are available fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Interns are generally placed in the Lansing area during the academic year. With prior approval, a student may hold an internship outside the area, particularly during the summer. Some overseas internships are also available. Finding a placement is generally responsibility of the student; however, the academic advisor and members of the faculty may know of existing opportunities. Announcements for internship opportunities are posted on the hallway bulletin board just outside Room 201 UPLA Building.

All of the forms necessary for enrollment in internship credits are available from the Program's secretary. A student MUST complete those forms prior to registering for UP 480 and UP 893. For more specific information on internships see Dr. Herb Norman, for both graduate and undergraduate programs.

Steps for Receiving Course Credit for Internship

1. Apply for the Internship
   A student who is interested in participating in the internship program should complete the "Student Internship Application" by the end of the twelfth week of the semester prior to the semester in which he/she wishes to intern.
2. Interview/Speak with the Agency
   Most agencies prefer to conduct an interview with a prospective intern. Applicants should expect to present a resume, writing samples, and/or portfolio at the interview.
3. Intern-Agency Agreement
   Once a student has obtained a placement, the "Internship Agreement," which requests information on the scope of the responsibilities, number of hours, scheduling, etc., must be completed and submitted to the Internship Coordinator before registering for UP 893. The agreement remains on file with the Internship Coordinator.
4. Registering to Receive Course Credit for Internship
   Once a student has completed and received the Internship Coordinator's approval on the "Internship Agreement," he/she must register for UP 893 for the desired number of credits (two, three, or four credits).
5. The Mid-semester Internship Evaluation
   This form must be completed and returned to the Internship Coordinator by the official middle of the semester in which the internship occurs. The mid-semester evaluation is a "checkup" on how the internship is progressing and what types of projects the student is involved with.
6. The Student Self-evaluation of the Internship Experience
   This evaluation provides the Program with feedback on the internship experience from the intern's perspective. This form is due in the Internship Coordinator's office no later than the last day of the final exam week of the semester in which the internship was undertaken.
7. The End-of-Semester Internship Report
   The student must submit an "End of Semester Internship Report" to the Internship Coordinator before the last day of final exam week of the semester in which the internship was undertaken. This report is a "reaction paper" of about 10-15 typewritten pages in which the student reflects on lessons taught during the internship. The primary purposes of this exercise are for the student to place the internship experience in a larger context, to consider issues which go beyond the day-to-day activities, and to think about how the internship contributed to the student's professional education. The paper is to be a tool to help students synthesize the internship experience and their overall professional goals. A wide variety of topics can be addressed in the paper. Some suggestions are: how the experience helped to shape the student's career goals, the effect of internal and external politics on the intern's job duties, the importance of the intern's job to the mission of the agency, the relationship of the agency with other agencies, the complementary nature of the student's prior course work with the job duties, and the ideas on how the agency might improve its service delivery for the achievement of both organizational and societal goals. To assist in the preparing the report, students may find it useful to maintain a notebook of daily observations and reflections. This notebook need not be submitted with the other materials.
8. The Agency Supervisor's Evaluation of the Internship Experience
   These evaluations provide the student, the internship agency and the supervisor with insight into the intern's perception of the internship experience. Both require the signature from the participants in the internship. (To be completed at the closing conference between student and supervisor.) This form is due in the Internship Coordinator's office no later than the last day of final exam week of the semester in which the internship was undertaken.
9. Adhere to agency policies and procedures and submit all necessary applications, agreements, evaluations, and reports on time.

Summary of Internship Coordinator Responsibilities

• Approve the student's application for internship
• Assist the student in placement, if necessary
• Approve the Intern-Agency Agreement
• Evaluate the total experience of the intern through evaluations, on-site visits, and the final report and assign a final grade of "Pass" (P) or "No Pass" (N)

Summary of Agency Supervisor Responsibilities

• Interview the prospective intern
• Approve and sign the "Intern-Agency Agreement"
• Supervise the intern throughout the internship
• Contact the Internship Coordinator if concerns arise
• Complete the "Agency Supervisor's Evaluation"S form at the conclusion of the internship and return it to the Internship Coordinator before the last day of final exam week in which the internship is undertaken

There are three main ways which Contacts for Placement may be made:

1. Check personally with the Internship Coordinator
2. Contact an agency directly to see if it can accommodate an intern
3. Consult the job/internship opportunities bulletin board outside Room 101 UPLA Building