This course is designed to allow LSA students, chiefly first- and second-year undeclared students, to receive academic credit for an unpaid internship. The expectation is that the internship experience will provide students with the opportunity to enhance their educational experience and will inform their academic areas of interest.

Permission of the instructor is required to enroll in UC 225. An override will be issued after you have

  1. met with your academic advisor;
  2. completed the internship form at The Career Center website, and
  3. finalized an internship placement.

Typically, you will enroll in UC 225 in the semester immediately following the internship (e.g., spring/summer internship with course enrollment in the fall semester).   

In your meeting with your academic advisor, you can share your thoughts about what you expect to gain by your involvement in an internship experience. The academic advisor will address your questions related to the internship experience and will review the course requirements and the online form you must complete.

You are required to fill out an electronic internship form at The Career Center website. It is recommended that you consider utilizing the resources at The Career Center as part of your internship search. Career advisors can assist you in finding opportunities that fit your interests, as well as provide guidance on your application materials (resume, resume cover letter, etc.). The internship must involve participation in the substantive (core) work of a firm, non-profit organization, or governmental agency. While it is expected that internships may involve some clerical support, an assignment consisting primarily of general office duties, clerical tasks, or personal assistant work will not be granted internship credit. Internships typically run from three to eight weeks and require about 100 to 300 hours of work. The minimum requirement for an internship experience in UC 225 is one that involves at least 100 hours of work and lasts at least three weeks.  

Once you have been granted an override to enroll in UC 225 your internship placement will be considered approved. You must be approved to register for UC 225 prior to beginning your internship. Retroactive permission to enroll in UC 225 will not be granted. When you are granted the override, you will also receive course handouts, including a syllabus detailing the course requirements and a handout on "Keeping a Journal and Writing a Reflective Paper."  

The course requirements are three:

  1. completion of the internship and submission of a satisfactory evaluation from your internship supervisor using a brief electronic form provided by The Career Center;
  2. submission of a copy of the thank you letter you wrote to your internship supervisor after the experience; and
  3. submission of an essay of 5-6 pages in which you first briefly describe the nature of your internship (what a typical workday was like and what you accomplished), and then reflect on connections between your internship experience and your studies and/or co-curricular experiences as a student at Michigan.

Finally, you should explain what important learning or lessons you took away from your experience. This may include a new understanding of your strengths and weaknesses or limits. To help you write a stronger essay, you may find it greatly advantageous to keep a journal during your internship. This can help you remember your weekly activities and accomplishments. A course handout will serve as a guide both for keeping a journal and writing your essay.


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