An internship for Honors credit is intended for sophomore and higher students in the University Honors Program.
Overview of the Internship Credit
The internship must be a worthwhile educational experience for the student; it may be a paid or unpaid position. If in business, the internship should be at the mid- to upper-management level; in a government agency, an educational institution, or other non-business oriented position, the internship should allow the student significantly more than clerical and/or minor routine experiences.
The Honors internship may be taken for three credit hours per semester, depending upon the number of hours a student works, up to a maximum of 6 earned credits total during an undergraduate career. Summer internships are both possible and encouraged; arrangements for internships across sessions (not in direct semester alignment) are also possible.
It is hoped each student will have one person to whom they are responsible and who will evaluate the intern. This individual would serve as a liaison with the University Honors Program, so this individual's contact information should be communicated to the Honors Program Director before or at the start of the internship.
Each institution or firm has the right to make the final decision regarding which students, if any, will intern with them. Likewise, each firm or institution will evaluate the student intern in the same way it evaluates its own personnel in terms of "performance appraisal." Ultimately, we would like the institution or firm to answer the question "Would you hire this student?"
Logistics
Please work through the steps below in order to earn Honors internship credit:
- Obtain an internship! It can be paid or unpaid but must allow a student to earn at least 150 working hours.
- Determine if the internship will be tied to a course in UNO’s catalog either in the student’s major (such as PSCI 4910) or in Honors (HONR 3970) in order to earn academic credit on a transcript. Enrolling in an academic course is not required for earning internship credit in Honors (distinct from academic credit).
- Email the Honors Director the following information:
- The name and location of the internship site
- Approximate intended weekly hours and dates for earning 150 hours
- The name and contact information for the direct supervisor at the internship
- A brief description of the role and responsibilities
- Once students have submitted the information, they will receive confirmation and can begin the effort. Students then must meet the expectations below to receive Honors credit for the internship:
- Using the form below, submit weekly logs detailing experiences. Submit the form as an attachment to an email to the Honors Director on the same day each week.
- At the culmination of the experience, submit a 10 page reflective narrative about the experience. Drawing heavily from weekly logs to complete this narrative is strongly encouraged; reflections upon the experiential and personal learning completed are expected. Students are expected to submit a formal and polished narrative (double spaced and proofread).
The Honors Director will seek feedback from the employer upon receipt of the student's paper (submitted as a formal narrative paper attached to an email noting the internship's conclusion). Honors credit will be awarded on the basis of weekly logs, the paper, and input from the employer.
Once the paper has been reviewed and the employer responded, Honors will award the Honors internship credit via email to the student and apply the credit in the Honors section of the student’s degree audit.
Student Testimonials
Ishani Adidam, UNO Student Regent, points out the need for "a growth mindset. Often, I would be presented with challenges I didn't know how to approach or concepts that I haven't learned yet in the classroom environment. I think that it is important to view internships as an educational experience where you will grow and learn."
Ally Havenridge found that, during her summer internship at FNIC, "The Honors logs are helping me to see how truly valuable this internship is, and I could not be more grateful."
Questions?
Contact Dr. Morrison at lxmorrison@unomaha.edu
And check out the University Career Services Internships Page.
