Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Students

A for-credit/academic internship includes enrolling in the internship course concurrently with completing your internship hours. The internship course should fulfill a degree requirement or elective. The not-for-credit internship does not have a course associated with it and is a great option if you do not need or if you have maxed out on internship course credits. The not-for-credit option is also recommended if the internship is unpaid, and you don’t enroll in academic credit so you can be covered for worker’s compensation by the University.

Yes. You will pay the normal tuition and fees associated with the number of credits you register for.

Yes. If you meet the qualifications for an internship, you may receive both academic credit and pay for an internship, pending approval from your Faculty Sponsor, employer, and Internship Advisor.

Required on-site internship hours vary by college and by how many credits you've registered for. Minimum requirements are 45-50 on-site hours for each registered credit hour. However, many students work more hours than the minimum.

In addition, the minimum number of weeks needed for an academic/for-credit internship are:

• Fall and Spring Semesters – 10 week minimum
• Summer Semester – 6 week minimum

Internships typically last only one semester, but they can be longer. The internship usually begins and ends within approximately the same time frame as a normal semester.

In some cases, a student may continue an internship beyond one semester if they are given a new assignment with significantly different learning goals. They will need to complete a new Internship Experience/Learning Agreement, have it approved, and register for an additional internship class if they want to receive academic credit. 

Yes. The Experiential Learning Center (ELC) can support non-paid, non-credit internships. You will need to have an approved internship experience/learning agreement on file with the ELC prior to beginning your internship to ensure you are supported by the University for worker’s compensation.

Yes, if the internship provides significant learning experience related to your major, and you meet the minimum qualifications of your department. Your Faculty Sponsor will have the final say as to whether it is a credit-worthy experience.

Your Internship Advisor is available to assist you in making these types of decisions. Schedule an appointment by calling 303-315-4000 or through Handshake.

Make an appointment with an Internship Advisor

A Faculty Sponsor must be a professor within your major and must be a tenure track faculty or have been approved by the department to sponsor interns.

Contact the faculty member via phone or email to set up an appointment to discuss your internship.

No. Some departments have assigned internship Faculty Sponsors, while other departments allow students to choose a Faculty Sponsor based on matching research interests. If you are given an option, choose a faculty member whose research matches with your internship learning objectives.

You can only enroll in the internship course after you’ve completed an internship experience/learning agreement, and it has been fully approved. Your Internship Advisor will send you an email to enroll in the internship course after your internship experience has received all the necessary approvals.

Your Internship Advisor will provide you with a time log to track your hours after you complete your internship experience/learning agreement with the Experiential Learning Center.

If you have a for-credit internship, you will turn in your completed time log in to your Faculty Sponsor at the end of the semester as a required assignment. Not-for-credit internship time logs will be turned in to your Internship Advisor.

Yes. Since academic credit for internships is earned by enrolling in (and passing) an internship course, the official deadline to be enrolled in the internship course is Census Date each semester – which is the deadline to add classes for that semester. 

A LOT of CU Denver students work full-time or part-time while attending the University. While a student’s job will not qualify as an internship and earn academic credit, the ELC has worked with many students to create an internship alongside their current job. Call the ELC at 303-315-4000 to schedule an appointment with your Internship Advisor, or make an appointment through Handshake, to explore this option. 

Make an appointment with an Internship Advisor

Students may be allowed to participate in more than one internship per semester depending on the college or school the student is enrolled in and what that college or school allows. For both for-credit and not-for-credit internships, we recommend discussing your opportunities with your Internship Advisor prior to accepting multiple internships.

Talk to your Internship Advisor about the possibility of appealing the internship requirements. Then meet with your Academic Advisor or Department Chair to discuss the appeal and identify other course alternatives to the internship if the appeal isn’t approved (you can still participate in the internship to gain the experience and put it on your resume – you just won’t earn academic credit for it).

We encourage students to find internships on their own. While all internships require ELC approval, including internships listed on Handshake, the process for gaining approval of internships not listed on Handshake is a simple process. Please meet with your Internship Advisor to see if your internship qualifies.

Make an appointment with an Internship Advisor

Each academic department has different requirements for the maximum number of internships and credit hours that you can do for academic credit. Please see your Academic Advisor to help you determine how many internships you would be able to do and if you have enough credit available to do so. There is not a maximum number of not-for-credit internships you can complete while at CU Denver.

An internship needs to be a learning experience related to your field of study to qualify for academic credit. For that reason, it is critical that your internship is within your major, minor, or certificate.

All international students can do internships after they have completed two semesters at CU Denver and if they meet the academic requirements for an internship. International students are required to earn academic credit for internship experiences to work legally in the U.S. Please review the orientation for international students to familiarize yourself with those additional steps. If you have any questions, please contact your Internship Advisor or the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office.

Internships and CPT for International Students

International Students (FAQ)

Transfer students must still meet the requirements of their academic program to do an academic/for-credit internship. This includes credit hours completed at CU Denver and CU Denver GPA requirements. If you are in your first semester at CU Denver, you may not be able to do an internship for academic credit.

No. To earn academic credit for an internship, you must be enrolled in the internship course during the same semester that you are participating in the internship. Retroactive credit is not awarded at CU Denver.

The first step for internships is to attend an Internship Workshop or meet with your Internship Advisor. Contact the Experiential Learning Center inside LynxConnect at 303-315-4000 or email [email protected] to get started. An Internship Advisor can help you explore internship options, search for internships, prepare your application material (resume/cover letter), prepare for an interview, and more. We are here to help you throughout your internship process!

Sign up for Canvas Internship Workshop

Each Internship Advisor works with students from specific majors, minors, or certificates. Please call 303-315-4000 or email [email protected] to determine who your Internship Advisor is or to schedule an appointment via Handshake.

Yes! The Experiential Learning Center (ELC) manages the Unpaid Internship Support Scholarship. Scholarships are awarded each semester, and you need to apply for the scholarship through Scholarship Universe. 

There are several levels of funding depending on how many hours a student will work at their internship over the semester. Scholarship funds are limited, so not every student that applies for the scholarship is automatically awarded the scholarship. 

If you have an unpaid internship and are interested in applying for the scholarship, contact your Internship Advisor for details.

LynxConnect is in Tivoli Annex #439, above the Comcast Media Center. The easiest way to our front door is through the exterior courtyard outside of iPIE; just south of the Tivoli Parking Garage through the walkway between the buildings to the courtyard.