If you are thinking about doing an internship, check out some of the most Frequently Asked Questions below.  If you have additional questions, please make an appointment to speak with a career coach in Handshake.

Does my internship satisfy the Augsburg Experience?

• If you complete an off-campus upper division internship for-credit that will automatically satisfy the Augsburg Experience graduation requirement.
• If you would like to use an internship not-for-credit to fulfill the Augsburg Experience requirement, please meet with Sandy Tilton in the Strommen Center prior to beginning your internship to have your experience approved and set learning goals.

 Can I be paid for my internship?

• Internships done for academic credit may be paid or unpaid.
• Some internships that are unpaid may require you to take them for-credit.

I’m an international student, are there additional steps needed to register my internship?

• International students in F-1 status wishing to complete a paid off-campus internship opportunity, must register their internship for academic credit and apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) prior to beginning an internship experience. For additional information on regulations for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), please visit the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Employment page or contact an ISSS Advisor.
• Unpaid internships in your field of study can be used to fulfill your Augsburg Experience graduation requirement. Paid internships for credit will also satisfy the Augsburg Experience graduation requirement.

How am I graded on my internship?

• Internships may be graded on a Traditional or P/N basis. In some departments, internships are graded on the P/N basis only.
• At the beginning of the internship you will write Learning Goals to outline the academic expectations for the internship, this must be approved by your faculty supervisor. Most faculty require students to complete a daily/weekly journal, an extensive final reflection paper, a portfolio, final evaluations, and other assignments related to the major. The faculty awards a grade or pass based on how the student meets the expectations outlined in the Learning Goals.

 How many credits can I receive for completing an internship?

• Students can receive 4 credits or 2 credits for an internship.
  • The minimum hours for 4 credits is 160 (on average, 12 hours per week)
  • The minimum hours for 2 credits is 80 
• Internships registered for credit are counted in your semester course load, you can have up to 19 credits per semester without additional charge.

How many internships can I do?

• Student can complete up to 16 credits of internship courses to count towards graduation.
  • A student may complete more than one internship at the same site if new learning opportunities are offered for each internship.
  • Students can complete as many internships (not for credit) as desired.

When should I start looking for an internship site?

• Most employers begin recruiting one season ahead (ex. employers will hire at the beginning of fall semester for a spring internship).
• Some employers (particularly large companies) with competitive internship programs start hiring interns up to 9 months in advance.
• Check out our online resources for links to find internship opportunities.

Can I get academic credit for an internship I completed in the past?

• No. Academic credit is awarded for intentional learning achieved, not for the work experience alone.
• If you want academic credit, you need to register your internship at the beginning of the experience and work with a faculty member in setting up learning goals and assignments to complete during the internship.

Can I use my job for an internship?

• There are cases where a part-time or full-time job could be used as an internship. Prerequisites include:
  • You need to have the opportunity to learn something new above and beyond your past responsibilities, you cannot get credit for work performed in the past. This usually means taking on an extra project or doing work for a different division.
  • The work needs to be related to your major and/or career path
  • Your supervisor must be supportive of this as a learning opportunity.
• The site must be approved by a faculty adviser and department chair in order to be considered an academic internship.

How do I know what course number to register for?

• Internship course numbers are based on if the internship is on-campus or off-campus, how many credits you are taking, and if it is a lower or upper-division credit.
• In most academic departments, students can register for either lower-division or upper-division credit for internships.
  • Upper-division internships are closely connected to students’ majors and are done in the junior or senior year.
  • Lower division internships allow for an academically connected career exploration experience during freshman or sophomore year.

	On Campus (2 credit)	On campus (4 credit)	Off Campus (2 credit)	Off Campus (4 credit)
Lower Division	198	196	197	199
Upper Division	398	396	397	399

Watch this 2 minute video

• Make the Most of Your Internship

Submit Learning Goals

• Completed form due within 3 weeks from internship start date.
• Preview the questions before filling out the online form.
• PSY 400 & SOC 399 students will complete their learning goals in class. All others will fill out the following form.
• Learning Goals Form.

Final Internship Evaluations

• As you wrap up your internship, final evaluations will be emailed directly to you and your site supervisor to complete two weeks prior to the end of the semester.
• Please contact the Strommen Center if you would like your evaluations sent earlier – strommen.internships@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1148.

Reflection Assignment

• 2 or 4 credit internships: your faculty supervisor will determine the assignments and due dates.
• 0 credit Augsburg Experience: you will turn in a final reflection paper at the end of the semester. Check your Moodle course for instructions and due dates.

 

Internships are essential for Augsburg students in order to gain valuable professional development, understanding of their desired career pathway, and to earn income to afford school and related expenses. In fact, the majority of employers prefer to hire a college graduate who has had an internship. 

However over this past year students lost work opportunities or were unable to secure them because of COVID-19. In a survey that went out to students at the end of the 2020 spring semester we found:

• 54% of students lost their work opportunity during early weeks of the pandemic
• 61% of students were still looking for their summer opportunity at the end of the spring semester

Thanks to all those who participated in the Strommen Center’s Augsburg Works – Invest In An Auggie Give to the Max Day Campaign. These funds will support internships and experiential opportunities in 2021.

 

Thanks to students Samantha Lopez, Willington Gahona, and Berlynn Bitengo for sharing the impact of their internships.

 

Eight Augsburg students were accepted into the 2020 Capitol Pathways cohort. Since 2016, the Capitol Pathways program from the Citizens League places college students of color in paid internships with government offices, nonprofits, corporations, and law firms where they can gain experience and build relationships in and around the Capitol.

Each year during Minnesota’s legislative session, interns can expect to accomplish several things that will help them in their future careers:

• Build relationships with established policy leaders
• Gain exposure to various kinds of careers in government
• Get real-world experience in career fields they would like to learn more about
• Create a strong professional resume

Learn more about Capitol Pathways  at Citizensleague.org.

 

Get to know the Augsburg students who are part of the 2020 Capitol Pathways Cohort.

 

In’am Al-Hamouri
Internship Site: Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

In’am Al-Hammouri, a senior at Augsburg University, is majoring in psychology, with an aspiration to attend law school. In’am has been serving on the Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota for two years as a cabinet member. In’am is committed to creating equitable policies and outcomes for women throughout the state of Minnesota. Additionally, she is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. In’am’s passion lies in Women’s rights, giving women and girls a voice. She is also passionate about Middle East conflicts. In’am served in various positions, including volunteer work at Unity Hospital, providing aid to abused women.

In’am assisted in refugee camps in Jordan, lobbied, advocated in Washington D.C, and worked with elected officials on campaigning prior to elections. In’am was an intern at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. Then, she transitioned with her mentor to Hutton Kluz Evans LLP, where she is currently expanding her knowledge and experience in the area of law. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and trying new foods.

Estefani Guiracocha
Internship Site: Catholic Charities

Estefani is a second year student at Augsburg University. She is majoring in Public Policy and Accounting. Estefani is a first generation college student and hopes to pursue a career in Public Policy, advocating for marginalized and underrepresented communities. She is a TRIO/SSS student, a program that helps first generation students and low-income students overcome class, social and cultural barriers in order to complete their college education. Estefani will be interning at Catholic Charities where she will serve those that are in most need and advocate for justice in the community.

As a student at Augsburg University, Estefani has served in many leadership roles. She served as a representative in the Augsburg Day Student Government as a Class Senator. Other campus activities include being a Resident Advisor where she advises 34 first-year students and serves as a role model. Estefani also volunteers at Banyan Community which is a program designed to develop youth, strengthen families and create communities. Her passion for social justice drove her to apply to Capitol Pathways and saw this as an opportunity to learn more about the legislative process and the power that communities can have. She aspires to continue being a leader in the Latinx Community and continue making a pathway for those that come after.Through her experiences, she aspires to grow and a lead a fortune 500 company and eventually become an entrepreneur. She hopes to open new opportunities for women and first generation students.

Ivonne Hernandez
Internship Site: Ewald Consulting

Ivonne is a Junior at Augsburg University majoring in Political Science and International Relations. Prior to attending Augsburg, Ivonne received her Associates of Arts Degree at Minneapolis College where she served as a Secretary for the student organization, Raíces Unidas, and as a Director of Diversity for the Student Senate. Currently, Ivonne holds a position as a Youth Program Specialist with the nonprofit organization, Pillsbury United Communities. Ivonne loves her job because she can see the great things that youth are capable of when they are given the opportunity. Ivonne and her team focus on several opportunities to better
serve middle school and high school aged youth, some which include internships, civic engagement, goal setting, workshop presentations, and entrepreneurship learning.

As a student of color and a first generation college student, Ivonne recognizes that she has limited resources and networks to provide her with the tools that she might need to succeed after college. This is why Ivonne applied for the Minnesota Capitol Pathways Internship program. Ivonne is very excited and proud to be a part of this cohort. Ivonne has been placed with Ewald Consulting for the Spring 2020 legislative session. During her time at Ewald she will work closely with the Government and Media Relations team by monitoring committee hearings, attending floor sessions, and working on weekly articles and social media platforms. Ivonne is very excited and looking forward to strengthening her knowledge around public policy, and creating long lasting relationships.

Ahlam Mussa
Internship Site: Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

Ahlam is currently a sophomore at Minneapolis Community & Technical College and will be graduating at Augsburg University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Pre-Law Concentration and a Communication Studies minor. She is exclusively a member of the Phi Kappa Theta Sorority and has been a part of different minority-based advocacy groups and organizations. She has centered a lot of her volunteer work in her own community of Cedar-Riverside, being the voice to both the youth and elders in this East African based community. As a first generation college student of two immigrant parents, she has decided to pursue a career in civil and immigration rights. She has joined the Capitol Pathways program to broaden her aspects on the kind of work she wants to do post-grad, whether it be policy work or otherwise. She plans to attend law school straight out from undergrad and utilize her J.D. to make a change on behalf of minority backgrounds and immigrants. Currently, Ahlam is interning with Fredrikson and Byron and representing clients to campaign for certain bills as she learns the policy making process.

Abdulkadir Sharif
Internship Site: Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P

Abdulkadir Sharif is a graduating senior at Augsburg University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Public Policy. At Augsburg, Abdulkadir has been involved with the pan-Afrikan student union, student government and residence life. He is also a Bonner Leader Scholar where he has interned with the Minneapolis Public Schools, Trinity Lutheran Congregation, Pan-Afrikan Center and the Environmental Stewardship Committee. Additionally, Abdulkadir was awarded a David L. Boren Scholarship to study in Tanzania, is a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to South Africa and Namibia and was most recently a Public Policy and International Affairs fellow at Princeton University. Abdulkadir hopes to one day pursue a career in foreign policy, focusing on economic development, conflict resolution and security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Abdulkadir applied to the Capitol Pathways program to better understand the legislative process, Minnesota politics and how to effectively advocate for marginalized communities. Abdulkadir will be interning with Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P this legislative session.

Lay Lay Zan
Internship Site: City of Minneapolis

Lay Lay is a Karen, third-year student, and Act Six scholar at Augsburg University majoring in International Relations with a concentration in pre-law and minoring in French. Lay Lay is a 1.5 generation immigrant and a first-generation college student, and she aspires to become an immigration lawyer for the Karen community in Minnesota. As a student at Augsburg University, Lay Lay has served in leadership roles. She was the relations and Marketing officer for the Augsburg Asian Student Association (AASA), and a food coordinator for Campus Kitchen and Campus Cupboard. Her interests and passion for social justice and civic engagement led her to be a part of the of the LEAD Fellows (Leaders for Equity, Action, and Democracy) program that is a part of the national network of Bonner Programs, that has allowed her to serve and engage with her campus community.

In her home community, Lay Lay is passionate about advocacy and development for the Karen community. She is a board member of the Karen Football Association, a non-profit organization that is the official governing body of the Karen Women’s and Men’s National Soccer Teams, with the purpose to promote gender equity. This experience has only increased her passion to serve underrepresented communities, and this is why she applied to the Capitol Pathways program. It is imperative for students of color to be involved at the capitol, because government should be representative of our communities.

 

Original source for bios: https://citizensleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CP-Cohort-2020-Bios.pdf

 

 

 

Abdulkadir A. Sharif is part of the Citizens League Capitol Pathways program and a senior at Augsburg University, studying Political Science and International Relations. He has specialized in public policy, international development, and conflict resolution. Mr. Sharif has participated in multiple leadership opportunities that have allowed him to gain a wide range of skills.

At Augsburg University, he has been involved with the pan-African student union, student government, and residence life. He is also a Bonner Leader Scholar where he has interned with the Minneapolis Public Schools, Trinity Lutheran Congregation, Pan-African Center, and the Environmental Stewardship Committee. Mr. Sharif was awarded the 2018 Student Leader of the Year at Augsburg University. Additionally, he was awarded a David L. Boren Scholarship to study in Tanzania and is a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to South Africa and Namibia. While in Namibia, he interned with the Namibia Institute for Democracy as a research assistant focusing on civic engagement and anti-corruption mechanisms in the country.

Most recently Mr. Sharif was a Public Policy and International Affairs fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He hopes to one day pursue a career in international development focusing on economic advancement.

 

Mr. Sharif  has joined Lockridge Grindal Nauen (LGN) state government relations team for the 2020 Legislative Session.

 

Original source: https://www.locklaw.com/lockridge-grindal-nauen-welcomes-amy-zhou-and-abdulkadir-sharif-to-state-government-relations-team/