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How to earn credit for ENSP386

How to earn credit for ENSP386

There  is no “class” associated with ENSP386.  Your practical experience, together with your reflection journals, meetings with your faculty advisor, timesheets, supervisor’s letter of evaluation, and final research paper comprise the academic requirements of ENSP386.  Most students will complete their internship activity in the summer, then we enroll them in ENSP386 the following fall semester.  However, it is possible for students to intern and take classes simultaneously during the academic year (spring or fall semester).  You will be awarded 3 credits for this experience. 

ENSP's COVID-19 policy is no longer in effect.  Going forward, students are expected to complete ENSP386 if the concentration requires it.

Scroll to the very bottom of the page for a complete listing of all documentation you will need for ENSP386.

DEADLINES FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS

  • If you're doing a SUMMER internship; credit will be awarded in the summer or fall - June 15.  Please make an effort to submit your paper work before leaving campus, if possible.
  • If you're doing a FALL internship; credit will be awarded in the fall - September 10
  • If you're doing a SPRING internship; credit will be awarded in the spring - February 4

Follow the steps below for guidance on earning ENSP386 credit:

1. Read the ENSP Internship Overview

It is important that your read our INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW, which outlines the process of earning credit for ENSP386, including student expectations and an outline of the academic components of the course.  Once you have finished reading the overview, follow remaining steps below.

2. Secure an internship!

Search the ENSP website, Careers4Terps, the Office of Sustainability, and MORE!  

3. Identify a faculty member to serve as your Faculty Sponsor.

It is your responsibility to seek out a faculty sponsor.  This person may be your faculty advisor for your ENSP concentration (which is most common), but may also be a faculty member that specializes in your area of interest. You must ask them if they will be willing to serve in this role.  Identify this person early in the process!  Note: make sure you are identifying a faculty member, and not a staff member.

4. Prepare your proposal

Use this Proposal Form & Coversheet.  You can refer to this Sample Proposal for ideas and inspiration!

Your proposal will include:

    • Coversheet
    • At least six academic and/or career objectives related to the content of the internship
    • Description of work activities
    • Proposed academic research topic AND seven (7) examples of scholarly source materials for your term paper (including at least 3 peer-reviewed articles). Your research paper topic is of your choosing and should connect the content of your internship with the content of your concentration (and not necessarily what you did during your internship experience).  
    • Work commitment (including minimal weekly time commitment and total hours on-site)
    • An updated, 1-page resume
    • Consent & Release Form
    • all necessary signatures and contact information

5. Submit your proposal

Submit a completed hard copy proposal form to Angela in 0216 Symons Hall.  It should be stapled with a cover sheet and complete with signatures from your faculty advisor and on-site supervisor.  Electronic copies may be accepted if you are no longer on campus.

If and when your proposal is approved by ENSP, Angela will place you into ENSP386 for three (3) credits and send you an email confirmation (you will not add the course yourself).  

Read "SUBMITTING YOUR PROPOSAL" for more details.

 

DEADLINES FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS

  • If you're doing a SUMMER internship; credit will be awarded in the summer or fall - June 15.  Please make an effort to submit your paper work before leaving campus, if possible.
  • If you're doing a FALL internship; credit will be awarded in the fall - September 10
  • If you're doing a SPRING internship; credit will be awarded in the spring - February 4


Please contact Angela in advance if you foresee a late proposal, e.g., your on-site supervisor is out of town so can't review and approve your proposal; you got an "auto-reply" from your faculty advisor indicating s/he is off-campus and away from e-mail.

  • Proposals submitted later than two weeks into the start of the internship will be approved on a case-by-case basis only and approval is not guaranteed.  Please include a carefully-prepared explanation of your situation together with your proposal.

And don’t feel badly about e-mailing Angela to “check up” on your supervisor or faculty advisor, to be sure s/he sent your approval, as promised!

6. Complete the work for ENSP386

Remember: ENSP386 is not an actual "course."  Students earn credit by completing their internship activity, by meeting periodically with their faculty sponsor during the semester, and by completing all components of the Internship Packet:

    • A 10-12 page academic research paper with an annotated bibliography. Your research paper topic is of your choosing and should connect the content of your internship with the content of your concentration (and not necessarily what you did during your internship experience).  
      • See a sample internship paper HERE
      • Grading rubric for academic paper HERE.
    • A record of hours worked, i.e., your “time sheets,” with days/hours clearly marked and totaled.  You need at least 120 hours on-site to earn 3 academic credits.
    • A reflection journal (guidelines in Checklist for Success)
    • An evaluation from your site supervisor. 
    • A newly-updated resume that now includes your internship experience.

Use the Checklist for Success to ensure you are successfully completing all requirements for the internship!

Your Faculty Sponsor may use the ENSP GRADING SHEET to assign a final grade based on the high quality of your completed Internship Portfolio.  A complete packet should be submitted in hard-copy format, in a folder, and include the following documents:  your research paper and supporting documentation (weekly log, personal reflections, supervisor evaluation).  

Deadlines for submitting the complete Internship Packet to your faculty sponsor:

    • December 1 (if earning credit in the fall) -or-
    • May 1 (if earning credit in the spring) 

7. Say THANK YOU

Be sure to write a thank-you note to your on-site supervisor!

8. Update your resume

Although not required for credit, don’t forget to add your new experience to your resume!  Take advantage of the services offered by the Career Center for help in updating your resume.

Internship Documents - coming soon

Internship Overview: outlines the process of earning credit for ENSP386, including student expectations and an outline of the academic components of the course.
Submitting your Internship Proposal for Approval

  • How to Submit Your Proposal
  • Proposal Form/Coversheet
  • Consent & Release Form
  • Sample Proposal

Completing the Work for ENSP386

  • Guidelines for Completing the Internship Portfolio
  • Guidelines and Grading Rubric for Academic Paper
  • Guidelines for Meeting with your Advisor and On-Site Supervisor
  • Reflection Journal Guidelines  
  • Site Supervisor Evaluation
  • Sample Internship Paper