Undergraduate Info
Department of Computer Science Internship Guidelines and Procedures
(Effective as of Spring Semester 2008)
1. Overview
The University of Arizona recognizes the value of on-the-job experience to the educational development of students. The university has reserved course numbers (*93) for departments to use to help students earn university credit for their internship experiences. The application of these credits is determined by individual departments.
2. Internship Guidelines
(a) Students may register for up to three credits of CSc *93 per semester.
(b) In total, students cannot earn more than 6 credits of CSc *93 coursework.
(c) Typically, upper-division students (usually CS Majors) register for CSc 493, while lower division students (usually CS pre-majors) register for CSc 293. The appropriate course number is selected with the approval of the supervising faculty member.
(d) CSc *93 credits do not count toward the credits required to complete Department of Computer Science degree requirements. However, the credits do count toward the University’s requirements for upper-division credit and total credit hours.
(e) Each credit for which a student registers requires a minimum of 45 hours of work during the term on the internship project (ABOR Policy 2-206). For example, if a student would like to register for three credits, the student should plan to average no less than nine hours of work on the project per week over the course of a 15 week semester.
(f) Internships will be graded using the alternative S/P/C/D/E grading system. Note that grades of S and P are not included in the university’s GPA calculations.
(g) Students who are working a paid internship, or are working for their long-term employer on a project that is beyond the student’s normal duties, may receive both internship credit and pay for the same work.
3. The Internship Process
(a) Prior to the start of the internship, the student will meet with his or her assigned Computer Science faculty advisor to discuss the project, select the suitable *93 course number, and complete the course paperwork. The faculty advisor will serve as the instructor of record for the *93 course. Pre-majors and other students without an assigned advisor may approach the Computer Science faculty member of their choice to serve as the instructor of record.
(b) Also prior to the start of the internship, the student will write and submit to the instructor an initial proposal of no more than two double-spaced pages that describes each of the following:
i. The nature and scope of the internship duties, as best the student currently understands them,
ii. The name and contact information of the student’s immediate internship supervisor, and
iii. A description of the educational benefit the student expects to receive by completing the intern-ship. The Department understands that some projects can not be described in detail, especially before they begin. Initially, a general description is acceptable, with the understanding that the student will communicate more detailed information to the instructor as such information becomes available.
(c) As the internship progresses, should the student’s duties change, the student is expected to submit an amended proposal to the instructor as soon as possible.
(d) Near the midpoint of the internship, by a date determined by the instructor in consultation with the student, the student will write and submit to the instructor a summary of the work completed to date on the internship project and an estimate of the work that will be completed by the end of the internship.
(e) Near the end of the internship, by a date determined by the instructor in consultation with the student, the student will submit to the instructor a final paper of no fewer than five double-spaced pages containing the following content:
i. General internship info (the names of the company and department(s) you worked for, their locations, supervisor contact info, length of internship, etc.)
ii. Description(s) of the project(s) covered by the internship, the student’s contributions to them, and the status of the project(s) at the time the paper was written.
iii. Student reflections on the internship. This may include summaries of what the student learned from the project(s), impressions of the corporate culture, how the experiences will help with the selection of future classes, how the internship has provided new insight into the student’s post-graduation plans, etc.
iv. Any additional relevant content. The Department understands that companies do not wish corporate secrets to be revealed. The student should feel free to have his or her supervisor review this paper to ensure that corporate policies are respected.
(f) To confirm that the student did complete the work described in the final paper, the student should approach his or her supervisor and request that the supervisor contact the instructor with verification of the student’s claims. The instructor will notify the student of the form of verification desired. Because the supervisor may not agree to this request, the instructor may make this requirement optional.
Sources of Additional Information
In order to register for internship credit the student and faculty member must, at minimum, complete the Department of Computer Science Individual Studies Proposal Form. The Office of Registration and Transcripts also maintains a set of “best practices” documents related to internships that faculty and students should consider using as well in order to document their expectations for the experience.
As of this update, the available university documents are:
• Internship Assumption of Risk Release Form
• Student’s Internship Evaluation Form
• Supervisor’s Internship Evaluation Form