Navigating the BYUI Internship Approval Process: A Comprehensive Guide

Securing an internship is a crucial step for BYU-Idaho students seeking to gain practical experience and enhance their career prospects. Understanding the internship approval process is essential for a smooth and successful experience. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the process, requirements, and key considerations for BYUI students pursuing internships.

Finding the Right Internship

The first step is identifying an internship opportunity that aligns with your academic and career goals. Here's how to approach the search:

Start Early: Begin your search at least a year in advance, especially if you're considering an international internship, which may require up to eighteen months of preparation.
Utilize Career Resources: Explore Career Navigator for listings of companies that have previously hired BYU-Idaho interns. Attend the Career Fair each semester to connect with companies actively seeking interns. Networking and building relationships with recruiters can significantly increase your chances of finding an internship.
Leverage Personal Connections: Tap into your network. Explore opportunities with companies where your family members work or within your local community. Consider local businesses, non-profits, political campaigns, libraries, or museums.
Think Broadly About Your Skills: As an English major, consider the diverse skills you possess, such as analyzing data, researching, critical thinking, and organizing information. These skills are valuable in various corporate settings, including company newsletters, presentations, human resources, usability testing, blogs, and website content creation.
Applied Learning Projects: If staying in Rexburg is a must, explore Applied Learning Projects offered through BYU-Idaho. Companies partner with the university to provide students with real-world project experience. Contact the English internship coordinator or the Research and Business Development Center for more information.

Understanding Internship Requirements

Before diving into the approval process, familiarize yourself with the university's and your department's specific requirements.

Credit Hours and Workload: Internships must involve a minimum of 70 hours of work per credit hour. A standard 3-credit internship requires a minimum of 210 hours, typically working out to 15 hours per week over a 14-week semester.
Duration: Internships must be a minimum of 7 weeks long to be considered for academic credit.
Qualified Supervision: A qualified supervisor or mentor is crucial for your development. They should provide constructive feedback, guidance, and support to help you improve your skills. The internship coordinator will inquire about your communication plan with your mentor and how your work will be assigned and assessed, especially for online internships.
Relevance to English Skills: The internship should involve the application of English-related skills, such as writing, analyzing data, researching, or critical thinking.
Credit Limits: The maximum number of internship credits you can earn towards your bachelor's degree is typically 6 credits, not exceeding 5% of the 120-credit requirement.
Tuition and Fees: While internship credits are exempt from tuition charges, an administrative fee equivalent to one credit hour will be applied.

The Internship Approval Process

Once you've secured an internship offer, the formal approval process begins.

Internship Approval Form: Complete the "Internship Approval Form" on I-Plan by clicking on the "Create an Internship Request" button. Indicate the number of credit hours you wish to register for, keeping in mind the 70-hour per credit requirement.
Master Agreement: If the company has not previously hosted a BYU-Idaho intern, they must complete the Master Agreement, which can be found on the Career Navigator page. This agreement ensures the legitimacy of the internship and covers liability aspects for both the company and BYU-Idaho.
Submission and Review: After submitting the approval form, it goes to the University Internship Office to verify the Master Agreement and then to the Internship Coordinator for departmental review.
Departmental Approval: The form is sent to Professor Emily Russell for Communication Department review and approval.
Final University Approval: Once the application receives department approval, it is sent back to the Internship Office for final University approval.
Registration: Upon final approval, you will be authorized to add the COMM 498R class (or the appropriate course for your major) when registering for classes.

Key Considerations During the Approval Process

Timeliness: The approval process can take several days to several weeks. Promptly respond to any inquiries or instructions from Professor Emily Russell and the Internship Office to avoid delays.
Supervisor Oversight: Ensure your supervisor has oversight in the communications activities you are involved in. Describe your supervisor's training and role in this area in the "job description" section of the approval form.
Credit Hour Selection: Carefully consider the number of credit hours to register for. This decision depends on the number of hours you plan to work and whether you need the internship to count towards your general English electives. Adjustments after the semester are difficult, so plan accordingly.
International Students: International students must obtain their Curricular Practical Training (CPT) from the international office before commencing their internship. Starting employment without CPT is illegal.

Internship Course Requirements

Internship courses are registered for academic credit and will receive a letter grade. Expect to complete assignments that will determine your grade for the course. The syllabus will be available on I-Learn once you are registered or from your faculty internship coordinator.

Read also: Navigating BYU-Idaho Graduation

Essential Documents and Deliverables

Weekly Reports: Submit weekly reports detailing your hours worked, tasks performed, and key learning experiences. These reports will serve as valuable resources for your reflective essay.
Reflective Essay: Write a 4-10 page reflective essay (MLA or APA style, double-spaced) that reflects on your experiences, opportunities, and learning outcomes. This essay should demonstrate the value of your internship experience.
Portfolio: Compile a portfolio showcasing representative samples of your work. Include diverse examples that demonstrate your skills, progress, and growth throughout the internship. Label each document clearly, explaining its purpose, the skills it demonstrates, and its significance.

Experiences That May Not Qualify

Be aware that certain types of experiences may not qualify for internship credit, including:

Door-to-door sales
Multi-level marketing positions
Call-center phone-based positions
Telecommuting, work-from-home, and internet research-based positions (unless pre-approved)

New Policy for Summer Session (Starting Summer 2026)

Students completing internships during the summer break or outside the semester starting Summer 2026, are still required to go through the internship approval process before beginning their internship.

IPlan Application: Submit an internship application via IPlan.
Internship Semester: Select the current year and "Cross Semester" when filling out your application.
Approved Application: Once your internship application has been approved and the agreement signed, you may begin your internship experience.
CPL Credit: Apply for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) at the conclusion of your internship to receive formal academic credit for your experience which will show on your degree audit as a pass/fail grade. Complete the CPL application. There will not be an internship course to register for.

Important Note: Please reach out to your Faculty Internship Coordinator to verify that they will accept CPL in place of the internship course.

On-Campus Jobs and Internships

While using an on-campus job for internship credit is generally not permitted, exceptions may be made if your supervisor can provide additional responsibilities or a special project outside your usual scope of work. This requires approval from the department internship coordinator and the Internships and Career Services Director.

The Scroll and Internship Credit

Working for The Scroll, while valuable for skill development, does not qualify for English 398R internship credit. However, you can gain elective credit for your work at The Scroll.

Read also: Maximizing Your Connection

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