Spring Break
Students feel internships deserve more credit
Administrators argue the academic value of internships equals one credit; many students do independent studies instead
Issue date: 4/17/08
One year after a decision to reduce credits for internships went into effect, frustrated students are finding themselves increasingly likely to do internships for anything but credit.
Hopkins students seeking additional credits for an internship have had to take the alternate route of completing an independent study, which grants them three credits.
"We don't give academic credit for people who do meaningful jobs. We give them for people who do meaningful academic work," Dean of Undergraduate Education Paula Burger said.
In May 2006, a committee appointed by Burger and Vice Dean for Faculty Andrew Douglas decided in favor of a proposal to lower the number of credits awarded for an internship from three to one.
In addition to work hours - which can range from part to full time - students must meet academic requirements by completing coursework equal to one University course.
For many students, compensation does not equal the amount of work they have to put in.
"There's no incentive to do an internship for one credit. I think students would be less inclined to do it. I did a paid internship because there wasn't enough incentive," senior Amanuel Alemu said.
Others are concerned that insufficient credit has been dissuading students from pursuing internships that would have likely contributed to the University, since in order to gain credit, students must work with faculty.
"For students who are discouraged, the cost will not necessarily be to themselves but to the school," senior Paula Vargas said.
But when it comes to awarding credit, administrators stress that the academic component is the most important factor.
"While we recognize the desire on the part of many students to secure internships … we want to emphasize the importance of granting academic credit only for academic work," wrote members of the Committee on Independent Work (CIW) in their report.
Senior Shane Woolwine felt that this lack of credit completely dissuaded students from taking internships unless they are otherwise compensated.
Hopkins students seeking additional credits for an internship have had to take the alternate route of completing an independent study, which grants them three credits.
"We don't give academic credit for people who do meaningful jobs. We give them for people who do meaningful academic work," Dean of Undergraduate Education Paula Burger said.
In May 2006, a committee appointed by Burger and Vice Dean for Faculty Andrew Douglas decided in favor of a proposal to lower the number of credits awarded for an internship from three to one.
In addition to work hours - which can range from part to full time - students must meet academic requirements by completing coursework equal to one University course.
For many students, compensation does not equal the amount of work they have to put in.
"There's no incentive to do an internship for one credit. I think students would be less inclined to do it. I did a paid internship because there wasn't enough incentive," senior Amanuel Alemu said.
Others are concerned that insufficient credit has been dissuading students from pursuing internships that would have likely contributed to the University, since in order to gain credit, students must work with faculty.
"For students who are discouraged, the cost will not necessarily be to themselves but to the school," senior Paula Vargas said.
But when it comes to awarding credit, administrators stress that the academic component is the most important factor.
"While we recognize the desire on the part of many students to secure internships … we want to emphasize the importance of granting academic credit only for academic work," wrote members of the Committee on Independent Work (CIW) in their report.
Senior Shane Woolwine felt that this lack of credit completely dissuaded students from taking internships unless they are otherwise compensated.
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