Internship Credit

Credit for Internships

Whether or not an internship is paid or unpaid, with or without credit, it offers you a wonderful learning experience.  Tufts offers two credit options: Academic Credit or Career Services Internship Credit.

Academic Internship Credit

If you are seeking academic credit, you need to determine if an academic department or program offers an internship course for credit.  Several departments at Tufts offer internship courses for academic credit, but these courses may not be available each semester. Please contact the appropriate academic department for more information. Below are links to departments currently providing internship information on their websites.  

• American Studies - Internship Course
• Anthropology - Internship Info
• Chemical & Biological Engineering - Internship Course Info
• Child Development - Internship Course
• Civil & Environmental Engineering - Internship Info
• Community Health - Internship Info
• Communications & Media Studies – Internship Info
• Economics - No Department Credit Option
• Electrical Engineering - Internship Course Info
• Entrepreneurial Leadership - Internship Course Info
• Environmental Studies - Internship Info
• International Relations - Internship Info
• Mechanical Engineering - Internship Info
• Peace and Justice Studies - Internship Info
• Political Science - Internship Info
• Psychology - Internship Course Info
• Sociology - Internship Course Info
• Women's Studies - Internship Info

Communications Internships:

• Many employers in the communications industry require academic credit.  To receive academic credit, you must go through Communications and Media Studies and register for the course EXP99C. For more information, contact Susan Eisenhauer at (617) 627-2007, susan.eisenhauer@tufts.edu.

Finance/Business Interns:

• Interns in the business/finance field may apply for credit towards the Entrepreneurial Leadership minor through the course ELS 193 or ELS 194 in the fall or spring semesters. The Economics department does not have an academic internship credit option at Tufts. If the student is unable to get academic credit for an internship, he or she may request Career Services Internship Credit, which many finance companies will accept as official recognition of the internship.
• Note: Some organizations will not accept Career Services Internship Credit for unpaid internships. Please be aware that Merrill Lynch, in particular, will not accept Career Services Internship Credit. Students have been able to do academic year internships at Merrill Lynch, however, by registering for an ELS course. Career Services Internship Credit is NOT academic credit.  It is your responsibility to determine credit requirements and make plans accordingly. 

Career Services Internship Credit

In cases where your employer does not require academic credit or where internship credit is not available through an academic department, you may apply for Internship Credit through Career Services.  Tufts Career Services Internship Credit is an official way to note the internship on your transcript upon completion of the internship.

Please Note: The Tufts Career Services Internship Credit is NOT academic credit. It does not affect your total number of credits needed for graduation. Since you do not receive a grade, it does not affect your grade point average. This internship option does not fulfill major, minor, or degree requirements.  No faculty sponsorship is required.

Prerequisites for Career Services Internship Credit

• You must be a matriculated, enrolled student at Tufts University.
• The internship must be completed before graduation.
• There is no limit on the number of times you may receive Career Services Internship Credit.
• You must apply before the beginning of your internship; credit will not be given retroactively.
• Summer interns must work a minimum of 150 hours and fall or spring interns must work at least 75 hours.
• There is no cost for Career Services Internship Credit.

Application Procedure

You may apply for fall, spring, or summer credit by the following deadlines:

• Fall: September through December - Application Deadline: October 1
• Spring: January through May - Application Deadline: February 15
• Summer: May through August - Application Deadline: July 1

1. To apply, complete the Career Services Internship Credit Registration Form, attach a brief description of your internship duties, have your supervisor sign the form, and fax or email it to Career Services.
2. Once we receive your Registration Form, Career Services will send your internship supervisor a letter stating your enrollment in the Career Services Internship Credit program and outlining insurance and liability coverage throughout the program. 
3. In order to receive internship credit, you are expected to spend 75 hours at your internship site during the fall and spring semesters, and 150 hours during the summer.
4. Near the end of your internship, we will email evaluation forms to you and your supervisor, which must be completed and returned to us by a specified deadline.  Upon satisfactory completion of the internship, the Internship Credit will be added to your transcript.