Departments & Academic Credit

Introduction

Arts Internships allow undergraduate and graduate students to obtain practical experience in their field prior to graduation. Students who pursue approved internships may also gain up to 3 credits towards their degree upon the completion of a major topical paper. Arts internships require a minimum of 150 hours of work with an approved host institution or organization and are generally 8-12 weeks in duration. Upon completion of the internship, the student who wishes to gain academic credit must submit a major topical paper that discusses an aspect of their internship from an academic perspective. Please note: the academic requirements may vary between departments and programs.

The vast majority of departments and programs in the faculty offer an Internship Course. These courses are only open to students in good standing who have completed 30 credits of a 90 credit program or 45 credits of a 96-120 credit program. A minimum CGPA of 2.7 and Departmental approval are required. Please note that some departments have different or additional requirements and these courses may not always fulfill program requirements for seminar or 400-level courses.

Student may not take more than 6 credits of internship courses toward the completion of their B.A or B.A & B. Sc. Degree requirements.

Internship course credit is available for students in the following departments and programs in the Faculty of Arts

Steps To Getting Course Credit Approval For Your Internship

Once you have secured an internship position, complete the steps below if you wish to obtain internship course credit.

Please note: All steps should be completed well in advance of the beginning of your internship. No approval will be granted after you have started your internship.

1. Obtain a written confirmation of your internship from your host organization (letter or e-mail). This should briefly outline your duties as an intern and the duration of your internship.
2. Confirm that your department or program has an internship course and familiarize yourself with their requirements and deadlines for receiving internship course credit. See the list of available internship courses above.
3. Begin looking for a McGill professor in your department to act as your academic supervisor who will agree to supervise the academic component of the internship course credit. Discuss possible research topics related to your internship. Tip: It can be beneficial to get to know the research and teaching interests of the professors in your program. Professors' interests are often listed on departmental websites.
4. With your academic supervisor, fill out the Faculty of Arts Internship Course Credit Approval Form, available here.
5. If your Internship Course research will involve human subject research, please discuss this with your supervisor and review McGill's Research Ethics Requirements [.pdf].
6. Read the Handbook for Faculty of Arts Interns to familiarize yourself with your responsibilities as an intern receiving credit, available here.
7. If your internship is outside of Canada, you are required to attend the University-Wide Pre-Departure Information Session. See here for more information and to register.
8. Visit the Arts Internship Office (AIO) with the following:
   • The completed Credit Approval Form signed by your academic supervisor (available here).
   • A copy of the letter of confirmation from your internship host organization
   • Completed personal data form which can be found here.
9. Students interning outside of Montreal must complete the University-Related Travel Activity Registry on Minerva. This form will be created by the Arts Internship Office and you will receive an e-mail notification once it is ready. Click here for more information about the registry.
10. Complete your University-related travel registry form on Minerva.
11. The AIO will review your internship and sign the Internship Credit Approval Form.
12. Pick up your Credit Approval Form from the AIO.
13. Receive departmental approval by having your program’s Internship Advisor and/or Department Chair sign the form. See the list of program/departmental advisers.
14. Bring your completed Internship credit approval form to your program’s administrative office. You will be given a permit override that will allow you to register for the internship course.
15. Register for the internship credit course on Minerva. The course is normally taken in the semester following the internship.

Travel Warnings

McGill encourages students to include an international educational experience as part of their studies. However, the University will not approve student travel to all countries or regions of countries, as the safety of students is of primary importance. In planning a University-related international travel activity, staff members and students are to consider the nature of the activity, the associated risks and the location, specifically consulting travel warnings and reports issued by the Government of Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD). These are listed at: http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories. A travel warning is official advice concerning travel to a country or specific regions of a country, based on an overall assessment of the security risk and expressed in terms of the following four levels:

1. Exercise normal security precautions
2. Exercise high degree of caution
3. Avoid non-essential travel
4. Avoid all travel

University-related activity will not be approved in locations for which DFATD has issued a level 3 or 4 warning. University-related courses, conferences and other activities undertaken in these locations will not receive McGill credit or recognition.

For more information see: http://www.mcgill.ca/students/international/registry and McGill's University Related Travel Guidelines

During your Internship

The AIO recommends that, during your internship, you keep a log noting the tasks and responsibilities you are given as an intern. Keep track of skills you’re gaining as well as what questions you may have along the way. This will assist you in reflecting on your internship when it comes time to completing your academic requirements for credit and may provide you inspiration for your research. Further, keep a file containing copies of materials and projects you have worked on during your internship. Some departments require that these are submitted as part of your internship course evaluation.

This is also a good time to review your responsibilities to the Arts Internship Office as outlined in the Handbook for Faculty of Arts Interns located at http://www.mcgill.ca/arts-internships/forms.

After your Internship

In the semester following your internship, you must complete the academic requirements set by your department or program for receiving academic credit. This will include your major research paper and may include the submission of additional assignments or materials. These materials should be submitted to your academic supervisor. At the end of the semester, your academic supervisor will submit your grade either directly on Minerva or to your program’s administrative office.

Early in the semester, meet with your academic supervisor to review the requirements of your program’s internship credit course and set a timeline for the completion of your assignments. It is your responsibility to ensure that your work is completed and submitted to your supervisor in time for them to grade your work and submit your grades before the end of the semester.

Taking the Fall or Winter Semester away from McGill for an internship

Important information for students who take a semester off of their studies from McGill to do an internship:

• If a student is not registered for courses during a regular term (Fall/Winter), he/she will be automatically withdrawn from the university
• If the student is no longer a McGill student, he/she may not have access to Student Services, including insurance (please check this with Student Services)
• If the student was registered for consecutive terms, the registration will be dropped (i.e. if you register for Winter courses, they will be dropped if you are not registered for the Fall
• The student must apply for re-admission before he/she can resume her studies. He/she will only be able to register for courses once the application has been reviewed, the request been approved and the record re-activated
• Re-admission will be granted as long as the student is in satisfactory standing (CGPA of 2.0 or higher) and provides supporting documentation for the missed term (for example, a letter confirming the internship assignment)

Students who are considering doing an internship during the Fall or Winter semesters should review the following webpage: http://www.mcgill.ca/oasis/general/readmission/. Students are also encouraged to see a Faculty of Arts Advisor to clarify their situation.