Internship Credit Procedures

Theatre Department Guidelines:

For THET 286 Experiential Learning I (1-3 credits) . . .

• The student must have successfully completed the Fundamentals courses THET 112-116 as well as the Fundamentals Project THET 288 and have permission of the Department.
• The student must secure a Faculty Sponsor, qualified in the area of the internship. They register for the course under the section number of this Faculty Advisor.
• The internship must be 30-60 hours of practical work for 1 -3 credits.
• The student first discusses the guidelines for the work to be done and hours to be completed with the on-site supervisor.
• The student drafts a letter outlining the position tasks and number of hours (5-10/week) to be worked per week over the course of the term. the number of contact hours for the course is 45 - 135 hours; 45 hours/credit). This letter is an agreement in lieu of a work contract. The letter is signed by the internship supervisor and the student with a copy sent to the Faculty Advisor.
• The student also meets with the Faculty Advisor to discuss the guidelines of the work to be done, hours to be completed, and final project. An internship contract is completed and signed by both parties. This Contract outlines the terms for the course.
• The student completes a daily journal that documents the learning experience as well as the process and progress of the assignment after each scheduled work session. The journal documents hours worked and tasks completed. The student should answer these questions: What function am I filling? What is the point of the work I am doing? How does my work support the whole? What practical experience as a worker am I gaining? These entries should be typed and maintained in a 3-ring binder. The supervisor needs to review and sign the journal every two weeks, or at least three times during the six-week work schedule.
• The student constructs and maintains a pictorial log and chronicles the work progress during the six-week schedule. This can contain: photographs, brochures, projects worked on, copies of work completed. The log represents the work performed and will be evaluated by the Faculty Advisor at the end of the term.
• The final project is in lieu of a final exam. The details are to be determined by the Faculty Advisor and student at the initial meeting. This project may be a research paper, presentation to Theatre students, design portfolio or another project deemed acceptable by the Faculty Advisor.

For THET 386 Experiential Learning (3-6 credits) . . .

• The student must have Junior or Senior standing and Permission of the Department.
• The student must secure a Faculty Sponsor for their internship. This Sponsor may be a TA or Adjunct Faculty if they are qualified in the area of the internship.
• The student must provide the Sponsor, prior to their first meeting, a summary of the internship, their responsibilities, hours, and contact information for the Site Supervisor.
• Student must meet with the Faculty Sponsor to establish the preliminary guidelines for the internship, and sign internship contract.
• Student must register for the internship using the section number of the Faculty Sponsor.
• At the end of the internship, the student must meet with the Faculty Sponsor for evaluation.
• The student must produce a culminating project as established by Faculty Sponsor during the initial meeting. The project and internship work must be intricate enough to merit 3 credits of 300 level course work. (Normally a paper, but could also be presentation, journal, performance or otherwise approved project.)

University Guidelines for 386 Internships:

• Completion of a minimum of 56 credits including 12 credits earned at UMCP
• Completion of a minimum of 3 credits in the Department awarding the 386 credit
• Approval of learning proposal by the departmental faculty sponsor/college internship coordinator
• A 2.5 minimum GPA (can be waived with departmental permission)
• A 386 course can be taken only once in any given Department
• No more than one 386 course can be taken any given semester
• Only the work hours completed during the semester earning credit will be counted toward total hours for credit.
• The number of work hours required per credit is the same for summer, spring, and fall semesters.
• Credit will be awarded only for the semester in which students are actually working at their site.
• A maximum of 12 credits of 386 course work can be earned toward the completion of a degree.
• Credit hours awarded based on a 15 week semester:
  3 credits = 135 total hours
  4 credits = 180 total hours
  5 credits = 225 total hours
  6 credits = 270 total hours

Supervisors Guidelines:

• After speaking with the student and agreeing to be the faculty sponsor, make initial contact with the on-site supervisor.
• Meet with the student to go over the internship guidelines and sign the internship contract. Give a copy of the contract to the Coordinator of Student Services to file in the student's file.
• Arrange to have the THET 286 or THET 386 section set up - if needed.
• Contact the on-site supervisor at the end of the internship to get a progress report.
• For THET 286 review the Daily Journal and Pictorial Log/Chronicle
• Collect (or view) and grade the final project.
• Submit the student's final grade.