Gallatin Internships

Search, Propose, and Register Your Internship

• Goals and Objectives
  
• Choosing a Site
• Internship Models
  
• Registering
• Proposal and Confirmation Letter
• Credits, Hours and Grading

Establishing Goals and Objectives

The first and crucial step to acquiring an academic internship for course credit begins with a consultation with your faculty adviser to determine how an internship will fit into your academic program. With your adviser's help, you will establish your goals and objectives, determine how many units you wish to earn, and begin to articulate an educational rationale for why you want to undertake this particular kind of non-classroom learning. Only after consulting with your faculty adviser should you should begin to search for opportunities that match your academic interests and goals.

 

Choosing Your Internship Site

To get assistance in finding an appropriate internship site, discuss your plans with the Director of Internships, Faith Lucine, who can help you identify appropriate industries and organizations to which you can apply. She can also review and offer advice on your resume and cover letter, or refer you to a Gallatin liaison at the NYU's Wasserman Center for Career Development, where you can secure an internship placement through a consultation with a career counselor/coach. If you elect to look for opportunities through Wasserman please keep in mind that you should connect your internship to the goals and objectives you identified with your adviser.  

If you have an existing paid position that closely relates to your plan of study, you may choose to turn your paid position into a credit bearing internship provided that you follow all of the procedures and guidelines outlined in Gallatin’s Internship protocols. Before finalizing an internship you should read the Wasserman Center’s Important Considerations Before Accepting a Job or Internship. Many students choose a placement that is clearly and directly related to their concentration. However, the internship can also be regarded as an elective: an exploratory experience that may be useful for engaging new ideas, practices, and problems.

NOTE: Students interested in conducting an Internship who will be studying at one of the thirteen NYU global locations must consult the global site course offerings to see if this option is available at the site. Students studying at NYU global sites may not enroll in the standard Gallatin Internship option (INDIV-UG 1801). Please consult the specific site course offerings by linking to the site page from the Studying Abroad website.

 

Identifying Internship Models

To what extent does your internship fall into one or more of the following internship categories?

1. Industry Focused: Internships of this type have the primary purpose of introducing students to a particular industry, making professional connections, engaging in observerships, and exploring a field. Student can enroll for 1-4 units, depending on requirements the faculty adviser and student determine; graded Pass or Fail.
   
2. Service-Based Learning: These types of internships are geared toward learning through community service; students provide service for non-profits, NGOs, or other public institutions; these internships are closely linked to the student’s academic interests at Gallatin. Student can enroll for 1-4 units, depending on requirements the faculty adviser and student determine; graded Pass or Fail.
   
3. Embedded in a Gallatin Course: These internships are integrally linked to a particular course at Gallatin. The course instructor and the Internship Program design these internships. Embedded internships have specific learning objectives that are related to course content. The course instructor, instead of the student’s faculty adviser, supervises and grades this types of internship. Embedded internships are limited to 2 units and students receive a letter grade instead of the usual P/F.
4. Research Internship: These types of internships have a very specific, academic agenda. Their purpose is for students to experience or practice specific research (e.g. science labs, data collection) linked to their academic fields of interest. These internships are geared toward graduate students or undergraduate students interested in working in science or social science organizations. Student can enroll for 1-4 units, depending on academic workload determined by faculty adviser and student.

 

Registering Internships for Gallatin Students 

Once you have secured an internship, you will need to discuss the details of the arrangement with your adviser regarding your internship description, hours, supervision, and how the internship relates to your learning goals. When you reach an agreement, you will complete an Internship Proposal and request a confirmation letter from the person who will be supervising your internship.

 

Registering Internships for Non Gallatin Students

Non Gallatin NYU students are eligible to apply for an internship through Gallatin. These internships must take place only within the New York metropolitan area. To apply, students must first contact the Director of Internships, Faith Lucine, and provide the following information:

• A description of the internship 
• A brief explanation of how the internship aligns with your academic pursuits
• Your rationale for seeking to do a credit-bearing internship through Gallatin and the number of credits you wish to apply for

Gallatin's internship program staff will review the request and assign a Gallatin faculty adviser, provided that one is available, to oversee and grade the internship in the proposed field of interest and in the corresponding semester. 

Adviser assignments and registration through Gallatin are not automatic or guaranteed, but Gallatin will make every effort to accomodate students. All faculty adviser assignments are processed internally through Gallatin's internship program. Non-Gallatin students registered for a Gallatin credit-bearing internship will also be required to fulfill all written internship program requirements. 

Only after a faculty adviser has been assigned can the student submit an Internship Proposal Form to the assigned adviser for his or her approval and for the Program's review. Students will receive a special registration code upon completion and approval of their internship proposal. Students must attend an internship workshop after registration is completed. 

 

The Internship Proposal and Confirmation Letter

• The Internship Proposal asks you to describe the logistics and details of your internship arrangement as well as the number of units you will earn, a number that you will arrive at in consultation with your faculty adviser. The number of internship units that will be granted will depend on the academic workload — that is, specific assignments (such as reflections and final project) — that you and your adviser agreed upon. Internship units typically vary between one and four units per semester.   
  

• In addition, you must articulate your academic objectives and professional goals in the proposal form. Your description will be carefully reviewed by your adviser and by the program directors for approval.

• Once your internship information and objectives are clearly stated, you will submit your proposal electronically to your faculty adviser and Program Directors before the start of the semester. Your proposal must be approved by your adviser and the program directors in order for you to register for an internship.
  

• Once your proposal is approved, you will receive an access code that will allow you to register for internship credit. After registering for internship credit, you must request a confirmation letter on official letterhead from your supervisor. The letter should detail your work schedule and responsibilities and must be submitted to Faith Lucine, Director of Internships, at fs1@nyu.edu, by the first week of class.
  

 

Number of Units, Meeting Hours, and Grading

You may enroll in a maximum of four internship credits per semester (fall, spring, or summer). The academic workload or the number of Gallatin assignments you and your adviser agree upon will determine the number of credits you can take for the internship.* Embedded Internships are limited to two credits. You must work a minimum of 10 hours per week at the placement site over the course of the semester. With the exception of Embedded Internships (which are letter graded), undergraduate internships receive grades of Pass or Fail. The faculty adviser assigns the final grade, which is based on the following criteria:

• evidence of analytical thinking in your reflections,
• evidence of research and analysis (and creativity for arts work) in your final project,
• evidence of planning and self-direction, and
  
• your supervisor's performance evaluation.

*PLEASE NOTE: 1) Internships are credit-bearing non-classroom courses and, for this reason, tuition and fees for an internship course are generated in the same way as they are for a classroom course and are based on the number of units for the internship course. 2) Students may take a maximum of 24 units in internship during their course of study at Gallatin.