About The NDSU Internship Program

The Internship Program exists to: 

  • Help students earn credit for their internship/co-op experiences.
  • Allow students to maintain a full-time student status while they are participating in full-time positions or experiential learning opportunities that take them off campus for a semester.
  • Support future and current interns and provide resources as they dive into the world of experiential learning.
  • Connect students with the highest quality internship and co-op experiences within their industries.

An internship/co-op may qualify for academic credit if:

  • Experience is directly related to the student’s major, field of study, or career goals.
  • Duties of the position are professional or paraprofessional in nature.
  • The position is on-site and supervised (internships can be paid or unpaid experiences).
  • Student is covered under the employer’s worker’s compensation insurance.
  • Students have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA prior to internship registration.

Who should participate in the Internship Program? 

  • The Internship Program is open to all majors and for both undergraduate and graduate students.
  • Students participating in full-time internships and will not be on campus or able to take on a full course load should consider registering for credit through the Internship Program.
  • Students who would like their internship experiences listed on their official transcript.
  • Students in certain majors and programs are required to register with the Internship Program.

What are the benefits of registering an internship/co-op?

  • If working 300+ hours within a term, registered students maintain their full-time student status with NDSU, even though they are only enrolled in 3 credits.
  • Why is this important?
    • Students scholarships will remain intact.
    • Student loans will not go into a repayment status.
    • Students keep access to all NDSU amenities/services of a full-time student.
    • Students have the ability to maintain insurance rates, which are determined by student status.
    • Students will be able to enroll for classes seamlessly and continue to be connected to NDSU.
  • The internship is included on your academic transcript which strengthens the validity of your experience for future employment.

How many credits can I earn?

  • The number of credits a student is eligible for is determined by the number of hours worked within a semester.
    • 100-199 hours = 1 credit
    • 200-299 hours = 2 credits
    • 300+ hours = 3 credits
  • Please note: some departments have different hour/credit breakdown.
  • No more than 3 credits can be earned within a semester. Students can register for up to 12 credits with the Internship Program during the course of their program at NDSU.

**Students should always speak with their academic or faculty advisor to make sure they understand if there are any specific internship requirements for their program.

What does the Internship Program offer?

  • Internship Orientation Sessions
  • “NDSU Intern” Graduation Pin
  • Scholarship Opportunities
  • Specialized Events
  • #NDSUintern Spotlight Blogs

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to participate in the Internship Program?

  • The program is open to all majors, although some majors or programs handle internship credits within their own academic departments.
  • Students are advised to look at the curriculum guide for their program to better understand internship, co-op, or field experience requirements.

Do I need to register my internship/co-op for credit?

  • No, students have the choice to request credit for their internships/co-ops or not. Some programs require internships, some allow students to use an internships or co-op as an elective within the program, and other programs have no internship component.
  • If your program does not accept internship credits as an elective for your major, these internship credits would still count as upper-level, free elective credits, which can help students reach the overall credit count needed in order to graduate.
  • Always check with your advisor or department if you are unsure whether or not you should register an internship/co-op for credit.

How can I maintain my full-time status while off campus working in a full-time internship/co-op?

  • By registering for 3 credits through the NDSU Career and Advising Center (which requires working 300+ hours in a given semester), students maintain a full-time student status with the University, even if they are not taking any additional credits. (*International students may need to be enrolled in additional credits, depending on their visa type).
  • Benefits include:
    • Student loans do not enter repayment
    • Scholarships are still valid
    • Full access to all NDSU services and amenities
    • Ability to register for courses and return to campus easily once finished with your internship

How does an internship fit into my schedule?

  • Internship experiences may be completed during any semester. Options include:
    • Consecutive: Students work 2 or 3 semesters in a row.
    • Parallel: Students work part-time with an employer and still take classes at NDSU.
    • Alternating: Students alternate between attending classes on campus full-time for a semester and working full-time on an internship assignment for a semester.
    • One Semester: Students work on an internship assignment for one semester only.

How does an internship fit into graduation requirements?

  • Every program recognizes internship credits differently, so it is important for students to discuss where these credits will be applied to their curriculum with the academic advisor.
  • Most commonly, students use the internship credits in the following areas:
    • Free elective credits
    • Fulfill a curriculum requirement
    • Major elective credits

How many credits can I earn?

  • Credits are earned based on the number of hours worked per semester.
    • 100-199 hours per semester = 1 credit
    • 200-299 hours per semester = 2 credits
    • 300+ hours per semester = 3 credits
  • Please note: ME 397 and IME 397 require 160 hours per credit, to earn 3 credits, students must work 480 hours per semester.
  • Students can register for up to 12 credits with the Internship Program during the time at NDSU.

What are the enrollment requirements for the Internship Program?

  • Minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA prior to internship registration.
  • Internship or co-op is directly related to a student’s academic major and/or career goals.
  • Duties and responsibilities are defined at the professional or paraprofessional level.
  • The employer can be verified as a valid organization.
  • Students must have a designated supervisor who will provide guidance and mentorship throughout the experience.
  • The supervisor must be willing to provide feedback to you, as the intern, and work with NDSU to fulfill additional requirements requested of them.
  • Internships can be paid or unpaid. If paid, the pay must meet the location’s minimum wage laws. If unpaid, and the employer is a for-profit organization, the employer and student must abide by the FLSA’s “Primary Beneficiary” test for unpaid internships.

What is the cost?

  • All credits earned through the Internship Program are included in the tuition cap and billed at the students’ residency rate. Differential tuition applies according to the students’ major.
  • See updated tuition charts here:
  • A growing number of employers are making the investment in NDSU students by paying the cost of the student’s credits through tuition reimbursement programs. This is not a requirement of the employer, but something students should be aware of and ask about within their organization.

Is financial aid available?

  • Yes, NDSU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office will evaluate a student’s eligibility for federal financial aid based on their number of enrolled credits.
  • If the student is enrolled for credits in addition to their internship experience, they will count toward total enrollment for financial aid awarding purposes.
  • Students working 300+ hours in an internship or co-op in a given semester will qualify for full-time student status for financial aid purposes if they are enrolled in the Internship Program.
  • Types of federal aid that students may be awarded include the Pell Grant, Direct Loans, and SEOG.
  • Federal Work-Study is not awarded since the student is already employed.
  • Students who graduated from a North Dakota high school will also receive consideration for the North Dakota State Grant.
  • Eligibility for federal and state aid can only be determined after the student has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov.
  • Students will additional costs associated with an internship such as dual housing (maintaining housing both locally and in the city of the internship), commuting costs, required uniforms or clothing for a specific dress code, etc., may be eligible for additional loans. For consideration, a Budget Adjustment Form must be submitted.
  • For more information about financial aid, contact One Stop.

How are internship experiences graded?

  • Undergraduate students are graded as Pass/Fail.
  • Graduate students are graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
  • “Pass” or “Satisfactory” grades do not affect a student’s GPA.
  • “Fail” grades are calculated into a student’s GPA.
  • Graduate students’ GPAs are not affected unless the internship is part of a student’s course plan.
  • If all required items are not turned in on time, a student will receive an incomplete grade. An incomplete grade must be resolved by the mid-term of the following semester or it will be converted into a failing grade.
  • Credits are not give a letter grade intentionally. Internship experiences are intended to give students the opportunity to test a career path, not to impact their GPA.

What is needed to earn a Passing or Satisfactory grade?

  • All students are required to:
    • Complete a student internship record with the Career and Advising Center.
    • Attend an Internship Program Orientation session.
    • Complete a Pre-Term Self-Evaluation (distributed via students’ NDSU email).
    • Complete a Mid-Term Self-Evaluation (distributed via students’ NDSU email).
    • Complete a Final Self-Evaluation (distributed via students’ NDSU email).
    • Ensure their site supervisor completes an Employer Final Evaluation (sent to the email provided for the site supervisor).
    • Complete any additional assignments required by a student’s internship faculty advisor. Students should check with their faculty advisors for details on assignment requirements.

Under what circumstances would I receive a Failing or Unsatisfactory grade?

  • The student does not turn in required documentation and/or missing assignments by the midterm of the following semester.
  • The student is terminated from employment for unprofessional conduct.

Does an incomplete grade affect financial aid for the following semester?

  • Yes, incomplete grades are treated as unsuccessfully completed courses for financial aid purposes during the evaluation of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
  • If a student’s financial aid is affected, the student will receive an email from the financial aid office alerting them of their SAP status of either financial aid warning or financial aid disqualification.
  • When an incomplete grade is changed, the Career and Advising Center will contact Financial Aid & Scholarships to notify them of the grade change and the student’s SAP status will be recalculated.
  • For more information on SAP, contact One Stop.

Are there additional requirements for international students?

  • F-1 students must complete a full academic year (2 semesters – fall and spring, excluding summer) at NDSU prior to participating in an off-campus experience.
  • Prior to registering for internship credits, students need to contact the International Students and Study Abroad Services to complete the CPT application.
  • For more information, contact International Students and Study Abroad Services.

How do I drop or change internship credits?

  • Please contact the Internship Program Team to discuss the process.