Internship Course: Inter-LS 260

Fall enrollment will be open July 20 – October 23.

Summer enrollment is closed.

What is Inter-LS 260?

The Internship in the Liberal Arts & Sciences (Inter-LS 260) online course provides UW students who have found internships an opportunity to earn academic credit concurrently with their work experience. Students will analyze their professional training experiences in the context of the goals of a liberal arts and science university education, by practicing critical reading, writing, and observation skills.

  • This course provides many internship-related resources – and a few internship-focused assignments – to help you maximize your experience.
  • It is worth 1 credit, and students may repeat the course up to three times.
  • Grading is on the standard A-F system.

How to Enroll

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLY FOR INTER-LS 260

  1. Secure an internship position.
  2. Complete an Internship Supervision Form with your supervisor or employer.
  3. Fill out the Course Registration Form completely and upload your Internship Supervision Form. Agree to the terms and conditions at the bottom. 
  4. Once you have submitted all required materials, the L&S Career Education Coordinator will review them and email you when you have been authorized to enroll.
  5. Register for Inter-LS 260 via student center after you have received email authorization.*

Note: Inter-LS 260 applications will be reviewed and approved on a first come, first served basis. Course approval may take up to ten business days after submission of all required materials. Enrollment priority will be given to L&S students. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Questions? Please read our FAQ below or contact careercourses@ls.wisc.edu. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 

Note: Inter-LS 260 can only be used to support CPT authorization for international students whose academic program requires every student to complete an internship, practicum, field experience, or similar experiential learning component.

Before submitting an application, international students must review the requirements for their major in the UW–Madison Undergraduate Guide and confirm that an internship is a required component of their degree program.  As part of the application process, students should be prepared to upload documentation from the Undergraduate Guide showing where the internship, practicum, field experience, or similar requirement appears in their major requirements. Review major requirements here.  Students whose major does not require an internship or similar experience are not eligible to enroll in Inter-LS 260 for CPT purposes.

Part I: Application 

  1. Secure an internship position.
  2. Complete an Internship Supervision Form and prepare a CPT Employment Letter with your supervisor or employer.
  3. Fill out the Course Registration Form completely and upload the signed documents above. Agree to the terms and conditions at the bottom.
  4. If you will be located in the United States while completing your internship, you must also request CPT authorization. Request an electronic CPT verification by signing in to Terra Dotta. Type Jonathan Jibson and careercourses@ls.wisc.edu for your authorized CPT signer.*
  5. The course coordinator will contact you with further instructions, once a decision is made. This may take up to 10 business days after submission.

Part II: Next steps for CPT

  1. Once your CPT is verified by the course coordinator, ISS will receive a notification automatically.
  2. Follow up with ISS on the final approval of your CPT application. Keep in mind that this can take up to 15 business days. Your internship CANNOT begin until this is completed.
  3. Before the semester begins, ISS will reach out to confirm that you are enrolled in the correct course.

Questions on Terra Dotta should be directed to the ISS office.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • A short-term, real-world work experience that integrates knowledge from the classroom with practical application and skill development
  • A mutually-beneficial relationship between both you and your employer
  • Can be paid, unpaid, for credit, full-time, or part-time
  • Can involve a for-profit, non-profit, or governmental organization
  • Involves an ongoing relationship with at least one supervisor or professional at the organization
  • Introduces you to a particular kind of potential career path
  • The following criteria is used to evaluate the validity of an internship for participation in Inter-LS 260: Basic Criteria for Determining Internship Validity

Fall, spring, and summer semesters.

The course is open to any UW–Madison undergraduate student, regardless of year in school or major. Enrollment priority will be given to L&S students.

  • Fall: when enrollment for Spring begins (late in Fall semester)
  • Spring: when enrollment for Fall begins (late in Spring semester)
  • Summer: one week before the first day of class (early in June)

View semester/term start dates here

During the academic year, this course is included in full tuition costs (unless it pushes the student over 18 credits). During the summer term, students pay for the single credit.

View tuition costs here

  • The internship must total at least 64 hours. (Total = hours per week * number of weeks)
  • The internship must span at least 2 full calendar weeks.
  • If your internship does not span the duration of the semester, you will need to manage the deadlines for your homework assignments in the course.

Currently, a student can complete Inter-LS 260 up to three times during their academic career.

Yes! Students do receive participation points automatically for work done in their internship, but there are also some graded assignments throughout the semester. Grading is on the standard A-F system.

During high volume times of the year, it may take up to 10 business days to process your application. For fast review of your application, follow the process to enroll found on this page. Completing all steps accurately will result in the quickest approval.

Email careercourses@ls.wisc.edu for help with course information and enrollment.

An Academic Match for Your Internship Experience

Half of all college graduates report completing at least one internship during their time as students.  This online course provides a way for UW students who have found exciting outside internships to earn academic credit in connection with their work experience.

What you will gain:

  1. Connect your workplace experience with the value of a liberal arts and science education
  2. Practice critical reading, writing, and observation skills
  3. Receive personalized support and feedback from faculty and staff
  4. Success strategies for building effective supervisor and employee relationships

A diverse variety of L&S professors teach this class over the course of the fall, spring, and summer terms.

Need help finding an internship? Come see us!