Internships During COVID-19

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the shifting state of the economy, students planning to complete their internship for academic credit between May 2020 and May 2021 may choose from the following options to complete the requirement.

Undergraduate Action Plan
Graduate Action Plan

*Please note, the O’Neill School reserves the right to modify the following options based on guidance from the public safety office for credit-bearing programs. In the event this happens, students will be notified immediately through their official Indiana University email accounts.

Please view the below Frequently Asked Questions to learn how O’Neill is managing the Experiential Learning (internship) requirement and what options are available for students looking to satisfy this requirement  during these uncertain times.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Am I still required to complete an internship?

  The O’Neill School has not waived the experiential learning requirement due to COVID-19. Internship are able to be completed at any point during the year. The majority of your internship hours must be completed while you are enrolled in the required course.

  Am I allowed to complete my internship in-person?

  Yes, if you have the option and feel comfortable completing an internship in-person. If you do not feel comfortable with this option, please view our COVID-19 Action Plans listed above.

• Can I earn credit for a virtual internship?

  Yes! As long as if your internship meets the O’Neill and NACE guidelines (which includes having a mentorship component)/requirements.
  If you are an international student and are completing a virtual internship while living in the U.S., please contact OIS or Miranda Redman (mdredman@indiana.edu) before beginning your internship as you may need to complete the CPT work authorization application.

• I am graduating in May 2021. What options do I have to satisfy the internship requirement for my degree?

  If you are graduating in May 2021 or before, you may have two options: 1) Complete a traditional internship and enroll in the required Internship course; or 2)Enroll in the Alternative Internship Course. To enroll in the Alternative Course, you will need to complete the request form found in the Action Plans at the top of this page. The alternative course will be a deeper dive into professional development and will have assignments that equate to 120 hours at an internship.

• What if I am unable to complete my internship or course due to COVID-19?

  We understand that situations may occur that require a student to discontinue their internship due to illness or where an internship has been cancelled. In these circumstances, we request that the student reaches out to their course instructor and/or our office (careerHB@indiana.edu) as soon as possible so that we can with them on an individual, case-by-case basis.

• Will the Internship Courses (V381/H466, V585/E589/Y750) be offered online?

  Our internship courses are only offered as online courses. The Undergraduate courses, V381/H466, have an online Canvas component with required assignments.

• What if I am unable to complete my internship or course due to COVID-19?

  We understand that situations may occur that require a student to discontinue their internship due to illness or where an internship has been cancelled. In these circumstances, we request that the student reaches out to their course instructor and/or our office (careerHB@indiana.edu) as soon as possible so that we can with them on an individual, case-by-case basis.

• What should I do if my internship is cancelled?

  Please contact either your course instructor or our office at CareerHB@indiana.edu. We will be able to help you find the best solution for your individual situation.

• Am I required to wear a mask at my internship?

  For information on what IU is requiring for students, please view this page: https://coronavirus.iu.edu/