Internships & Academic Credit (INT-300)

Most students who pursue academic credit for an internship during the summer or academic year do so because they either:

  • Hold an F-1 visa and require credit for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and/or

  • Students are working with an employer that requires academic credit for participation.

While more than 70% of Grinnell students complete at least one internship before graduation, no academic major or concentration at Grinnell requires an internship as part of its curriculum. As a result, most students do not need to earn academic credit for their internship experience.

Important: Academic credit for internships cannot be awarded retroactively. Students must be registered for the internship course prior to the start of their internship.

At Grinnell, academic credit for internships is based on the academic work completed outside of internship hours, not the number of hours worked. Students earn 0.5 credits by completing a set syllabus administered by the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS).

If you’re interested in earning credit for your internship through INT-300, the CLS’s internship course, please review the information below carefully.

If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Pearce, Assistant Director for Exploratory Career Communities, at pearceamanda@grinnell.edu or drop by Amanda’s open office hours every Monday from 9:00 am to 10:30 am in the JCC 2nd Floor. 

REGISTRATION DEADLINES:

Summer 2026:

  • The application Open NOW 
  • The application deadline is June 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST. 
    • NO late registration requests will be honored.

The following criteria must be met to be eligible to pursue the INT-300 Internship course for academic credit:

  • Internships can be virtual/remote, in person, or hybrid, and a maximum of 20 hours per week for a minimum of 12 weeks for fall or spring semesters; the summer term has a minimum of 6 weeks and a 20-hour per week requirement for the internship.
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled at Grinnell College.
  • Academic credit for an internship experience cannot be granted retroactively. A student must have approval for academic credit before the internship starts.
  • For CPT authorization, an internship start date may begin the day after the last day of semester and must end no later than the first day of fall semester.
  • Approval for academic credit can be for a paid or unpaid internship.
  • A student may be approved for a maximum of 5 internship credits during their tenure at Grinnell. ​​​​​​​

1) Students who hold an F1 visa should read through the Curricular Practical Training for Internships resource from the OISA. You may also want to set up an appointment with OISA’s Karen Edwards or Brenda Strong for additional information and guidance.

2) Students should next complete the INT-300 Registration Request Form for the term in which they wish to register and upload the documents listed below to the form:

​​​​​​​3) Requested materials are sent to Dean’s Office for review.

4) Dean’s Office informs the Registrar’s Office to officially register the student in the INT-300 course.

5) Dean’s Office notifies CLS and OISA that the student’s registration for INT-300 has been approved.

6) Students with an F1 visa need to request CPT through their GrinnImmigration portal to receive Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization before the start of the student’s internship.  The CLS does not register a student for CPT.  Therefore, questions pertaining to CPT should be directed to the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA). 

7) Student receives welcome email from instructor, including syllabus and the orientation video. 

8) Student begins internship and follows the syllabus requirements.

There is no charge to register for INT-300 for the fall or spring semesters if the total course hours for the semester are 18 credit hours or less. Students seeking to register for more than 18 hours, not counting music lessons, ensembles, varsity sports, FYE, or PE activities, must petition for overload approval from the Committee on Academic Standing. If the overload petition is approved, the student will be responsible for a credit overload fee. For the summer term there is a fee of $558.00 for .5 credit required for INT-300.

All academic credit for internships will be the S/D/F grading option. Completion and quality of assignments and engagement activities outlined in the course syllabus will determine the student’s final grade.

1) May I register for INT-300 if I have not secured a virtual/remote internship by the registration deadline date?

  • No, you MUST have secured (meaning offered and accepted) an internship prior to registering for INT-300.  NOTE:  students may register for one INT-300 course per academic semester/term.

2) If I have secured a virtual/remote internship, am I required to register for INT-300?

  • None of Grinnell’s academic majors or concentrations require an internship as part of its coursework. Most Grinnell students do not register to receive academic credit for their internships. Students pursue credit-bearing internships typically because they hold an F-1 visa and need academic credit for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization, or academic credit is required by the internship employer/organization. Please see Brenda Strong or Karen Edwards in the Office of International Student Affairs with questions.

3) What are the internship requirements to register for INT-300?

  • Internships can be virtual/remote, in-person, or hybrid, and a maximum of 20 hours per week for a minimum of 12 weeks for the fall or spring semesters. Summer INT-300 registrations must be for a minimum of 30 hours/week for a minimum of 6 weeks.  Students may register for only one INT-300 course per academic semester/term.

4) If I am an F-1 student, do I register for both INT-300 and CPT?

  • If you are a student who holds an F1 visa and you have secured a domestic internship, you are required to register for INT-300 through the CLS. The CLS does not register students for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). The CLS strongly recommends scheduling an appointment with Karen Edwards or Brenda Strong in OISA for further information and guidance.

5) Am I able to register for more than 0.5 credit?

  • No, INT-300 is only approved for 0.5 credits.

6) What if I need to register for more than 0.5 credit hours?

  • A student requiring more than 0.5 credit hours should contact their academic adviser to discuss the possibility of an independent study.

7) Can a faculty member supervise INT-300?

  • No, only the CLS can supervise students registered for INT-300.

​​​​​​​8) What are the eligibility requirements to register for INT-300?

  • Students must be currently enrolled full-time as first-year, second-year, third-year, or current seniors.
  • Applicants must be in good standing.
  • Students must have the internship secured by the time they submit their application.

​​​​​​​9) May I apply for INT-300 registration as a fourth-year?

  • Yes, if you are still registered as a full-time student for the semester in which you will be completing your internship.

10) Where can I get assistance with my registration materials or get my questions answered?

  • If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Pearce, Assistant Director for Exploratory Career Communities, at pearceamanda@grinnell.edu.