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ALA 225: Undergraduate Internship Course

ALA 225 is a one-credit online course that undergraduate students can take while participating in an internship. Students must secure an internship before applying for the course.

Why do an internship?

Internships give you hands-on, practical experience in your field of interest, allowing you to apply what you've learned in your coursework. As well as technical and industry-specific knowledge, you'll sharpen your skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Internships allow you to explore whether a career path is right for you, gain experience that is attractive to future employers, and build relationships that may lead to other opportunities. Research shows that students who participate in internships during college find jobs faster and earn higher salaries after graduation!

Why take ALA 225?

The value of an internship often depends on how you engage with it. ALA 225 provides a framework to reflect on the different stages of an internship to help you become aware of what you are learning and identify actions that will allow you to engage more fully in your internship. The instructor and course assistants are also there if you need advice on how to handle particular situations.

What are other reasons you might take ALA 225?

  • International students can take ALA 225 as part of their Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization.
  • Students receiving the LSA Internship Scholarship must be enrolled during the summer to meet financial aid requirements. Most students choose to take ALA 225 in the spring/summer term. To see if your internship qualifies, please visit the LSA Internship Scholarship page.
  • Sometimes employers will offer an internship if a student is getting academic credit. ALA 225 is a way to earn that credit. Please note, however, that credit is given for the ALA225 coursework completed in conjunction with your internship, not for the internship itself.

What are the eligibility requirements for ALA 225?

  • You must have already accepted an internship for the term in which you are applying.
    • To determine whether the experience qualifies as an internship, we evaluate it based on the criteria developed by NACE.
    • Spring/summer internships must be a minimum of 5 weeks in length and must require that you work a minimum of 150 hours throughout the course of your internship.
    • Fall/winter internships must be a minimum of 10 weeks in length and must require that you work at least 10 hours per week.
  • You must apply and enroll in the course before your internship start date. 
  • You must provide a proof of internship document from your employer that meets ALL of the following requirements:
    • Be on official company letterhead
    • Contain exact start and exact end dates within the academic term in which you are applying
    • State the number of hours per week you will be interning
    • Provide a brief job description detailing specific duties, tasks, goals, etc.
    • Specify the address where the internship will take place (street, city, state, and zip code). If you will work remotely, the letter should specify this and list the company’s physical address.
    • Include the name and contact information of your internship supervisor   

How can I apply for ALA 225?

You will not be able to enroll in ALA 225 without applying for an override. To apply for the override, follow these steps:

Step 1: Log in to LSA Engage and then select “Experiential Learning” on the left hand side vertical menu.

Step 2: Select “New Experience” in the top right hand corner, fill out the form, and then click “Save” at the bottom of the page.

Step 3: On the next page, click “Documents and Forms.” DO NOT CLICK “SUBMIT.”

Step 4: Select “Upload File” to attach the proof of internship document from your employer. If the document does not meet all of the requirements detailed above, please reach out to your internship site to request an edited letter before proceeding. Then, click “Save.”

Step 5: Click “Submit” in the upper right hand corner. A pop-up window will now appear. Click “OK.”

Step 6: Click “Submit for Approval,” then click “OK.” Your application should now have a yellow box at the top that says “Pending Final Approval.” This box means that your application is now in our approval queue.

DEADLINES: Applications must be submitted on or before the deadline for each semester.

  • Spring/Summer: July 1
  • Fall: September 30
  • Winter: January 31

FAQs

How much work is ALA 225?
Over the course of six weeks (or longer, depending on your internship), you will complete one pre-internship module, four reflections of 400-500 words each, two informational interviews, and one post-internship module. You'll also be asked to attend one LSA Opportunity Hub event or coaching session, or one professional event of your choosing.

How do I earn credit in ALA 225?
Credit is given for timely completion of the assignments listed above. Because reflections are tied to active learning and engagement at the time of the internship, reflections can't be turned in together at the end. Also for this reason, credit can't be earned for an internship that has already taken place. The course is graded on a credit (CR) and no credit (NC) basis.

Can I repeat ALA 225 for credit?
You can take ALA 225 twice to earn credit that counts toward graduation. You can take it a third time but this third credit will not count towards your total credits for graduation.

Can I earn more than one credit for ALA 225?
Not in one semester. The course has been approved for one credit only. Any sort of individual arrangement, and different forms of "extra work," have not been approved to earn additional credit.

Can I take ALA 225 for more than one internship at the same time?
ALA 225 may only be applied to one internship per term. For example, if you have two internships over the summer, you can only take ALA 225 with one of them.

Contact us at lsa-opphub@umich.edu if:

  • Your employer requires a letter verifying that you will receive credit during your internship
  • You are not an LSA student seeking to enroll in ALA 225
  • You have any questions about ALA 225