Registering an Internship for Credit

• Faculty Sponsor: a UMass professor that ensures that an internship has an academic component and connects with your personal program of study. They will provide the grade for your internship.

• Handshake: the place where you will submit your Handshake Experience, and where all information about your internship is entered and stored (e.g. contracts, evaluations). Information you provide on Handshake is shared with your faculty sponsor for approval.

• Handshake Experience Contract: Also known as your Internship Experience Contract, the form you will fill out to initiate the internship process.

• Intern: This is you! You are the person responsible for initiating the internship process, ensuring that all parts of the registration process are completed by all parties, and confirming that your plans will comply with the requirements of your major.

• Internship: As defined by UMass, a professional experience completed for academic credit. For a full definition, review the Field Experience Definitions page.

• Internship Experience Contract: Also known as a Handshake Experience Contract, the form you will fill out to initiate the internship process.

• Site Supervisor: an employee at your internship site who agrees to directly supervise you at their place of business. Your supervisor cannot be another student or a family member.

Information for Handshake

Employer Information:

• Employer name, address, and website

• Supervisor’s name, phone, and e-mail address

• Start and end date, work schedule, working hours per week

• Brief description of job duties

• If you'll be working on-site, remotely, or a hybrid of both

Course Information (Discuss with Faculty Sponsor):

• Faculty Sponsor’s name and e-mail address

• Course number for internship

• Number of credits you will be earning

• Academic project (examples are journal, portfolio, reflection paper, research paper)

• Learning objectives for experience

International Students (If Internship is Paid):

• International students on an F-1 visa looking to complete a paid internship must apply for CPT (Curricular Practical Training).

• International students on a J-1 visa looking to complete a paid or unpaid internship must apply for AT (Academic Training).

• All international students will need a copy of a complete offer letter (see the CPT and AT applications for details)

The process for registering an internship for credit is the same for international students, but has a few additional steps if the internship is paid. Note that these additional steps can add up to 15 business days to your application process, and should be completed well-before the beginning of your internship.

• International students on an F-1 visa looking to complete a paid internship must apply for CPT (Curricular Practical Training).

• International students on a J-1 visa looking to complete a paid or unpaid internship must apply for AT (Academic Training).

In order to apply for CPT or AT, you must do the following: 

1. Obtain an offer letter from your internship site on company letter that includes all the required information

2. Verify that the internship is integral to your course of study. It is recommended you consult with an academic advisor to ensure that your internship experience meets these requirements.

3. Complete the Handshake Experience Contract, and wait for approval (this may take up to 5 business days)

4. Submit your CPT or AT request through IPO.

Note that you cannot begin your internship without CPT or AT approval from IPO.

The steps outlined above are meant to be a quick guide for you to process your internship experience. If you are looking for a more in-depth guide, you can follow the steps below.

1. Obtain an internship

   • International Students: Familiarize yourself with the CPT process (F-1 visa) or AT process (J-1 visa) 

2. Fill out the Handshake Experience Contract

3. The Field Experience Office will review your contract to make sure it is complete and accurate, then process your internship experience within 5 business days

4. Your Faculty Sponsor will approve your internship

5. The Field Experience Office will help register you for your internship credit

   • International Students: The Field Experience Office will provide you with the materials needed to apply for CPT or AT if the experience is paid. Approval of CPT or AT takes 10-15 business days, so apply as soon as you receive your information.

Choose the Correct Template

The Handshake Experience Contract has three templates to choose from depending on your situation: 

• Undergraduate Student Internship for Academic Credit: For undergraduate students completing an internship for academic credit.

• Undergraduate Co-op: For undergraduate students requesting to be on co-op status for the semester.

• International Graduate Student Internship or Externship for Credit: For international graduate students completing an internship or externship.

Note that each template has different questions, so this guide may not always have information that reflects the template you have chosen. Any undergraduate student looking to register an internship for credit should use the first form. International graduate students looking to register an internship should use the third form.

Term

Students completing an internship will choose the term in which they are completing the internship. If you are completing an internship over multiple semesters and wish to obtain credit in each semester, you will fill out multiple Handshake Experience Contracts for each semester.

Employer Information

Enter all the information about your employer and job details. Note that your Employer is the company name, not the name of your supervisor.

Note: If you are missing any information when filling out this form, enter "TBD" into the field. You will be required to provide this information - once you have obtained the relevant details, contact @email to update your form.

Course Information

Information related to your course, including the number of credits, course number, and academic project, should be discussed with your faculty sponsor ahead of time. Your faculty sponsor will review this information, and may not approve your internship if it is incorrect.

Once you submit your Contract and it is reviewed by the Field Experience Office, Handshake will email a link to your faculty sponsor for approval. After your faculty sponsor has approved the online contract, the Field Experience Office will help you get enrolled in your internship credit. 

Note that a Handshake Experience Contract may take 5 business days to approve, as well as several business days for faculty approval, and if you are seeking CPT or AT as an international student, between 10 and 15 business days to process those forms. As a result, you should submit your Handshake Experience Contract as soon as you have your information ready.