Applied Study Term (AST) at UIS

Applied Study Term (AST) at UIS

How to Receive Academic Credit for Bachelor’s Level Work

Internship Applied Learning (IPL 300)

All undergraduate students pursuing a College of Business and Management (CBM) major are required to complete a minimum of three (3) hours of IPL 300 Internship Applied Learning. This course is a way to earn credit through bachelor’s level work on new assignments/projects at your place of employment, starting a new job/internship, or volunteer work for a non-profit organization.

WHY INTERNSHIP APPLIED LEARNING?

Internship Applied Learning (IPL) provides an opportunity to work, apply your coursework, and explore careers while earning academic credit. The course is a combination of experience and coursework (IPL 300) that explores learning theory and lifelong learning. Appropriate experience includes “bachelor’s level/paraprofessional work” involving a new job or new work responsibilities (e.g. internship work) or special work/projects during the semester of enrollment. The Internship can help you enhance your experience portfolio, earn credentials, network, get your foot in the door in a particular profession or organization, or work with a particular employer.

WHAT IF I ALREADY WORK FULL-TIME?

If you are currently employed, you may be able to earn Internship credit through a temporary assignment or new project at your place of work. The key is that you must be involved in “new” learning at the appropriate level and for the minimum number of hours required to earn academic credit. An organization may, for instance, offer a student a special project or a temporary or part-time assignment to a different position. We encourage you to use the Internship to advance your career objectives. Most employers are very supportive of employees who are pursuing their education and they welcome help for special projects and initiatives no one quite has time for.

Examples of past student IPL activities with an employer:

  • developing, administering, and analyzing a customer satisfaction survey;
  • critiquing current and developing new employee orientation processes and materials;
  • developing employee training materials/programs for disability awareness and sexual harassment prevention;
  • a temporary assignment to another job in the organization (e.g. temporary assignment to Human Resources, Accounting and Budgeting, or Public Relations); and
  • a temporary assignment to supervisory responsibilities or job shadowing with their current place of employment.

Examples of past student volunteer work:

  • coordinating volunteer work on a Habitat for Humanity home on behalf of Caterpillar;
  • developing personnel processes and a personnel handbook for volunteer workers on behalf of the Central Illinois Opera;
  • chairing and overseeing a strategic planning committee for a church—the committee performed a SWOT Analysis for the church, recommended construction of a new building, and developed a fundraising plan; and
  • developing written procedures and the budget for a regional basketball tournament, providing oversight for the successful tournament, critiquing the tournament after the fact, and making recommendations for improving future tournaments.

WHAT DEGREE REQUIREMENTS CAN IPL 300 FULFILL?

IPL 300 can fulfill up to 6 hours of ECCE requirements. Alternately, IPL 300 may be used to fulfill a combination of ECCE and elective credit hours. This course is a great way to complete “odd” hours of elective credit in lieu of enrolling in a 3 credit hour course.

WHEN SHOULD I BEGIN PLANNING FOR IPL 300?

While IPL 300 is best completed during your senior year, it is important to understand early how IPL 300 can be used to effectively fulfill degree requirements and enhance your qualifications upon graduation. For example, IPL 300 is a variable credit course, which means you can enroll in the number of credit hours that best suits your individual situation from 3-8 credit hours. Why enroll in another 3 credit hour elective if you only need two credit hours? Instead enroll in 5 or 8 hours of IPL 300.

WHERE CAN I FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE IPL 300 COURSE, REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, COURSEWORK, ETC.?

Information for students can be found at: http://www.uis.edu/ipl/internships/students/

  • See the “Internship Steps” (left side of page) for the process you should follow to apply for the course by completing the Internship Application.
  • Follow directions and complete the Preparation Requirements in Step 2.
  • Step 4 provides a link to the Internship Course Application form you must complete. Your completed form must be signed by you then reviewed and signed by your placement supervisor.
  • After you and your supervisor have signed, scan and email the completed document to Dr. David Larson who will review and sign off as your UIS Supervisor. Only after these reviews and approvals are completed will you be given permission to register for the IPL 300 course. Begin the process early the course has only a limited number of seats each semester!
  • See “Course Information” (left side of page) for a course syllabus, a digital copy of the Internship Handbook used in the course and brief descriptions of the required course assignments.

WHO CAN ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP, HOW MANY HOURS I CAN REGISTER FOR, REGISTRATION PROCESSES, ETC?

To discuss possible internship assignments and for more information about enrolling in IPL 300, contact Dr. Larson at or by telephone at 217 206-7919. Usually a two way conversation is required, so please provide your telephone number for the quickest response.

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