Qualifications
In order to qualify for the Theatre and Dance Internship Program the student must meet the following conditions:

1. Have at least sophomore rank at the University. The ideal time for an internship is the summer between the junior and senior years.
2. Have a grade point average of 3.0 in major courses and 2.0 cumulative.
3. Find an internship placement that meets departmental approval. The internship should be performed under adequate supervision. The internship should provide the student an opportunity to acquire new knowledge about the major field of study.
4. Secure approval of the Internship Proposal from a faculty member of the department or the department chairperson.

Create an account on https://www.careergear.appstate.edu/ to help find jobs and internships.

Registering for an Internship
Pick up a College of Fine and Applied Arts Internship Contract and meet with a faculty member in production or in performance to develop a plan for the internship.

ASU THEATRE AND DANCE
Internship Policies and Guidelines
04.08.08

Students must receive college credit and be supervised by an ASU faculty/staff member to apply the internship credit to their degree. Internships may be paid or unpaid.

ASU College of Fine and Applied Arts guidelines:

• Students must at least be a rising junior, hold a 2.0 GPA, secure an ASU faculty/staff advisor and approval of the Department chairperson.
• Students must complete an ASU Internship Contract from Fine and Applied Arts.
• Internships will be 3-12 hours and must be approved in advance. 
• Summer internships may not exceed 6 hours.
• 12 hour internships must span the entire semester.
• All interns must have an ASU supervisor and a field/agency supervisor.
• Each intern will contact the ASU supervisor every two weeks.
• The ASU supervisor will visit the intern and site supervisor at least one time.
• Academic credit will be based on 40 field placement hours per hour credit.
• Internship requirements must be completed 60 days following the end of the field work.

Responsibilities of the Department of Theatre and Dance:

• Provide a pre-internship orientation
• Help develop learning objectives and identify related educational materials
• Provide an ASU faculty/staff supervisor with regular communication
• Provide the agency with an evaluation instrument

Responsibilities of the participating agency:

• Assign a supervisor to the student
• Work with the student in developing learning objectives
• Orient the student to their responsibilities, the agency, and to the work site
• Schedule regular meetings with the student for feedback and evaluations
• Provide a safe and secure educational work place
• Complete an assessment after the internship has been completed
• Communicate with the ASU supervisor if a problem arises

Responsibilities of the student:

• Complete the internship requirements
• Provide appropriate information to the agency
• Develop learning objectives with ASU supervisor and the agency
• Abide by agency policies and the ASU code of student conduct
• Maintain contact with your ASU supervisor every two weeks
• Represent ASU with a professional attitude and disposition
• Maintain confidentiality in a work-related environment (Ask ASU supervisor for guidance if necessary)
• Participate openly and honestly in the feedback/evaluation process

United States Department of Labor guidelines:

• Students may participate as official ASU-supported interns only if they obtain college credit for the internship.
• A faculty coordinator is responsible for advising the student interns and consulting with the agency supervisor on a regular basis regarding the student’s performance.
• The company assumes responsibility for direct supervision of the student interns. A company supervisor consults with the faculty coordinator about any problems the student encounters and submits an evaluation of the student at the completion of the program.
• The company is not obligated to hire the student interns, and the students are under no obligation to accept employment with the company.
• This educational or training program is designed to provide students with professional experience in the furtherance of their education.  The training is academically oriented for the benefit of the students, and the students will not be considered employees of the firm to which they are assigned. 
• Internship programs must meet these six criteria:

• The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to that which would be given in an educational setting;
• The training is for the benefit of the trainee;
• The trainees do not displace regular employees, but work under close observation;
• The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainees and on occasion the employer’s operations may actually be impeded;
• The trainees are not necessarily entitled to a job at the completion of the training period; and
• The employer and the trainee understand that the trainees are not entitled to regular wages for the time spent in training.

Guidelines for Internship Reports

• All internship students are expected to communicate with their ASU supervisor every two weeks, AND turn in three written reports to his/her ASU supervisor during the internship.  These reports should be submitted at the beginning, middle and end of the process and should include:

• Learning goals update (achieved, in-progress, and upcoming)
• Summary of activity since the last report
• Assigned duties with the agency and supervisor assessment
• Connections to ASU program/curriculum/classroom training
• Challenges or difficulties and how you plan to work through them
• Expectations for the remainder of the term
• Professional accomplishments, experiences, connections, etc