The purpose of the required internship is to provide you with an opportunity to work in a professional environment under the guidance of design professionals. It is an important transition step between your education and your professional career.
Apparel Design Internship FAQs
Am I required to do an internship?
If you entered the apparel design program prior to fall 2023, you are required to complete an internship for academic credit as part of your degree program.
If you entered the apparel design program fall 2023 or later, you may opt to complete an internship for academic credit to fulfill one of your major electives.
When should I do my internship?
We recommend you seek as many internship experiences as you are able during your degree in order to have the broadest range of experiences while your interests and skills are developing. However, many companies expect specific levels of expertise from interns. The most commonly requested time to do your for-credit internship is during your junior (third) year or the following summer, when you are likely to have completed ADes 3227 Technical Design Studio and ADes 3224W: Apparel Design Studio IV. Completion of three to four apparel design studio courses, along with their respective prerequisites, should prepare you to do well in the workplace and give you the necessary background to learn as much as possible while doing your internship.
Who will be my faculty internship supervisor?
Your departmental faculty advisor will serve as your internship faculty supervisor. Refer to your APAS if you do not know who your faculty advisor is. Note: The terms faculty advisor and faculty supervisor are used interchangeably.
When do I complete the paperwork for the internship?
Be sure to carefully review both the Internship Checklist and the Internship Contract & Course Access Instructions to understand the overall internship process.
Fall term and spring term internships:
- After you have met with your faculty supervisor and your internship site supervisor to work out the arrangements of the internship, carefully complete the contract (or, “internship experience agreement”) and enrollment portion of your internship.
- Important note: Your contract must be completed and signed before you begin your internship hours.
Summer internships:
- While faculty advisors are not on staff during the summer, associate department head Fancy Trice can approve proposals submitted over the summer. For assistance, contact her at [email protected].
- You must submit the documentation from your summer internship by the last day of summer term.
- For exceptions to this timeline, contact your faculty advisor.
How do I get credit for the internship?
- Complete the Internship Experience Agreement via your Handshake account. Refer to the Internship Checklist.
- The Internship Experience Agreement must be completed, including faculty advisor and site supervisor signatures, before you begin your internship hours. Refer to the Internship Checklist.
- Enroll in ADes 4196, being sure to select the section assigned to your faculty advisor. Refer to the Internship Checklist.
- While you are required to complete 1 credit for the internship requirement, you may opt to complete up to 4 credits.
- You must complete approximately 100 hours of internship work for each credit hour.
- The internship grade base is S/N, which means that you must earn the equivalent of a C- or better to receive credit for the course.
How do I find an internship site?
It is your responsibility to find an internship. Refer to the Internship Checklist.
Your first steps should be to meet with a career counselor in Career and Internship Services and to consult with your faculty advisor for advice on finding internships in specific discipline areas. Your studio instructors are also a valuable resource.
Internship postings are listed on Handshake, although students frequently find an internship by contacting a worksite directly to inquire about internship possibilities.
Do I need to create learning goals for my internship?
Yes. Together with your faculty advisor and your internship site supervisor, you will create your learning goals as part of the internship contract. Refer to the Internship Checklist.
What tasks are expected of me during my internship?
Internship tasks will differ from site to site. You should look for an internship where your tasks will help you meet your learning objectives.
Do I need to submit any documents during or after my internship?
Yes. Discuss with your faculty advisor the type of documentation you will use for your internship. Documentation typically includes several different forms, such as:
- a weekly journal
- a brief history and overview of the company where you completed your internship
- examples of design projects you worked on (actual items or photographs)
- a written report that reflects your work experiences and goals
- a self-evaluation of your accomplishments that meet your goals
- a letter of evaluation from your site supervisor
