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Internships

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The Art Program at Youngstown State University coordinates internships for students as an opportunity to correlate formal education and learning in an academic area with field experience.

An internship is completed in an area of a student’s studio concentration. One to six credits may be earned for a single internship experience with no more than a total of six credits earned over the student’s tenure at Youngstown State University.

Internships are available to juniors or seniors who earned a minimum of 60 credits and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Certain area concentrations, such as Photography and Graphic + Interactive Design, require students to have successfully completed the junior portfolio prerequisite.

Want to learn more about internship courses?

Paid/Unpaid internships

YSU’s Art Program has clear guidelines for employment during an internship[s] based on the type of organization. The US Department of Labor states that Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) defines the term “employ” very broadly as including to “suffer or permit to work.” Covered and non-exempt individuals who are “suffered or permitted” to work must be compensated under the law for the services they perform for an employer. Internships in the “for-profit” private sector must be paid at least the minimum wage.In consultation with the faculty internship coordinator, the faculty internship advisor can grant an exception to the payment requirement for “for-profit” internships. Such exceptions may include, but is not limited to, artistic apprenticeships where the artist cannot afford to pay the intern and the internship is considered a valuable learning experience.

Students engaged in an internship for a not-for-profit organization are not required to be paid for the internship. Not-for-profits are defined as having no ownership and/or operation characterized by government or community-based boards of trustees who are all volunteers. Board members donate their time and talents to ensure that a not-for-profit’s goals and needs are successful.

Selecting an internship

An internship may be initiated by a student, faculty member, or an employer. Students may also begin the search for an internship by contacting YSU’s Office of Career Exploration and Development

Internship application process

Prior to the internship application process, you’ll need to develop a cover letter and résumé. If needed, you may seek assistance from YSU’s Office of Career Exploration and the university’s Writing Center.

If you’re a Graphic + Interactive Design student, you’ll be required to develop an application PDF that contain a cover page, cover letter, résumé, and 5–7 sample portfolio with pieces appropriate for the positions of interest. The application materials will be posted to YSU’s Office of Career Exploration & Development database for prospective host sites to review.

Internship Application Reference Guide

The Internship Application Reference Guide summarizes the semester prior to registering for an internship and the semester of the internship to assist students with completing the proper forms in the appropriate time period. The Internship Agreement [IA] and Course Waiver Form forms are located in the Art Program office and the remaining forms are provided as downloadable PDF files.

Internship Agreement [IA]

Course Waiver Form