2025-2026 Adrian College Academic Catalog

The Institute for Career Planning

The Institute for Career Planning, located in the Caine Student Center, offers a wide array of services designed to help students choose a rewarding career and make the transition from college to graduate school and/or the professional world.  Students are invited to focus their career goals via online career assessments provided by Career Planning and take advantage of individualized career coaching with the Career Planning staff.  All students have access to the Institute’s recruitment and career management system called Handshake, a powerful tool that links students with job and internship opportunities. The following is a list of services offered through the Institute for Career Planning:

  • Handshake, online database for jobs, internships, mentors and more

  • Resume and cover letter review

  • Internship assistance

  • Interview preparation

  • Networking assistance

  • Graduate and Professional school preparation

  • Job search assistance

  • On and off-campus career–related events

  • Career related programs

  • Job shadowing

  • Social media assistance

  • Presentations

  • Suit-a-Bulldog (professional Dress Closet)

Internships

The Institute for Career Planning coordinates the Adrian College Internship Program.  The goal of the internship program is to provide all students with opportunities to test their career interests and develop job-related skills through college-approved work experiences.  Faculty sponsors guide students as they link theoretical knowledge with the practical learning gained in part-time or full-time internships.

 

Any student in good standing (minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA) is eligible for participation in the internship program following completion of 12 credit hours at Adrian College, provided the student is acceptable to the employer, obtains the approval of his/her advisor and secures a faculty sponsor for the internship. Students earn from one to six semester hours of credit during a single semester of an internship; the number of credit hours available for internships is designated by the internship proposal (A limited number of “full-time” semester hour internships may be available or could be arranged by the student.) Students may complete internships as they wish, with a maximum of 15 hours of internship credit applying toward the baccalaureate degree, depending on approval by program of study. Credit is awarded on the following basis: a minimum of 40 total hours on the job plus 5 academic contact hours assigned by faculty sponsor equals one hour of credit. The hours earned will be listed as elective credit on the student’s transcript, unless approved for departmental credit by the department chairperson.

 

Adrian College offers two types of internships.  Exploratory internships, designated as course number 199 on the student’s transcript, are part-time experiences open to second-semester first-year students, sophomores, and upper-class students with a credit limit of three hours per semester.  Exploratory internships are designed to acquaint students with work in a particular setting, to bring them in contact with professionals in the field and, in more instances, to give them the opportunity to assume limited responsibilities in the career area being explored.  Professional internships, designated as course number 399 on the student’s transcript, are experiences for juniors and seniors in which they may utilize and enhance entry-level career skills sophomores can also be considered.  The credit limit, unless stated otherwise, is a max of six hours per semester for 399 internships.

Graduate students may complete a Practicum, designated as course number 569 on the student’s transcript. These professional experiences allow graduate students the opportunity to enhance their career skills in a work setting. The credit limit, unless stated otherwise, is six hours per semester for a 569 Practicum.

 

The cost for internship or practicum credit is the same as that for regular coursework in fall and spring semester.  May and summer term tuition rates apply. Students may incur additional costs for travel, accommodations, meals and transportation.  A student may receive salary or wages for internship services, depending on the employer’s policy.

 

Career Planning maintains a list of approved internship sites, though any student, faculty or staff member at the College may propose such a site. All proposed sites must be approved prior to a student beginning the internship.  Internship packets can be accessed online, however, students should contact the institute to discuss the program with a Career Planning staff member.  The Institute for Career Planning also offers information regarding off-campus internship programs such as the Chicago Center and The Washington Center.

Role of Career Planning

This office is the central coordinating facility for 199 and 399 internships and 569 practicums conducted through the College.  In cooperation with the faculty the Career Planning staff establishes, administers and publicizes procedures governing the program.  Any questions regarding the internship program should be directed to this institute.

 

Role of the Faculty Sponsor

The faculty sponsor is responsible for designing an academic component for the internship experience.  This academic component should be above and beyond the normal work responsibilities the student assumes at the site, and will be outlined in a syllabus and agreed upon by the faculty sponsor and the intern prior to the start of the internship. The faculty sponsor ensures compliance with established procedures, monitors student performance during the internship, maintains contact with the on-site supervisor, assesses student progress and grades the experience.