Zero-Credit Internship Course

Undergraduate EXP course: Currently enrolled, degree-seeking UT Austin undergraduate students in regular programs are eligible to enroll in EXP 000 – Zero Credit Internship Course. F-1 international students are not eligible for enrollment if practical training is not a degree requirement. This course is not open to alumni.

Graduate EXP080 Course: Currently enrolled, degree-seeking UT Austin graduate students in regular programs are eligible to enroll in EXP 000 – Zero Credit Internship Course. This course is not open to students enrolled in irregular programs, such as Option III, evening MBA programs, and city-based programs (Dallas, DC, etc.) or F-1 international students if practical training is not a degree requirement.

Students who have taken EXP 000/080 more than four (4) times during the fall and spring semesters are not eligible to take the course again. Students can enroll in EXP 000/080 an unlimited number of times for summer semesters.  

Internships can be virtual, in-person or a hybrid and can be paid or unpaid. Internship eligibility is reviewed on a case-by-case basis; however, following are general requirements. The internship must:

• Provide direct and daily supervision and guidance and regular access to the supervisor;
• Assign meaningful projects with learning components;
• Provide the resources needed to complete the internship responsibilities;
• Host the intern in a business or commercial setting (no in-home, residential sites permitted); and
• Be hosted by an employer that is an established for-profit company with the legal right to transact business in the state of the internship site, an IRS-exempt organization, a governmental entity or an established, professionally-recognized and legal entity of a foreign country.

Practica, clinicals, research and capstones that are part of an academic course requirement are not eligible. In addition, positions that require students to pay placement, participation or program fees are not eligible. Some exceptions for internships requiring program fees may be made for UT endorsed programs

Hours and Weeks Requirement

Students must participate in the internship for a minimum of 120 total hours over a minimum of 5 weeks between the first and last class day of the semester or summer of enrollment.

Application Deadline

Applications are accepted as late as seven weeks prior to the last class day of the semester or summer of enrollment. This application date allows students to complete the minimum 5-week internship prior to the last class day.

How to Apply – To apply, please fill out this form.

Offer Letter Required: Students must submit an offer letter reflecting the following position details:

• Start and end date of internship (these dates should fall between the first and last class day of the semester of enrollment)
• Number of hours worked (ex: 40 hours per week) 
• Supervisor’s name/contact information 
• Pay rate (can be paid or unpaid) 
• Location of work (can be in-person, virtual/remote or hybrid) 
• Position title and job description (i.e. a list of tasks you’ll be working on) 

Assignments

This course has four required assignments, including: a self-evaluation at the start of your experience, a self-evaluation at the end of your experience, and an internship site review at the end of your experience. However, you also have access to optional, self-guided assignments through the Canvas course to help you maximize this experience and enhance your resume and professional network.

Grading

If the course is properly completed – including the required assignments – the grade field on your transcript will remain blank.

If the course is not completed properly, the grade will be recorded as:

• Q for a dropped course; or
• W if this is the only course you are enrolled in and you withdraw from the university.

In addition to the recorded grade, failure to complete one or more of the required assignments will result in a registration bar being placed on your account.

Maintains Enrollment

For students who will be participating in a full-time internship or career experience and considering withdrawal from the university during the fall or spring semester, taking this course offers you the option to maintain enrollment. Maintaining enrollment will help you avoid having to re-apply to UT and will help maintain your current registration access period.

Access to Internship Funding

For students who do not plan to enroll in any other courses during the summer, enrollment in this course could provide a process by which students can access internship funding (e.g., stipend, scholarship, grant) while avoiding the repackaging of financial aid in the following academic year. Contact Texas One Stop for details about internship funding and your financial aid package.