As a Washington Program intern, you’ll take on a variety of meaningful tasks that help you develop valuable professional skills. To receive academic credit for your experience, you must adhere to the following hour requirements and policies.
Internship Responsibilities
During the academic quarters (Fall, Winter, Spring), participants are required to earn academic credit by interning with an organization for three to four days a week (24-32 hours) and must complete at least 240 hours over 10 weeks. In addition to the internship, students are expected to complete academic obligations in the form of the required 4-credit core seminar during the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters.
During the summer, interns work three to five days a week (24-40 hours) and must complete at least 240 hours over 10 weeks, regardless of whether they decide to receive academic credit for their internship.
Program Hour Requirements
Quarter Program participants are required to complete a total of 240 work hours in their internship by the end of the quarter. This averages out to 24 hours per week over the course of a 10-week quarter.
Summer internship units are optional. For summer Program participants who enroll in internship units, the number of hours worked will depend on how many units they are enrolled to receive. See the guidelines below:
| SUMMER Internship Unit Enrollment | Minimum Hours Required |
|---|---|
| 4 Units | 240 hours |
| 8 Units | 320 - 400 hours |
For any questions or exceptions regarding unit enrollment or internship hours please contact the Program at [email protected].
Summer Participants Not Enrolled in Units
Summer participants who are not enrolled in units have a couple of things to consider:
Placement Assistance. Students who are not paying summer tuition will not be assigned to a UCDC Internship Advisor. UCDC Internship Advisors work for the UCDC program and work out of the UCDC Center in Washington D.C.. Their role is to provide "on the ground" assistance for students both prior to, and after arrival in DC.
While UC Davis Washington Program staff will do their best to provide you the assistance you need, we will be limited in scope in terms of specific placement assistance. ALL students still have access to UC Davis Program staff assistance in the form of workshops, resume and cover letter review and rewrite, and access to PTS and written resources. ALL students will have the access to peer advisors and Program staff while still in Davis.
Internship Hours. Summer students who are not paying tuition are not required to meet a minimum number of work hours; however, it is recommended that they work no less than 240 hours for the term in order to ensure they have a valuable experience.
Planning Time Off and Completing Hours
Any requests for time off for vacation, appointments, or other absences must be discussed with and approved by your direct internship supervisor.
Please note: Taking time off does not reduce your total hour requirement. Participants enrolled in units are still responsible for completing the minimum number of hours associated with their enrollment by the end of the term to receive a "Pass" grade. You must coordinate with your supervisor to create a work schedule that allows you to fulfill these required hours.