Internship Academic Credit

Following NACE Guidelines, internships should: 

  • Be a learning experience with the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to the real world, not simply a situation to advance the employer.  
  • Be a place to learn skills and knowledge that could be transferrable to other employment settings. 
  • Have a mutually agreed upon beginning and end, consistent with institution semesters.  
  • Have a clear position description with responsibilities and required and preferred qualifications 
  • Include defined goals supporting the student’s academic program and institutional requirements. 
  • Support direct supervision by a professional(s) with relevant educational and/or professional experience who provides feedback, guidance, and the resources necessary to complete the defined goals. 

At Walton, we recognize the importance of practical experience in enhancing our students’ academic journeys. To connect classroom learning with real-world application, we offer the opportunity to earn academic credit for internships. Our internship program is designed to provide a comprehensive and enriching educational experience.

Students pursuing an internship as part of their degree plan must enroll in a corresponding internship class, as recommended by their advisor. While you don’t need to be enrolled in an internship class to participate in an internship, those seeking academic credit must complete the process.

Each internship application undergoes a thorough vetting process to ensure it meets university standards and degree requirements and is verified by the internship employer. Instructions for applying and information about each internship class are provided below.

Important things to note:

  • A student WILL NOT be able to enroll themselves in an internship course. To receive academic credit you must apply for the course and be enrolled by advising.
  • Internship credit CANNOT be applied retroactively. You MUST apply for the course and be enrolled in the same semester as your internship experience to receive academic credit.
  • All internship courses have assignments and deadlines like any other academic course. Each class has different coursework requirements, check Blackboard once you are enrolled to know more information on coursework and due dates.

To apply for an internship, you need to provide basic student information:

  • Legal First and Last Name
  • UARK Email Address
  • UARK ID
  • Expected Graduation
  • Internship course and amount of credit hours applying for

Detailed information about your internship experience:

  • Company your internship is with
  • Internship/Job title
  • Internship start and end date
  • Description of internship roles and responsibilities (at least 5 sentences)
  • City, State location of internship (if remote, where you are completing the internship)
  • Supervisor’s name and email address (to verify your internship)

For SCMT 31003:

  • A description of the connection to supply chain – at least 3 sentences, must connect your specific role not the company

For BUSI 3200V:

  • Must provide program provider’s name and email address and upload your program acceptance letter

For ACCT 3100V and ACCT 5305V:

  • Upload your signed offer letter for internship verification

  1. A student completes the internship course application once they have obtained an internship and have supervisor information
  2. Internship coordinator reviews applications for accurate information and approves them
  3. Supervisor approval (for every class except accounting) – please tell your supervisor to look out for an email from automation@app.smartsheet.com
    • For accounting classes the accounting internship program coordinator will approve your offer letter
  4. Academic eligibility is verified by advising once your supervisor has completed their verification. Make sure you meet the pre-requisites listed with the courses below, and have no holds on your account.
  5. The academic advising office will enroll you once all approvals have been made. You cannot be enrolled if: you don’t meet the pre-requisites, have a hold on your account, enroll yourself in more than the maximum number of hours per semester prior to being enrolled in the internship course, or miss one of the pieces of the application process.

A student CANNOT enroll themself in their internship course, it has to go through the application process.

Summer 2025

  • Opens: March 1, 2025
  • Closes: May 20, 2025

Summer 2025 Second 5 week

  • Opens: May 21, 2025
  • Closes: June 23, 2025

Fall 2025

  • Opens: TBD
  • Closes: August 11, 2025

Can I enroll myself in the internship course once I’ve applied?

  • Once your application goes through the approval process, an advisor will enroll you in the internship course. You will not be able to enroll yourself in the internship course.

Why can’t I add the course to my plan in Workday?

  • Once your application goes through the approval process, an advisor will enroll you in the internship course. You will not be able to enroll yourself in the internship course.

What pre-requisites did I not meet that caused me to be ineligible for an internship course?

  • All pre-requisites are listed with the course information below. If you have questions about specific pre-requisites, contact the Walton Academic Advising office for clarification.

How will I know when my application has been approved?

  • You will receive automated emails from automation@app.smartsheet.com at each approval step telling you which part of the process you have moved to. Please see the application process for information on the process. Once you are enrolled you will receive an email. If you cannot be enrolled for any reason, you will be notified in the same way. If your application is denied for any reason, you will get an email from the Walton Career Connections office.

How long will it take for my application to be fully approved?

  • Walton Career Connections approval will take place in 24-48 hours, depending on when you’ve applied. Your supervisor’s approval could take several weeks, depending on how well you know your supervisor. Advising approval and enrollment will take place once the first two steps in the process are completed and enrollment for the semester you’ve applied for begins. You cannot be enrolled in the course before your enrollment date so it could take up to 6 weeks for the entire application process.

Why was my application denied? What would cause my application to be denied?

  • Denials usually occur do to incomplete or insufficient responses, insufficient internship details, or the job/internship not meeting the criteria listed at the top of this page. You will be notified by email why your application was denied.
  • For supply chain students, you will need to answer the question, “How does your role relate to supply chain?” If you can answer that question, your internship would count for credit if you meet all other criteria.

My supervisor isn’t getting the email, what do I do?

  • Your supervisor will receive an email from automation@app.smartsheet.com asking them to verify your internship. If your supervisor cannot find the email please ask them to check spam or junk folders. If the email still is not found, the student should reach out to the Walton internship team at interns@walton.uark.edu and communicate the issue with Walton Career Connections.

Any other questions should be directed to interns@walton.uark.edu

Colorado

  • If you plan to complete an internship in Colorado you will need to complete a paid internship. An unpaid internship in Colorado will not be eligible for academic credit in accordance with Colorado’s Board of Labor.

Specific course eligibility is listed with the below course descriptions.

Internship Class Options

Our internship course for all Walton majors offers academic credit for business-related internships that align with a students’ degree and career objectives. Eligible internships should involve meaningful projects, relate to business concepts, and require students to be actively pursuing their degrees.

Other requirements include:

  • Completed at least 60 hours and all pre-business core courses
  • Cumulative University of Arkansas GPA of at least 2.5
  • 2.5 GPA in the previous full-semester of enrollment

Credit Hour Breakdown:

  • 1 credit hour = Requires at least 120 cumulative hours of work
  • 2 credit hours = Requires at least 180 cumulative hours of work
  • 3 credit hours = Requires at least 240 cumulative hours of work

Additional:

  • If you are completing an internship within an international branch of a domestic company for your BSIB requirements, you will need to speak with the advising office to ensure it shows up on your degree plan
  • If you are using the course toward your minor, the internship needs to be directly related to your minor and will need to be added to your degree plan as credit toward your minor by the advising office

Our international internship course offers academic credit for business-related internships that align with a students’ degree and career objectives, while being completed abroad through a university sanctioned study abroad experience. Eligible internships should involve meaningful projects, relate to business concepts, and placement is facilitated by the University Study Abroad office: studyabroad.uark.edu. Applications for this course are facilitated through the HogsAbroad Portal

Other requirements include:

  • Completed at least 60 hours and all pre-business core courses
  • Cumulative University of Arkansas GPA of at least 2.5
  • 2.5 GPA in the previous full-semester of enrollment

Credit Hour Breakdown:

  • 1 credit hour = Requires at least 120 cumulative hours of work
  • 2 credit hours = Requires at least 180 cumulative hours of work
  • 3 credit hours = Requires at least 240 cumulative hours of work

Basics of obtaining an abroad internship for credit:

  • Meet with Walton Advising team to discuss how study abroad fits into your academic plan
  • Meet with the Study Abroad office 6-12 months before you’d like to intern abroad
  • Attend a StudyAbroad 101 meeting
  • Apply for the program you are interested in
  • Receive placement and meet with study abroad office to confirm travel plans and course enrollments
  • Take the class!

For Supply Chain Majors this course is a graduation requirement. To be eligible for academic credit, internships must:

  • Include meaningful projects and relate to business concepts.
  • Require active pursuit of your degree.
  • Directly involve a role within the supply chain – as described in your application.
  • Allow for students to work 240 hours minimum throughout the semester the student is enrolled in.

An “internship” may also be:

  • A co-op
  • A full-time job in the supply chain industry
  • A series of special supply chain projects your supervisor provides for you
  • A rotational or management trainee program where at least one component relates to the supply chain

Academic Eligibility for SCMT 31003 is the same as all other Walton 3000/4000 level courses, it is contingent on the completion of the Pre-Business Core.

Requirements include:

  • Completed at least 60 hours and all pre-business core courses
  • Cumulative University of Arkansas GPA of at least 2.5
  • 2.5 GPA in the previous full-semester of enrollment

If you are having trouble obtaining your supply chain internship, you should schedule a coaching appointment with a Walton career coach and look at our Job/Internship searching page.

Eligibility for Accounting Internship Courses:

  • Completed pre-business core and obtained at least 60 hours of credit
  • Hold a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
  • Hold a GPA of 2.75 or higher for accounting coursework

Enrollment prioritization will be given to students who have completed a minimum of 12 hours of upper division accounting courses.

Additional Information:

  • Most accounting internships are held in the spring semester and consist of 8 weeks of consecutive full time work
  • Accounting internships can be taken for ACCT 3100V credit in spring or summer and are expected to be full time for 6-8 weeks, part time opportunities or fall internships can receive BUSI 3100V credit
  • Accounting students applying for spring semester internship credit have the opportunity to take two compressed 8-week courses during the same semester as their internship: ACCT 46703 and ACCT 47003. A student can choose the courses they’d like to be enrolled in during their application.
  • An offer letter from your interning company must be uploaded to your application before it can be reviewed by Dr. Barry Bryan, the accounting internship coordinator
  • Find more information about the Accounting internship courses

The Venture Intern Program is the only internship course application that is not managed by Walton Career Connections. Deadlines and other requirements are not in line with the rest of Walton internship courses. All questions and applications should be directed to Jason Riley, Program Manager of Venture Internships (JRiley@walton.uark.edu). More information on venture and the application can be found here.

Eligibility:

  • Be a currently enrolled junior or senior at the University of Arkansas
  • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (Applications who do not meet this GPA threshold but who have other exceptional qualifications may be considered.)
  • Be willing and eligible to enroll in a minimum of one credit hour of co-op credit in their respective colleges

Applications will be considered only during an active application period for the Venture Intern Program.  Applications will generally open in early to mid-September for the spring semester and in May for the fall semester.  Students who have participated in a prior semester are eligible to apply again.

Additional Information

  • Credit Hours: Earn up to 3 credit hours of internship credit per semester. A total of 6 credit hours of internship credit can be applied to your degree. Talk to an advisor prior to applying for a course for questions on credit hours or degree requirements.
  • Hours of Work: The number of working hours required for each credit hour does not change based on length of the semester. See hour requirements for your desired class below.
  • Enrolled Credit Hours: The number of credit hours you are enrolled in at the beginning of the semester cannot be changed at the end of the semester. Please ensure the application submitted reflects the correct number of hours you will work. Most courses require a submission of final worked hours in order to pass the course.
  • Application Denial Appeals: Appeals can be made to Walton Career Connections by emailing interns@walton.uark.edu with your appeal.
  • Course Tuition/Fees: Regular course tuition and fees apply.
  • International Students: Contact the ISS office for CPT authorization before beginning employment: ISS Office CPT Authorization.
  • Assignments: Internship courses have assignments and deadlines like any other class.