Computer Science Professional Internship Class (CSCI 6930)

CSCI 6930 (1, 2, or 3 Credits)

This class allows students in the Department of Computer Science to receive academic credit for internships that relate to their graduate-level coursework.

Table of Contents

Overview

The internship course is a restricted elective class, and students will need to apply in order for their academic advisor to enroll them in the course. Students have the ability to choose how many credits (between 1-3) they will enroll in during a given semester. However, they need a total of 3.0 credits completed to count it towards their degree requirements. Credits cannot be retroactively applied towards the degree.

Participation in the internship course requires submission of the Universal Professional Internship Application, which includes an agreement between the student and their academic advisor, to ensure that the student is meeting the academic expectations of the internship. The faculty teaching CSCI 6930 in any given semester will serve as support for academic related issues that arise and will facilitate a midterm and final assessment of the student’s performance.

CSCI 6930 - Professional Internship course can be taken in any semester that a student is enrolled in a computer science graduate program. A student must apply for the course and be approved by the graduate committee in order for their advisor to register the student for the course in any given term. Students must adhere to the program deadlines to apply for the course. In any given semester the final deadline to apply is the first Wednesday after classes begin. Exceptions will be considered by the graduate committee if you have an offer letter, not a verbal offer, on the first Wednesday after classes begin. In the summer, the course is offered in Term D with Term B deadlines. Please visit the academic calendar for more information on when courses begin.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate expertise and integrate foundational concepts in software, project, management, and/or team skills during the design, development, test, and/or delivery activities in a computing-related industry setting.
  • Network and build relationships with companies and their staff members to facilitate the student’s preparation for a career after graduation.

​Eligibility for the Internship Course

  • A student must be approved by the department and be registered for the course by their academic advisor.
  • Students must be a graduate level student in order to enroll in these credits.
  • A minimum of a 3.3 CSEN Graduate GPA must be met in order to apply for the course.
  • Participating students must maintain a minimum of a 3.3 GPA, be in good academic standing, and maintain satisfactory progress towards their graduate degree requirements.
  • The position the student is working in must be an internship. Internships have to be a position of a student or a trainee who works in an organization, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for qualifications. An internship is not a full-time or part-time job.

Registering Your Internship Experience for Academic Credit

  • Once you have your internship offer letter, your first step is to review and complete the Universal Professional Internship Application. You should be as descriptive as possible in order for the department to review and ensure that the internship aligns with your academic goals.
    • Signatures are required via the Professional Internship Application
    • You are required to upload your offer letter to this application.
  • The form will ask you how many credits you wish to enroll in during that semester. You are able to choose between 1 and 3 credits. However, please be aware you need a total of 3.0 credits for this class to count towards your degree requirements. Please visit Variable Credit Hours section below to learn more about hours worked in your internship translated to credit hours.
  • The form must be completed by the student the first Wednesday after classes begin. In the summer, the course is offered in Term D with Term B deadlines. Please visit the academic calendar for more information on when courses begin.
    • In any given semester, the deadline to apply is the first Wednesday after classes begin. Exceptions will be considered by the graduate committee if you have an offer letter, not a verbal offer, on the first Wednesday after classes begin.
  • Submitting the form and completing this process does not guarantee eligibility for an internship credit.

Variable Credit Hours

Each credit hour will represent a minimum of 40 contact hours of documented internship activities.

  • 1 credit equates to a minimum of 40 hours worked over the course of the semester.
  • 2 credits equates to a minimum of 80 hours worked over the course of the semester.
  • 3 credits equates to a minimum of 120 hours worked over the course of the semester.
    • A student wishing to enroll in 3 credits over the summer, must be working full-time hours (40 hours per week).

Students may be engaged for more than the minimum contact hours required as long as permissible by the internship supervisor and, if applicable, the International Student and Scholars Office (ISSS). Students who do not meet the minimum contact hours are not eligible for the internship course. For all degree programs within computer science, a student may count up to 3 credits towards their degree requirements. Students need a total 3.0 credits for this course to count towards their degree requirements.

Using the Internship Course Toward Your Degree

  • The internship course is not a required course. Rather, it is a way for students to use their working experience toward their degree requirements. Students, when eligible (not applicable to International students), can participate in an internship and not choose to enroll in the course.
  • Students need to complete a total of three (3) credits of the internship course to count towards their degree. This course will be counted towards elective credits.
  • Those in the professional master’s program may be eligible to receive a waiver for their projects course by earning 3.0 credits of the internship course.
  • A student may not get credit for an internship retroactively and must adhere to the deadline to apply for the course.

The Internship Course

The exact course structure is at the discretion of the faculty member teaching the course. You can expect that the professor will support you in your internship, as well as a mid-term and a final.

Students not submitting the proper materials by the due date specified by the instructor will receive a grade of Incomplete, and if not completed within one calendar year the incomplete grade will convert into an F.

Domestic Student Information

If completing an internship/co-op during an academic term (fall or spring), you must submit the Impact of an Internship/Co-op on Financial Aid and/or Scholarships Form before leaving on an internship/co-op assignment. This form is not necessary if you are participating in an internship over summer. Filling out the form is to make sure that any scholarships or financial aid will not be affected by your internship or co-op experience. 

International Student Information

Computer science students with a visa granted by the University of Colorado must connect with the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISSS) to learn about how to get work eligibility for their internship. Students must work with ISSS to have all of the necessary documentation to start their internship.

FAQ

 

 

You must talk with your graduate advisor as the answer depends on specific dates. Generally, as long as your internship does not extend until the day before classes start for the next semester, you should be okay. 

 

Yes, As long as you are meeting the minimum working hours for the credit hours that you are choosing to enroll in, the expectation for the course will be met. 

 

The free writing box should be as detailed as possible including the academic goals of the internship you are participating in; you should think about what classes you have taken or will take that will help you successfully participate in the internship. The nature of the work should describe what tools you will be using in your internship, you may be as “techy” as you would like to be. Finally, the method of evaluation should touch on if you will be doing a final paper, a report, or a publication, for instance. 

 

Yes, this is an academic course and the registrar and bursar’s office will treat the course as such. You must meet the same requirements and deadlines as any other class that you are taking. Visit the Bursar’s Site to learn more about cost and finances and billing and due dates.

 

The internship credits are a regular class, therefore, they can count if you need to meet the 5 credit minimum to be a full time student.

 

The internship course is a variable credit course, you can choose between 1 and 3 credits in any given semester. Students may only count 3 credits towards their degree and they need a total of 3 credits to count this class toward their degree requirements. Therefore,  you can take 1 credit a semester totaling in 3 credits by the time you graduate. For PMP students please keep in mind that this will disqualify you from receiving a capstone waiver if you have 2 years of industry experience and have only 1 credit of CSCI 6930 in summer. Additionally, should the internship not complete the entire academic year, you cannot retroactively change your credit hours.