Summer Internships for Credit

As part of their Middlebury College education, Middlebury undergraduates have an opportunity to enroll in a Middlebury Institute fieldwork course (IPMG8650-M) for credit.  As an integral part of an established curriculum, this course provides students with a way to pursue internships in the U.S. that require students to earn academic credit (i.e. where the hiring organization requires the credit, or to qualify for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization). The fieldwork course requires approval from the instructor to enroll in the course, which is done through the application process outlined below. There is no additional charge for this course. (Note: Students who successfully complete this course will earn an Institute credit that will appear on the student’s Institute transcript. It is not transferable to the student’s College transcript.) 

To enroll in the course, eligible students must complete a College-based approval process through the Center for Careers and Internships (CCI), followed by confirmation from the instructor. Upon confirmation of enrollment in the course by the Registrar’s Office, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) will approve international students for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), if eligible. 

Eligibility

To be eligible to enroll in the course, students must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• Students must have been enrolled at Middlebury for a minimum of a full academic year (fall/winter/spring or spring/fall/winter) prior to engaging in the summer field work course.  
  • Students who are on a leave of absence during spring or fall before or after the summer term, are not eligible to enroll in the summer fieldwork course. 
  • Students must enroll for at least one semester (usually fall) at Middlebury after their summer term ends. 
  • International students may consult the ISSS CPT website for details about qualifying for CPT authorization. 
• The internship must directly relate to the student’s academic major (i.e. field of study). 
  • If you have not yet declared a major, please explain in the Statement of Purpose Prompt* (see below) how the internship is related to your coursework and intended major. 
  • If a student is ready and eligible to declare, it can be beneficial to do so before you apply for the fieldwork course. 
• Students must secure an internship and receive a formal written offer that meets the Internship/Fieldwork Supplemental Letter Guidelines. 

The internship must take place within the course dates of the IPMG 8650-M undergraduate section of the Institute’s fieldwork course.  

For 2024: 

• The start date can be on or after Wednesday, May 22, and no later than Monday, August 5. 
• The end date must be before or on Friday, August 30. 
• Last date for application submittals, Monday, July 8. 

How to Apply

How To Apply (for all students) - Follow These Steps: 

To seek approval for a Summer Internship for Credit via the Middlebury Institute Fieldwork course, you must complete the three required parts of the CCI Fieldwork Application.  

1. CCI Fieldwork Application form (Apply at least 4 weeks before your intended start date.) 
2. Internship/Fieldwork Supplemental Letter for Middlebury Fieldwork Course Approval (you must provide this template to your employer to fill out on their company letterhead and have them email it back to you.) 
3. Write a one-page “*Statement of Purpose” Essay (500 words max.), addressing the four prompts below (Please note: if any details are missing the statement will be sent back to you for correcting and you will have to resubmit the entire application.) 
   • How does the internship connect with your field of study (major)/academic background (list classes) and your career and/or life goals?
   • What are your learning objectives (please list at least three)? 
   • What are your anticipated responsibilities?
   • Why do you want to pursue this experience? 

**Important Note BEFORE starting your online application**: To successfully complete the online CCI Fieldwork Application form (#1), you must upload the Internship/Fieldwork Supplemental Letter from your employer (#2) and have completed your Statement of Purpose essay (#3) at the time when you submit and complete your CCI Fieldwork application. 

Helpful Timeline

• March/April and beyond: Students secure internships 
• Late April & ongoing: CCI enrolls students in Middlebury Institute Fieldwork course (IPMG 8650-M) through the registrar’s office 
• May & ongoing: ISSS processes CPT  
• May 22-August 30: Summer Fieldwork Course reflection assignments due 

NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Once you submit your application, CCI will review your submission to determine whether you qualify for enrollment in the course. For those who qualify, CCI will provide their recommendation for your enrollment in IPMG 8650-M. The Course Instructor will register approved students through the Institute Records Office (Registrar) and will provide information about course expectations and timelines directly to the students. 

ISSS will be notified, if you are an international student approved for enrollment in the Fieldwork course. For students who qualify, ISSS will authorize Curricular Practical Training (CPT). ISSS will update your SEVIS record with the necessary information and will produce an updated Form I-20, showing the dates of authorization and details about the internship sponsor. The updated I-20 can be used to satisfy I-9 requirements at the organization. Students may only begin the internship on or after the CPT start date on their I-20. 

Students with questions about enrolling in this course should contact Tracy Himmel Isham (thimmeli@middlebury.edu). 

International students with questions about CPT should contact ISSS office (isss@middlebury.edu).