The University strongly encourages students to gain practical, real-world experience by participating in Practicum, Internship and Cooperative Education opportunities. Students will apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom and gain valuable work experience while earning academic credit. Students should contact their Academic College for more information about internships and specific program requirements.
Guided Practicum
Students who have completed little or no course work can explore areas of interest and potential career opportunities in a field with a Guided Practicum. Guided practicum experiences focus on skills-building, becoming familiar with occupations in a field and learning what is involved in a major. Each Guided Practicum is a one credit, 30 hour experience and is generally unpaid. Students may complete multiple credits and are expected to do so at different sites to maximize this introductory field placement. Students should contact their program chair additional information. Students interested in a more focused, in depth experience should consider an internship or our Cooperative Education Program.
Practicum
Certain programs have required practical courses and seminars. Additional information is provided in the Academic program section of the catalog.
Internship
Internship is designed to immerse students in a real-world work environment. Students will have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, engage in problem solving activities, and be exposed to new trends and the latest technologies as well as network with professionals in the field. Internship experiences provide first-hand opportunities upon which future career choices can be based as students gain a better understanding of the relationship between theoretical concepts and their practical application.
Students are reminded that coordinating the requirements for an internship requires prior planning.
The typical internship student is a junior or senior with some course work completed in their major and seeks an in-depth, practical experience in their field of study. Students may also explore an internship unrelated to their major as an elective course. Internship is a three credit, 90 to 100 hour experience and is generally unpaid. Most students will participate in one internship. (Students interested in an expanded, multi-semester work experience should consider our Cooperative Education Program.)
Students must receive written permission from the Internship Coordinator or Program Chair at least 60 days prior to their expected internship start date.
Upon receiving written approval, a student should complete the official registration procedure with the Office of the Registrar. Tuition and fees are the same as standard course tuition. Internships/field placements are graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. A minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average is required to be eligible for internships/field placements. A maximum of 15 credits may be earned through internship/field placements and may be used towards residency credits.
Service Learning
Service Learning is a form of experiential education in which students engage in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs. Students who participate in service learning contribute to the public good of local, national, and/or international communities while they enrich their academic knowledge with real-world applications and develop leadership and citizenship skills. This growing area of higher education encourages community-based scholarship across the curricula of WU in order to enhance student learning, develop student civic engagement, and foster ongoing collaboration with local and global communities.
Students earn 3 credits in one semester for a total of 90-120 work hours. These opportunities are available in select undergraduate programs for Junior or Senior level students who have completed at least 60 credits and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Service Learning experiences are graded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Cooperative Education
Wilmington University’s Community and Academic Partnerships (CAP) and Cooperative Education (Co-op) program is an academic experience that allows students to connect academic knowledge with the business and professional world. The CAP/Co-op program expands learning experiences through relevant employment in a supervised, educational work setting related to the student’s major field of study or career focus.
A CAP/Co-op program experience is a multi-semester program (2 minimum, with a maximum of 4, ideally consecutive) with in-state and out-of-state opportunities. Co-op experiences are individually designed, and are typically at least two semesters with the same employer to maximize the opportunity for advanced application of the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom.
Co-op experiences are available in a part-time or full-time capacity. Students have the opportunity to complete 10-15 hours of work experience per week resulting in approximately 400-600 total hours and may include additional faculty assigned work. Students are also able to obtain full-time Co-op positions, providing the opportunity to complete 35-40 hours of work experience per week.
Co-op experiences are cultivated by both the Wilmington University Office of Cooperative Education and students. Opportunities developed by students need approval from the Office of Cooperative Education before credit can be awarded. An approved Co-op experience may substitute for a required internship in a student’s major.
To be eligible for the CAP/Co-op program students must have the following: a declared major and be working toward a degree, completed a minimum of 60 credits applicable to their degree program, and have a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average. In addition, students must inform the Office of Cooperative Education and their Program Chair one semester before they would like to begin a co-op assignment. CAP/Co-op course enrollment is required for credit to be awarded for the experience. Tuition and fees are the same as standard course tuition.
Students who are interested in gaining real world experience by participating in a Co-op should contact the Office of Cooperative Education
Additional Methods of Earning Credit at Wilmington University
Directed Study
Directed study is available only under extenuating circumstances for students who are approved by their Program Chair one month prior to the semester registration period in which the directed study is to be conducted. A maximum of 6 credits may be earned through the directed study format and may be used towards residency credits.
Independent Study
Students desiring to study areas of knowledge outside of disciplines available through regular course work must secure written permission from an Academic Advisor or Site Director one month (minimum) prior to the semester registration period in which the independent study is to be conducted. Upon final approval by the Academic Dean or Program Chair, a student may register for an independent study by following the official registration procedure. Tuition and fees for independent study are the same as those for standard courses. Independent study is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. A minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average is required to be eligible for independent study. Students needing additional information about independent study should contact an Academic Advisor or Site Director. A maximum of 6 credits may be earned through the independent study format and may be used towards residency credits.
Enrollment as an Auditor
Students who wish to audit a specific course for no credit may do so by seeking permission of an Academic Advisor or Site Director. Students may then follow established registration procedures, clearly stating at the time of registration which course they wish to audit. Course auditors pay the same tuition as non-auditors and may participate fully in classroom activities. They are not required to take examinations or complete class assignments. Course auditors receive a grade of “AU” (audit) that does not affect grade point average (GPA).