Practicum Experiences

3920 Senior Professional Internship (12)

2.5 Credits 1 Semester 5.0 Credits 2 Semesters

The Senior Professional Internship offers a unique opportunity for motivated students with defined interest to experience a real-world work environment and learn about the key components of a career in a specific field. Students will finish an internship with stronger professional skills and a clearer idea of whether a certain career is a good fit for them. Internships that are available in Notre Dame offices must be scheduled during the school day. Internships that are scheduled off of the Notre Dame campus must take place outside of school hours. (Some exceptions are made for internships in an elementary school setting.) Senior Professional Internships are graded as pass/fail.

To pass the internship the following requirements must be met: minimum of 60 on-site hours completed, completed task log, clear communication with intern mentors, respectful and professional behavior onsite at all times, and receiving a passing grade from onsite evaluators on internship rubrics. To apply for an internship, schedule an appointment with the Experior Program Coordinator and complete the program application. Internships require participating in an interview process as there are often more candidates than internship opportunities. Placement in a desired setting cannot be guaranteed. Some onsite settings include: Communications Office, Service Learning Office, Enrollment Management and Marketing Office, Athletic Office. Some offsite settings include: law firms, physical therapist offices, elementary schools and architecture firms. This course will receive a Pass/Fail grade. Prerequisite: GPA average of 85, a School Counselor signature, no significant history of discipline or attendance issues, completed application, and interview. GPA requirement can be waived with a School Counselor recommendation.

Practicum Experiences

6510/6515 Peer Leader Practicum (10, 11)

2.5 credits Period 9, Fall and Spring Semesters

This companion course to the Peer Leadership elective taken during the same academic year, requires completion of various service projects from July to June of the academic year. Students will meet several times with their teacher outside of the classroom to plan and complete projects whose primary goal is to foster a mentoring relationship between peer leaders and students of the freshman class while serving the wider Notre Dame community.

Service Learning Program

Community service is an essential part of each student’s religious education. Participation in the service program is required each year for all students at Notre Dame. Service hour requirements for each level are detailed in the Student Handbook. Students must fulfill these requirements before successfully completing each grade level. Students will earn a Pass/Fail grade on their transcript each year to indicate successful completion of their Service Learning hours. (See page 4.)