APDP Internship

2.0 gapped GPA
Completed CADS 3750 (C or better)
Departmental approval

1. Attend the mandatory internship planning meeting during Fall term before the Spring, Summer, or Fall term of the coming year when you plan to do your internship.
2. Read, complete and sign Intent to Intern Form and submit to your Program Coordinator following the mandatory Fall meeting and by October 15. Submission of the form does not preclude a change in plans at a later date.

Keep your Program Coordinator informed as you plan for your internship.

• Let him/her know if you change or add locations that you are exploring. S/he may hear of opportunities but cannot share them if s/he does not know where you want to be.
• Let him or her know if you decide to do your internship in a different term.

Requirements

The internship site must agree to your working full-time (40 hours per week) for 10 weeks. Under some circumstances, the intern may work slightly fewer hours per week and for more than 10 weeks to complete 400 hours.

The site should not be owned or managed by one of your family members, even if distant.

The company needs to have a well-established business; for a relatively new firm, this means several years of successful operation and the existence of personnel with previous experience in the business to share with you.

The firm must agree to your having access to people or information that are needed to complete course requirements (e.g., allowing you to interview personnel and complete an internship project).

Potential Sites

Companies can range from small to large.

Companies do not have to have a formal internship program.

Although it is hoped that all interns will be paid, there can be valid opportunities where interns may not be paid or may receive partial compensation.

Consult Dr. Teel before you proceed with a site that may not meet requirements.

Note that a Design Option student will not be approved for a placement where the internship experience is Merchandising-oriented (and vice versa).

International Internships

Students who wish to pursue these should see Dr. Teel

List of Possible Internship & Job Websites

Tips for Cover Letters & Resumes

Interview Tips

Information to Share with Prospective Employers

The following items need to be completed and submitted via email to your Program Coordinator, Karla P. Teel, Ph.D (kteel@auburn.edu), in a SINGLE PDF file attachment AS SOON as you have secured the internship.

If you intern in the most common semester, Summer, you ONLY have to complete the first 6 items.
If you intern in the Fall or Spring semester, complete ALL 7 items.

**All items must be scanned into a single PDF file AND in the following ORDER. Your Program Coordinator will not sign without a completed packet.**

1. Completed APDP Internship Contract.

• Once you fill out and sign, email to your firm internship supervisor to have them fill out and sign and have them send it back to you. The firm internship supervisor must sign after you sign and before the program coordinator signs.

2. Completed Intership Compensation Form.

3. Your 1-page Resume.

4. Signed Permission to Use Student Work Form.

5. Signed Hold Harmless Form.

6. ACADEMIC CREDIT CHECK.

• Email your CHS Academic Advisor (listed on AUAccess) for an appointment to have a CURRENT credit check. The Academic Affairs Office also offers some walk-in days.

7. If you are interning in the Fall or Spring semester, complete and sign the Dining Exemption form. You must submit to AU Dining with proof of registration BEFORE you add this to your application packet.


Checklist for internship application packet


___ Internship Contract


___ Internship Compensation Form


___ Resume


___ Permission to Use Student Work Form


___ Academic Credit Check


___ Hold Harmless Form


___ Dining Exemption Form

YOU CANNOT REGISTER YOURSELF FOR THE INTERNSHIP!
The CADS Department Head is the last person to sign the Contract. With her approval, the CADS Office will enroll you in 4920.

You must be enrolled at the beginning of the internship term with enough time allocated to complete the 10 week requirement.

1. Enhance professional skills

• Your internship should enable you to gain an understanding of the role of a professional, including the professional's responsibilities, and ethical code of conduct.
• You should expect to enhance professional growth and development by applying knowledge and skills developed in your academic program and acquiring skills in retail management, merchandising, design, apparel product development, and/or other industry related areas.

2. Practice communication skills

• You should expect to develop speaking skills to be comfortable in front of clients, executive leaders, and colleagues when presenting and expressing ideas, practice accepting both criticism and feedback, and applying other principles and concepts learned in formal course work in a career setting.

3. Increase preparation for your career

• You should expect to be given an opportunity to acquire skills in retail management and merchandising, design and apparel product development, and industry related support areas.
• You should gain an understanding of the satisfactions and challenges of a career in the retail, design and product development, or related support industry.
• Your internship should enable you to become familiar with the overall structure, functions and operation in the retail, design and product development, or related support industry.