Requirements for Departmental Approval of a DIS-Internship

A student who wishes to participate in the DIS-Internship program must fulfill all of the following requirements.

Requirements for the Directed Independent Study

Before the start of the internship, the student should

1. have completed 48 credit hours of study at the college level;
   [Students who want to write an analytical paper (see below) must have also completed Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, and Statistics for the Social Sciences, or their equivalent]
2. register for a DIS with an economics faculty member, and obtain the approval of the economics department chair and the Dean of Faculty; and
3. submit a proposal (see below) before the start of the internship.

Requirements for the Internship

Before the start of the internship,

1. the student will submit evidence that the internship enhances the student's development of college-level skills in communicating ideas, analyzing information, problem-solving, or the like;
2. the student will submit evidence that the student's work must not be in violation with Catholic teachings;
3. the student will agree to work at the internship not less than 120 hours (e.g., 8 hours over 15 weeks) as an intern; and
   [During an academic semester, the student may not work more than the University stipulates as the maximum permissible for full-time students.  The student's advisor must be informed ahead of time of the total number of hours the internship is likely to require.]
4. the advisor will ensure that the employer understands the goal of the internship in its connection with the DIS, that the proposed work should enhance the student's educational program, and that the employer will be asked for a summary evaluation of the student's work at the end of the period of employment.

The student must remain in regular communication with an academic advisor, and the academic advisor must remain in contact with the student's employer.

Where the Fulfillment of Requirements are Uncertain

In cases in which it is uncertain whether any of the forgoing requirements are met, or in cases in which the student applies for an exemption to the provisions of this proposal, the Department must consult with the Dean of Faculty, who may require that the matter be directed to the Academic Affairs committee.

Contents of the DIS-Internship proposal 

1. A full description of the internship:
   • Description of the department or unit within the organization;
   • name and contact information of direct supervisor;
   • type of work expected;
   • hours of work;
   • expected compensation; and
   • description of how it enhances the student's development of college-level skills in communicating ideas, analyzing information, problem-solving, or the like.
2. A statement of how the proposed internship contributes to the student's understanding of economics.
   [That is, an account of the specific area of economic theory that is related to the internship and on which the research paper will be based.]
3. A syllabus, including a list of readings for the DIS.
4. A proposal for the paper
   • Description of the general topic of the paper.
   • Account of the proposed type of paper to be written (whether descriptive or analytical).
5. A schedule of draft submissions and of individual research direction.
   [Within a few weeks of the start of the internship, the student must submit a two-page outline.]

Credit Granted

Students fulfilling the foregoing requirements would be awarded up credit on the basis of the following considerations.  A student may not earn more than 4 credits under this program.

Whether the DIS is graded or pass/fail depends on the kind of paper written - this may be adjusted as the student's research progresses (e.g., depending on data availability).

Descriptive papers  (2 credits, pass/fail)

1. a description of a business firm or organization (in which the student does his internship) and a description the institutional and historical environment in which the business firm or organization operates; and
2. a detailed explanation of a significant economic issue or problem that the firm or organization faces, substantiated by data or interviews.

Analytical papers  (2 credits, graded)

1. a description of a business firm or organization (in which the student does his internship) and a description the institutional and historical environment in which the business firm or organization operates; and
2. a detailed explanation of a significant economic issue or problem that the firm or organization faces, substantiated by data or interviews.
3. a careful analysis of the issue or problem that uses the economic concepts and models learned in the student's coursework (including appropriate scholarly and professional references); and
4. a quantitative analysis of the issue or problem, applying statistical tools and testing a specific hypothesis based on the theoretical analysis.