DHE Professional Internship Program

DHE Internship Program

The DHE Internship Program is a cooperative program between the Department of Design and Human Environment, industry companies, and qualified junior and senior students who are preparing for careers in one of our four major areas: apparel design, interior design, housing studies and merchandising management. The internship program allows the student to apply what they have learned in their courses to an actual on-the-job internship experience.

To participate in the DHE Internship Program, students must be accepted into the program one year in advance to the summer term of participation. Students should submit applications during spring term of their sophomore or junior years. Once accepted into the program, students participate in DHE 400, "Field Experience Orientation and Development” the following Fall and Winter terms.

Students then enroll in DHE 410 - “Field Experience” where they complete an off campus internship with a participating company over summer term. Internship sites are determined by mutual agreement of the company personnel manager, the DHE Internship Coordinator, and the student. A variety of tasks assigned by the company provides the student with on-the-job experience. Special Note: It is up to the student to contact and secure their internship position; however the Internship Coordinator will provide contacts and network opportunities for the student.

During the employment period, supervision is directed by personnel in the employing company. Contact between the student and DHE Internship Coordinator is maintained by weekly written reports and a midterm seminar and/or on-site visits by the DHE Internship Coordinator when the student is located in a city within reasonable travel distance of the university. A workbook in which the student gathers information about the organization and operation of the participating company is completed during the summer term.

Evaluation of student performance is completed by the supervising personnel in the company and by the DHE Internship Coordinator. This is discussed with the student as an aid in career development. The DHE 410 course is graded on A-F basis. Twelve credit hours are earned during the term of participation which requires a total of 300 hours of work during the internship.

The program is elective and qualified juniors and seniors are eligible to apply for admission to the program. The application process begins during spring term, one year in advance prior to summer participation.

DHE Internship Program Requirements:

The following requirements must be met by spring term prior to the student’s summer internship. Applications however are turned in one year in advance prior to summer participation.

All DHE majors:

Must attain junior or senior standing.
Must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (student below a 2.5 at the time of application can be accepted provisionally subject to attainment of the 2.5 by the term of participation).
Indicate long-range career plans and some understanding of the requirements for a career in specified major.
Show evidence of ability to assume leadership and responsibility and make mature decisions in coursework, previous jobs, and/or extra-curricular activities.
Indicate willingness to carry out all on-the-job assignments in a professional manner and to use individual initiative during the on-the-job experience.
Show ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form.
Show evidence of ability and desire to represent the University and DHE at a professional level.

Program Specific Requirements:

Apparel Design:

Accepted into the Professional Apparel Design program.
Must earn at least a C grade for DHE 321, Tech Drawing, Fashion Illustration and Design.
It is highly recommended that students also have completed DHE 327, Flat Pattern Design; and DHE 370, Textile and Apparel Market Analysis.

Interior Design:

Accepted into the Professional Interior Design Program.
Must earn at least a C grade for DHE 287: Studio I.

Housing Studies:

Accepted into the Professional Housing Studies Program
Must earn at least a C grade for DHE 287: Studio I.

Merchandising Management:

Must earn at least a C grade for DHE 370, Textile and Apparel Market Analysis.
Must earn at least a D- grade for BA 215, Fundamentals of Accounting.
It is highly recommended that students also have completed DHE 326 Sewn Products Analysis, DHE 470 Retail Merchandising, and BA 390 Marketing.