Professional Practice in Chemistry for Undergraduates through
CHEM-Y398 and CHEM-G499

CHEM-Y398 Professional Practice in Chemistry

Students interested in doing an internship in chemistry for credit via CHEM-Y398 and meet the eligibility requirements and understand the guidelines stated below, should visit the Coordinator of Undergraduate Services in the Chemistry Undergraduate Office (CH021) to begin their search for an internship. We maintain a binder of all internship announcements that are received by the department and there are several other resources for conducting a search for internships. The UGO will assist students in locating appropriate internship experiences, but it is the responsibility of the student to obtain a placement. In all cases, final employment decisions are made by the companies and firms involved in the Internship Program. Some companies interview students for internship opportunities through our Chemistry Placement Program or the Arts and Science Career Services. Some begin recruiting for summer internships as early as the fall, while others do not announce their internship opportunities until the spring…but do not wait until the spring to start your search.

CHEM-Y398 Chemistry Internship Eligibility Requirements

• A student must have completed Chemistry C105, C125, C106, C126, C341, C342, C343 and Mathematics M211 (with C- or better) prior to internship participation. Completion of C317 is highly recommended.
• A student must have at least one semester's course work (and preferably two semesters) remaining after the internship.

CHEM-Y398 Guidelines

1. A student may receive a maximum of six credit hours toward degree requirements in the COAS for participation in the Chemistry Professional Practice Program internships. Chemistry offers an internship course Y398 and there are internship courses offered through the Arts and Science Career Service.
2. Chemistry Internship credit through our course, Y398, can be earned only be internships done during the fall or spring semesters.
3. B.S. Chemistry and B.S. Biochemistry majors may use these credits as elective hours within the chemistry concentration.
4. B.A. Chemistry majors may not use these credits as electives within the chemistry concentration. However, the credit may be used in total graduation hours.
5. Internship students will be paid a salary for their work experience that is determined by the employer. Students should be aware that Internship earnings may affect the amount of financial aid a student receives.

CHEM-G499 Internship in Chemical Instruction

Students interested in graduate school, careers in teaching, and/or any career involving managing people will be able to explore these careers through being a Chemistry Assistant Instructor as well as develop and strengthen leadership, communication, and other professional skills.  A Chemistry Assistant Instructor (CAI) intern in the Department of Chemistry is a junior or senior who assists faculty with the teaching mission of the department.  These assignments may be made to assist in a discussion or laboratory section of a course.  In addition, CAI's will have proctoring assignments for exams and/or administering teaching evaluations during the semester.

Students interested in doing an internship in chemical instruction for credit via CHEM-G499 and meet the eligibility requirements and understand the guidelines stated below, should submit an application for each term they wish to teach.   There is no set deadline for the G499 internship but for fall term we must have applications no later than August 1 and for spring no later than Dec. 1.  The earlier the application, the more chances for acceptance.   Applications are available at the link below or in the Chemistry Undegraduate Office (C021). 

Click here for the Summer/Fall 2007 G499 Application 

Applications accepted by April 1 for teaching summer and accepted by August for teaching in fall will be given first consideration for any available teaching assignements. 

Submit your completed application to the Chemistry Undergraduate Office C021

or email it to Alice Dobie-Galuska at chemound@indiana.edu or send it to her in the mail to the following address:

Alice Dobie-Galuska

Indiana University

Dept. of Chemistry

800 East Kirkwood Ave

Bloomington, IN 47405

CHEM-G499 Chemistry Internship Eligibility Requirements

• Class Standing:  Chemical Assistant Instructors (CAI's) should have at least junior class standing by the time the appointment begins.  However, exceptional underclassmen may also be considered.
• GPA:  Candidates must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 as well as a major GPA of 3.25 or higher.
• Specific Grades:  Generally, you must have earned an A- or better in the courses for which you potentially may serve as a CAI (typically these are the 100-level courses).
• Written Statement: This is a very important part of the application.  When candidates for a postion are relatively equal in the above areas, the statement can make the difference.  Be sure to proofread your statement.

CHEM-G499 Guidelines

1. All applicants will be notified of their status via email or a letter mailed to their local address by the Chemistry Graduate Office.  CAI's must accept their positions by signing the Acceptance Form and Contract provided with their award letter.  Alternates are notified of their alternate status and then notified again when openings arise.  This can happen immediately when another CAI has to decline a position or as late as the first days of the semester, when selected CAI's occasionally have unexpected problems and must drop out of the program or if course enrollments change.
2. All students accepted as CAI's must complete the appropriate training program and must pass the departmental safety exam before they can begin their teaching assignment.  Failure to comply with requirements of the program or the faculty of the course for which they have been assigned as a CAI can result in immediate removal from the course.
3. CHEM-G499 is a course whcih is taken for elective credt outside the major.  No credit hours earned from G499 may be used toward the hours required for the chemistry or biochemistry major. 
4. Grades for the semester will be assigned by the faculty member in charge of the course to which the CAI is assigned and will be based on the CAI's performance for the semester.
5. First time G499 students must be enrolled in 3 hours of CHEM-G499 upon submission of a signed contract.  These students therefore should be enrolled in no more than 14 hours or be willing to pay for tuition and fee charges associated with enrolling in more than 17 credit hours.
6. Continuing G499 students may enroll in 1 to 3 hours of CHEM-G499 (based on their enrollment) upon submission of a signed contract.  These students therefore should be enrolled in no more than 16 hours or be willing to pay for tuition and fee charges associated with being enrolled in more than 17 credit hours. 
7. CAI's must attend all meeting of the course they are scheduled to teach.  CAI's must adjust their schedules accordingly.

For more information about CHEM-G499 Internship in Chemical Instruction, please contact the Chemistry Undergraduate Office chemound@indiana.edu.

Chemistry Summer Internship Listings (Click here for list)

The Undergraduate Office (UGO) serves as the repository for summer internship program announcements received by the Chemistry Department. The positions are generally located at academic and government sites. In addition, the UGO is working to find summer internships in industrial settings from a wide variety of sources. Summer internship opportunities will be posted through this Web site, in the chemistry building on the Careers bulletin board, and in the UGO’s summer internship binder.

Chemical Cooperative Education Program

The Chemistry Department at Indiana University Bloomington recognizes the need to provide undergraduates interested in future employment in the chemical industry with an integrated program of university classroom education and actual work experience. This is possible through our Chemical Cooperative Education Program and Chemical Internships.

Our Co-op Program is usually five years in length. During this time a student will complete all course requirements for a B.S. in Chemistry or a B.S. in Biochemistry  and will gain approximately two years of practical experience as a working chemist. To provide the student with a practical chemical education is the primary purpose of the Co-op Program. Though the program is not intended for every student, those choosing to enter the program will learn to relate chemical theory encountered in textbooks and the classroom to applied situations in industry. Students will gain valuable knowledge needed to make a realistic long-term career choice. Finally, the salary earned during the periods of employment may enable a student to complete his or her undergraduate education, and academic credit toward graduation is received from participation in the Co-op Program.

Program Requirements

1. Freshmen who intend to pursue a B.S. in Chemistry or a B.S. in Biochemistry who receive a grade-point average of at least 2.5 during their first semester at Indiana University Bloomington may qualify for the Co-op Program.
2. Students should have completed C117 and C341 and Mathematics M211 (all with a C- or better) prior to their first work block. Completion of Mathematics M212 is highly recommended.
3. It is essential that the student demonstrate a sincere interest in the career area in which the Co-op Program work experience will be undertaken.

Academic Credit

Participating Co-op students will be able to earn up to six hours of academic credit only after completing their last Co-op work assignment. For the last Co-op work assignment, students will enroll in Y398 (Professional Practice in Chemistry). The credit will count as a chemistry elective for B.S. Chemistry and B.S. Biochemistry majors. B.A. Chemistry majors may not use these credits as Chemistry electives, but the credit does count toward total graduation hours.

Remuneration

Co-op students will be paid a salary for their work experience that is determined by the employer. Students should be aware that Co-op earnings may affect the amount of financial aid a student receives.

Schedule of Employment Periods

Usually a Chemistry Co-op student will work from three to five work blocks. Students will spend the entirety of their first and last years of the Co-op Program on campus. Throughout the other years the student will alternate between work in the classroom and in industry. This schedule is adaptable and is individually planned for each student.

Program Operation

Students who are interested in the Co-op program and who meet the eligibility requirements stated should meet with the Coordinator of Undergraduate Services in the Chemistry Undergraduate Office, room C021. Every effort is made to assist the student in locating a suitable Co-op placement. However, it is the student's responsibility to secure the Co-op assignment. In all cases, final employment decisions are made by the companies and firms involved in the Co-op Program.

Student Responsibilities

In return for valuable work experience, the student accepts certain responsibilities as an employee and a representative of Indiana University:

• To take the work experience seriously and behave in a manner which will reflect favorably upon the employer and Indiana University
• To understand and comply with all of the rules of the employer and the Chemistry Professional Practice Program
• To cooperate by planning her or his academic program to accommodate a Co-op assignment
• To prepare and submit written papers and reports as required. These reports and the employer evaluations will serve as the basis for the student's grades.

Employer Responsibilities

All organizations participating in the Chemical Cooperative Education Program will accept the following responsibilities:

• To provide the student with carefully planned, varied assignments which contribute to a broad perspective of chemistry as a career
• To provide Co-op students with assignments of increasing challenge and responsibility for subsequent work periods
• To supervise the work of the student in an manner which gives learning value to the experience
• To see that work rules and standards of conduct are explained clearly to the student
• To evaluate the work of the student and discuss the results with him or her
• To complete, both during and at the conclusion of the work experience, reports to the University which will include:
• A brief description of the nature of the work performed by the student during their period of employment
• An evaluation of the student's ability, aptitude, and attitude
• Suggestions, if any, for the improvement of the Cooperative Education Program

For more information contact the Chemistry Undergraduate Office