architectural internship
course summary
making the most of the internship
professional protocols
list of questions
salary negotiation
letter of agreement
legal issues

Each student will spend five days a week, Monday through Friday, for five weeks in a participating architectural office with recognized design stature.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: To provide a structured setting for understanding the transition between academic education and architectural practice so that the two experiences complement and reinforce each other's value.

To facilitate a more balanced, responsible architect by providing order, direction, and resources for the developing architect from an experienced architectural firm functioning as adjunct faculty.

To further Cal Poly's educational philosophy expressed in its motto, "Learn by Doing."

COURSE PARAMETERS: Each office is requested to provide an advisor who will be responsible for the student's office assignments, guidance and continuity. This person should be helpful in pointing out critical areas of architectural practice where the intern?architect is expected to develop basic levels of skill and knowledge. This advisor will provide an evaluation of the student at the end of the quarter.

The intern's time should be an overview ?? spread equally between the following four areas:

1. Predesign, Planning, and Schematic Design:
   including programming, client contact, developing goals and concepts, site analysis, schematic design, code research, building cost analysis, and design development.
2. Contact Documents:
   including development of the drawings, details, and coordination with the consultants, selection of major systems, and coordination of specifications and material research.
3. Construction Administration:
   including contractual relationships with the contractor and subcontractors, site visits, submittals and approvals, changes in the work, construction progress payments, and closing out the construction contract upon completion of the work.
4. Office Administration:
   including types of management styles and staff organization, the financial aspects of practice, legal and ethical concerns, personnel policies and benefits, insurance requirements, contracts, marketing plans & presentation.
   

ADVISOR: Each office is requested to provide an advisor who will be responsible for the student's office assignments, guidance, and continuity.

FOUR AREAS OF CONCENTRATION: The second sheet lists the four areas of concentration. The aim is an overview, balanced between all four areas.

PAY: The student is receiving academic credit for this effort as part of their professional practice course Arch 480. To be consistent with the policies of the California Architectural Registration Board and acknowledging the teaching obligation of the architectural office, the students do not receive monetary reimbursement for the 40 hours per week for five weeks. If a student works additional time for the office, if is perfectly permissible and proper to recompense the student for the time beyond 40 hours a week.

EVALUATION: At the end of the quarter, I will telephone each advisor for an evaluation of the intern's attitude, strengths, and weaknesses. The advisor should also have a debriefing interview with the intern to discuss strengths and areas for improvement.

Students have especially requested:

MEETINGS: Sitting in on meetings as a silent observer with clients, consultants, & building department /fire officials.

CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION: Job site visits are extremely valuable learning experiences. We request at least one for each intern ? the more, the better. Students found it useful to read job files to understand specific issues on the job site.

OFFICE MANAGEMENT: Interviews with personnel in charge of marketing, setting fees, etc. Obviously much information is confidential, but the "process" used is the educational tool needed.