Understand the lead-up to internship
Contextual Learning arranges all internships. Students who request to restrict geographically (outside of the Twin Cities) do not receive housing support. Students who request to restrict geographically outside of the Twin Cities do not go through the open interview process with prospective supervisors in February and may not expect to receive a placement decision by mid-April.
Background check and Healthy Boundaries Training
Before your internship can begin, you must complete an official background check and an authorized Healthy Boundaries Training.
Both are requirements for both Luther Seminary and affiliated students.
Pre-Internship Checklist:
These are the prerequisites before starting your internship:
- Candidacy Committee Endorsement for ELCA Candidates
- Boundaries Training (Available in January and June)
- FE 0200 Student Internship Orientation (offered in January or June)
- Minimum of 10 Credits of coursework completed
We encourage the following courses to be completed prior to the start of your internship:
- CG 0525 Congregational Care and Formation
- PR 0510 Foundations of Biblical Preaching
- WO 0515 Public Worship: Leadership in Word and Sacrament, Prayer and Thanksgiving
- Completion of (CPE) Clinical Pastoral Education
October: Prospective Student Intern application due
Internship and Endorsement Info Sessions are held. Complete the Student internship application online.
Horizon applications due for students interested in international internships.
Internship applications are due October 31.
November-December: Students’ preliminary interviews
After completing the application, candidates are assigned a Contextual Learning placement point person.
Interns will have a preliminary interview with that point person during this month.
Synods complete endorsement decisions for ELCA candidates. Horizon applicants complete interviews.
January (or June): Internship Orientation
Students complete Internship Orientation (FE 0200). We advise taking orientation closest to your start of internship date.
February: Review sites, interview with supervisors
The process for this is as follows:
- Students planning to participate in the open interview process can view available sites and schedule interviews with supervisors.
- Interviews between potential supervisors and potential interns take place.
March: Internship placements begin
Preference forms due. Contextual Learning staff meet to begin internship placements.
April: Internship placements
Students, internship sites and candidacy committees are informed of internship placements.
However, candidates requesting to restrict geographically (outside of the Twin Cities) may not receive a placement decision at this time.