W H AT I S A N I N T E R N S H I P ? An internship is any career-related work or service experience in a professional setting in which a student has specific learning outcomes and reflects actively on the learning process. The experience must be supervised by professional staff who provide ongoing training for the benefit of the intern. Internships can provide real world experience to explore and gain relevant knowledge and transferable skills required to enter the working world. Internships should provide the following: • Opportunities to work in pre-professional positions and apply your academic skills to practical work-based projects. • Intentional learning goals outlined to benefit you through the mentorship and guidance of an expert in their industry. • Foster professional development to make networking contacts in your field of interest. • An avenue to explore different career choices, while gain work experience specific to your intended industry/ field of study. Other pre-professional experiential learning opportunities and industry training programs: • Research/field/laboratory assistant programs • Leadership development programs • Fellowship with short-term work experience in nonprofit, government, or academia • Classroom-related experience such as externships, practicum, or cooperative education • Leadership training and rotational programs for recent college graduates A well-designed internship will provide students with professionally oriented activities and experience similar to that of an entry-level professional in the field however, the student will not assume work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
W H AT I S N O T C O N S I D E R E D A N I N T E R N S H I P?
• • •
Part-time job with tasks unrelated to career experience and growth with minimal opportunities to learn about student’s career interests Primarily clerical or unskilled labor A vague, undefined, unsupervised experience with no training
C R I T E R I A FO R A N E X P E R I E N C E TO B E D E F I N E D A S A N I N T E R N S H I P
(NAC E, 2019)
To ensure that an experience—whether it is a traditional internship, or one conducted remotely or virtually—is educational, and thus eligible to be considered a legitimate internship, all the following criteria must be met : 1 The experience must be an extension of the classroom—a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform. 2 The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings. 3 The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications. 4 There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic course work. 5 There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience. 6 There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor. 7 There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals. If you have any questions regarding an internship opportunity, please contact us at internships@csuci.edu.
CSUCI Internship Guide for Students & Faculty
3
