At the onset of an internship, students are asked to establish key goals and objectives. Strong goals and objectives will benefit both the intern and the employer. The College of Social & Behavioral Sciences internship program was not established just to offer students credit for work, but rather, the program enables students to build a résumé with strong examples of demonstrated skills within a real-world environment. The program must balance that objective with the needs of the employer.
Enrolling For Credit
- Students securing approved internships are eligible to enroll in course credit
- Internship courses are offered on a Credit (CR), or No-Credit (NC) basis
- Internship courses count within the administration concentration elective requirement
- Internship course enrollment is restricted to upper-division and graduate-level students
- Internships must be approved by the Faculty Internship Coordinator, and possibly the Department Chair
- Internship courses require department consent, therefore students cannot self-enroll via My Coyote
Eligibility Guidelines
To be eligible for CSBS internships, students must meet the following criteria:
- Junior, senior, or graduate level CSUSB CSBS student
- Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA (unless otherwise specified by department)
Students are encouraged to:
- Complete several concentration courses first. Concentration courses will directly relate to the internship, making the student a stronger candidate.
- Enroll in an internship course. Internship courses meet elective units within the concentration. Earn course credit while gaining experience!
The Process
1. Prepare a résumé.
Students are encouraged to seek assistance in preparing a résumé before applying for internships. This is important, as a résumé is typically the first impression, and/or method for applying online.
- Assistance is available through one of the following methods:
- Contact the CSBS department for résumé assistance - send an email with a résumé attached, or request an appointment.
- Connect with the CSBS Professional Writing Office
- Connect with the Career Center
- Utilize other online resources
2. Search for CSBS Internships - Current Openings! and other internship search resources.
3. Connect with us on LinkedIn!
4. Enroll for credit. Once an internship is obtained, understand the 'enrolling for credit' process, as well as the 'earning internship credit', which are reviewed below.
Enrolling for Credit
After an internship is obtained, students should begin the paperwork process.
- All documents must be on file before enrolling in an internship course.
- Students cannot self-enroll in internship courses.
- All internship courses require department consent.
- Students are successfully enrolled by the Faculty Internship Coordinator after all documents are received and approved.
Steps to Enroll in an Internship Course
Step ONE: Student must sign and submit a Release of Liability form.
Step TWO: Faculty Internship Coordinator must obtain and/or verify that there is a signed CSUSB Learning Site Agreement from the host employer.
Step THREE: Student must meet with the host supervisor to establish key goals and objectives for the internship.
Step FOUR: Faculty Internship Coordinator will circulate forms for enrollment.
Earning Internship Credit
Students seeking enrollment in an internship course must meet the following requirements by the end of the term to earn Credit (CR):
- Midterm report (typically due 7th week of internship)
- Final report (typically due 14th week of internship)
- Timesheets verifying a minimum 150 hours have been completed (average 10-15 hours per week)
- Internship survey completed at the conclusion of the internship
Midterm and final report guidelines have been established and will be provided by the Faculty Internship Coordinator.
Students enrolled in an internship course will submit all documents via Canvas. Due dates for reports, timesheets, and surveys will be established after the internship begins.
Failure to meet requirements of the internship course will result in a grade of NC (no credit) for the semester. Students needing additional time to complete an internship should contact the Faculty Internship Coordinator to discuss alternatives.