About Internships

We have all heard of internships, but many people do not realize the extent to which internships can accelerate their career development. You can break into almost any field, in any industry, by just doing an internship or two. Do three and you will really stand out!

How can I earn academic credit?

Requirements:

• Have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
• Complete a minimum of 28 credits prior to enrolling.

Steps to Take: 

1. Get an internship that is related to your major, has educational benefit, and serves as genuine work experience. See below for strategies that help with finding an internship. Faculty will need to approve internships, some departments require that you meet with faculty prior to completing the form.
2. Complete the Cooperative Education Agreement Form Note: Before you complete this form you will need to know the name and email address for the following: Employer Supervisor and Sponsoring Faculty. The Sponsoring Faculty will enter the Department Chair information for you.
   If you are not sure who to list, please contact your faculty advisor or check the internship guidelines for your major.
   
   Communication & Marketing Communication Majors: Communication Internship Guidelines
   * For communication internships, the sponsoring faculty will be the instructor of the COMM 492 class the student registers for.
   Criminology and Criminal Justice Majors: Criminology and Criminal Justice Internship Guidelines
   Languages and Cultures Majors/Minors: Languages and Cultures Internship Guidelines
   Multimedia Majors: Multimedia Internship Guidelines
   MS-IT Students: MS-IT internship policies and procedures 

   (MS-IT contact the program director with ?'s)
   School of Management (Undergrad) Majors:SOM/TUG Internship Guidelines

   Order of Signers: Student Signs → Employer/Supervisor Signs → Sponsoring Faculty Signs  → Dept. Chair Signs ( may sometimes also be the Sponsoring Faculty)  → Registrar for Credit

You will receive an email each time someone signs off on the form. Once all signatures have been obtained you will automatically be registered for the course and it will show up on blackboard within a couple of days.
* Please note the process is not complete until the student receives notification they are registered in an internship course or they see the internship course on their schedule.

If you have questions, please email Cynthia Smith at csmith@CalLutheran.edu. Students can also access their pending form to update contact information and send reminders in MyCLU under Tools and Pending Dynamic Forms. 

DEADLINE: Approved internship forms must be submitted no later than 2 weeks after the last day to add a class, pending approval of the sponsoring faculty and Department Chair.  See the academic calendar for exact date each semester. 
The Registrar will then complete your internship credit registration and process your units. 
The course grade is P/NP only, and is based on job performance and evidence of learning.

If you missed the deadline or need to petition to add the internship for any reason, you will need to complete the General Purpose Petition Form (Undergraduate). Return to the Registrar's office, petition review meetings are scheduled every 2 weeks. If your petition is approved there will also be a late fee to add the class.

EMPLOYERS: Please read the following Cooperative Education Program Requirements Handout prior to signing the form.

Common issues to be aware of: 
1. The form is tied to the email address that the student provided when completing the form. So when creating an account in dynamic forms, please use the email address where you received the email so that you are able to access the form.
2. The email will be coming from Cynthia Smith, csmith@CalLutheran.edu If you're not seeing it in your inbox make sure to check your spam folder or email Cynthia for assistance.
3.  This is a dynamic form, so rather than clicking on the PDF or HTML link in your pending forms if you scroll to the very far right you will see a box that says "Action." It will give you a drop down menu where you can choose to "Complete Form." Once your section is complete, it will take you to a page where you can electronically sign the form.

Credits:

• The amount of credit for each course is determined by your Sponsoring Faculty and may vary by department.
• Credit for each course is determined by the instructor and department chair. Normally, five hours of on-site work per week is required for each semester credit (except for summer), and the related activities and evaluation are proportionate to the credit granted. This may include some formal class time, meetings with the instructor, and related reflective activities (ie: written report/journal) . The course grade (Pass/No Credit only) is determined by the instructor. Students must be in good academic standing.
• Students in the traditional undergraduate program may receive a maximum of 4 credits per semester (including summer). A maximum of 8 credits total may be earned through internships.  Hours and credits earned are approved by faculty. Please direct questions to the faculty sponsor that signed your Cooperative Education Agreement form. Bachelor's Degree for Professionals students may receive a maximum of 2 credits per term and may take a total of no more than eight (8) credits in internships.
• Some students need credit because their major requires it or because they are short 1-3 units. Credit does cost students in units so some will not want credit but instead do their internship for resume and skill building. It is also a great way to learn more about the world of work and a particular industry or field.

What are the benefits?

• Learning: Internships supplement students' academic foundations by providing hands-on learning.
• Practical training: Many internships offer practical training & experience that is needed for entry into the field.
• Career exploration: Students who obtain first-hand knowledge through an internship have more experience to help inform their career decisions.
• Social skill development: Emotional intelligence, active listening, and interpersonal skills are desired by organizations for success in today's workplace.
• Exposure to the world of work: Students who complete internships have a more realistic outlook on work.
• Career development: Internships stand out as key resume builders, provide great experience to help answer future interview questions, and broaden students' networks.

Will I get paid?

Most people think internships are unpaid and some are. But it really depends on the industry and job market. Many internships actually pay $18–20 per hour, however, some very competitive industries do not pay because they don't have to. Sometimes even more valuable than pay--internships give you the skills, knowledge, and contacts you will need to break into any field.  Internships typically last 1-2 semesters but some last longer.

How do I find an internship?

There are a few ways. Our first recommended step is to create an account on CLUpostings.com and set up a daily email agent to receive emails on internships in your fields of choice. Career Services also stores a list of many other job & internship posting sites, Once you find postings that you are interested in, apply! You can upload your resume and cover letter to CLUpostings.com for a review within 48 hours M-F.

Internships can also be found by taking a more proactive approach.  Decide where you might want to work and check their website or call the employer's main line to ask for their internship coordinator. If they do not have one, ask for the Director in a department that you want to work for. You may also want to ask anyone you know such as friends, family, and faculty what contacts they have related to your interests. Check out the Proactive Job Search Scripts document in the CLUpostings.com Document Library for a suggested phone/email scripts!

4A Cause Non-Profit Internship Program:

The “4A Cause” Experiential Learning Internship Program gives students the opportunity to work with a nonprofit organization that they feel passionate about helping. The program is offered every Fall Semester and applicants are matched directly to employers within their scope of interest. To learn more, click here.

How do I make the most of my internship?

By being a sponge for everything you encounter or are exposed to in your new position. Treat it like a full-time job! Learn as much as you possibly can and ask questions. Interview people on their lunch hours within the organization, or meet for coffee. Try to make friends, they make great future contacts! And lastly, ask for extra projects and tasks to do when you are caught up. This will lead to possible full-time employment and/or great references for the future.

NOTE: Campus Work Study Jobs can be great, if you do not have a car and they can look just as good on your resume Learn more here

How can I find out more about internships?

First, develop a basic resume so that you can meet with a Career Counselor to discuss your career goals. If you need samples, check out the Document Library in CLUpostings.com or contact Career Services.

What if I am an international student?

International students are allowed to do internships as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) in all of our undergraduate programs and most of our graduate programs. Internships can be paid or unpaid, but you MUST earn academic credit and have official authorization from immigration in order to work. Make sure to review the information on the Office of International Students and Scholars website to get approval before doing an internship.

International MBA Students: MBA’s can do an internship but have to receive academic credit, and must do it only for a Capstone Project at the end of their program once all courses are done. Domestic MBA’s can do internships at ANY time, but if they want credit it has to be as a Capstone Project. Must have a 3.5 GPA to receive credit for internshipsMake sure to review the MBA Internship Policies and Proceduresfor more details.