Finding an Internship

Steps To Finding An Internship

• Talk to an adviser or visit Career Services (www.sa.psu.edu/career. ) about your career interests and to obtain help in narrowing your career focus.
• Pick up a copy of the internship planning guide from the advising offices (315, 316 or 317 Oswald Tower) or click on the appropriate link below for an on-line version.

SOC internship planning guide
CRIM internship planning guide

• Begin your search for an internship. Pick up departmental listing of agencies with their contact information available in outside 316 Oswald Tower. Don’t limit yourself to that list!  Check agency web pages or contact them directly to find out if they accept interns, and if so, how to apply for an internship with their organization.
• Develop a taylored résumé and cover letter.  Career Services and/or the advisers can assist you with résumé and cover letter preparation. Sample résumés and cover letters are also provided in the internship planning guide.

To learn more about potential sites, you can also read through intern newsletters which contain information about a typical day of work and what the student learned from their internship.

Receiving Academic Credit

Decide if you are going to complete the internship for academic credit. The number of credits you can receive for completing an internship varies depending upon the number of hours and assignments you complete during your internship. If you decide to receive credit, contact the internship coordinator at cab408@psu.edu.

You must pay for internship credits, as you would any other course credits.  So, if you can't find a paid internship, how many hours a week can you devote to an unpaid internship? Try to get a foot in the door at a place you do want to work, through volunteering, temporary employment, etc. The important thing is to get some experience and make contacts.  If you complete the internship for course credit, the College of the Liberal Arts may have funds available to assist with your internship expenses.  Visit their Enrichment Funds page for more information.