Internships
Juniors, seniors, and graduate students are encouraged to seek internships. CSUSB and the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences provide excellent resources for researching internship opportunities. Students are encouraged to complete multiple internships while completing a Bachelor's or Master's degree. Internships provide an opportunity to earn elective credit while gaining real world work experience. It allows students to utilize the skills, knowledge and theoretical practice they have learned from their university courses providing the student with a competitive edge after they graduate.
What is an internship?
An internship is:
- A supervised work experience that is designed to provide structured learning opportunities Generally, minimum of one semester; however, can be project based
- May be paid or unpaid
- May offer academic credit upon completion
What is the Difference between a Job and an Internship?
A job:
- Is non- industry focused and may be outside of field of study
- May be a long tern opportunity or seasonal work
- Provides payment through an hourly rate or salary
- Requires a range of qualifications/skills depending upon the type of employment
An internship:
- Is related to the student’s field of study
- Provides an experience that is an extension of the classroom; allows for applying knowledge gained in the classroom
- May be paid or unpaid
- Provides on-the-job training & an opportunity to learn additional skills
- Provides learning of skills and knowledge that are transferable to other employment settings
- Is designed to meet specific learning objectives related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework
- Offers supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience
- Provides routine feedback from the experienced supervisor
- May be required to graduate
- May be supplemented with additional academic assignments
- Has a defined beginning and end date
- Allows for the creation of a network
What are the benefits of Interning?
Internships provide the following opportunities:
- Career Development: Provides insight and exploration into career paths and specialization within a chosen field.
- Professional Skills: Allows an opportunity to observe and apply classroom knowledge in a working environment. In observation, allows the learning of new skills and improvement of current skills such as communication, leadership, problem solving and teamwork.
- Industry Knowledge: Expands knowledge regarding the industry, workplace culture, customers, vendors, organizational structure, and products/services.
- Personal Skills: Provides an opportunity to interact with organizational leaders, and work in a diverse environment gaining critical skills. Examples include dependability, self-awareness, adaptability, motivation, problem-solving, business etiquette, and analytical skills.
- Increase Marketability: Provides experience in the field in which you want to pursue. Provides an edge over other candidates when applying for jobs, increasing confidence in work ability.
- Gain Professional Feedback: Allows for feedback from someone in the desired field daily.
- Professional Network: Build a network and connect with people working in your chosen career field.