The process of confirming and approving internships begins with the faculty advisor and the student. The faculty advisor plays a crucial role in guiding the student through the following steps:

  1. Pre-Confirmation Checks: Ensure the student meets all prerequisites, including program and course-specific requirements (minimum 60 credits, minimum 2.0 GPA).

  2. Internship Prep Course: Verify if the student has completed a one-credit internship prep course, typically taken in the 4th or 5th semester

  3. Internship Agreement Preparation: Assist the student in preparing their internship agreement through an online process.

  4. Internship Plan and Application: Help the student in developing their online internship plan. Assist the student in completing the online internship application process, which includes submitting a agreement that outlines and guides the student's internship experience. 

  5. Aligning Academic Expectations: Clearly articulate academic expectations and how they align with the eight NACE competencies and the Greater Allegheny campus internship career readiness learning objectives.

  6. Understanding the Internship: Identify roles and expectations for each member of the student intern's learning network, which includes faculty, host site supervisor, campus internship coordinator, and the student-intern. Ensure that all members of the learning network comprehend the experiential and educational facets of the internship and how they interconnect.

Faculty, Instructor and Advisor Guidelines for Internships:

  • Academic internships involve a partnership among Penn State Greater Allegheny, the employer or host site, and the student. These internships focus on meaningful, professional projects relevant to the host site. They are distinct from regular employment or existing jobs.

  • Assigned tasks and responsibilities should allow students to draw upon, apply, and expand the knowledge/skills they are developing in their coursework.

  • Interns typically work a minimum of 40 hours on-site per academic credit and usually for at least eight weeks, equivalent to 120 hours for three credits (3cr.).

  • Academic credit is granted based on the successful completion of assignments that demonstrate discipline-based knowledge and skills connected to the internship experience.