Internship Frequently Asked Questions
What is an internship?
An internship is a self-initiated, supervised work experience with appropriate private organizations, businesses, or government agencies that promotes interaction with practicing professionals.
What is the purpose of an internship?
An internship enhances the professional preparation of students by providing:
- The opportunity for students to work in their field of interest and network with community organizations and professionals;
- A learning environment where students apply knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom setting;
- Skills and experiences necessary for students to enter professional positions or graduate programs.
Is an internship experience paid?
There are a few paid internships available. Other students identify paid experiences within the community that are appropriate for their degree program and internship experience. Some students are able to arrange an internship experience at their workplace by identifying new responsibilities or additional projects. Internships must meet the standard of enhancing student learning and career development. Sometimes the most valuable internship experience is unpaid.
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Who is the internship coordinator?
Jane Lanigan, Assistant Professor
Washington State University Vancouver
14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue
Education/Human Development Building, Room 225
Vancouver, WA 98686
(360) 546-9715
(360) 546-9076 FAX
lanigan@vancouver.wsu.edu
How do I set up an internship?
- Meet with your advisor to determine whether a Human Development internship is appropriate at this point in your academic development and fits in your degree plan. Each student has different needs, so don't depend on classmates for answers.
- Pick up an HD Internship application from your advisor or the HD student files. Applications are located in the HD 498 class folder.
- During internship advising, go to the HD bulletin board to sign up for an appointment with the internship coordinator, Jane Lanigan. If you are initiating the process outside of the designated internship advising period, send an email to make an appointment.
- Prior to your scheduled appointment, complete a draft of your resume and the internship application. The application includes student information and a background check. Start thinking about prospective internship sites and exploring your options.
- Bring to your advising appointment your completed internship application and your draft resume and be prepared to discuss your goals for internship. You will be added to Blackboard. This provides access to all internship documents and allows the internship coordinator to send notices of internship opportunities to you via email.
- After your advising appointment, contact prospective internship sites to arrange interviews. Once you make your final selection, complete the site selection reflection entry for your portfolio.
- Submit your site selection reflection to the HD internship coordinator. You will be given the Schedule Line Number (SLN) to register on METRO . Internship has a controlled registration. This means you cannot be locked out of the course.
- This process must be completed before the tenth day of classes. Students that have not made final internship arrangements by the tenth day will have to enroll the following semester.
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How do I know where to look for internships?
You may already have an idea, or you can review the list of cooperating sites and identify sites that seem appropriate for pursuing your goals. You can learn more about possible placement sites by talking with other students, the internship coordinator, and your advisor. Once you have narrowed down some choices, it would be appropriate to call the sites you are interested in and ask questions about their program and possible roles and opportunities for interns. A list of some of our internship partners is included on our web site. A clipboard listing internship opportunities is located to the left of the Human Development bulletin board just outside of EHD 203 on the second floor of the Education/Human Development Building. A binder of internship opportunities is kept in the internship coordinator's office.
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What paperwork must be completed to set up an internship?
Students can obtain the internship application form from their advisor or the HD course file. All other forms needed are available on Blackboard. Interns are required to submit the liability form, the participation agreement, and a learning agreement. Interns must meet with their site supervisor to complete the site and learning agreement. These forms require the signature of the intern, site supervisor and the internship coordinator.
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What is a portfolio contract and when do I do it?
Once you have identified your internship site and completed the initial participation and learning agreement paperwork, you will schedule an appointment with the internship coordinator to complete your portfolio contract. This document specifies the semester requirements for successful completion of the internship experience. The portfolio contract allows the internship experience to be individualized to meet student, course, and site needs. The portfolio contract will outline semester requirements including:
- The number of hours needed for completion (each credit hour requires 45 hours of internship engagement)
- Due dates for monthly reports and time logs
- Reflection and other written assignments
- Semester deadlines for submitting papers and portfolio presentation (if appropriate)
- The internship coordinator will arrange for an evaluation form to be mailed to your supervisor. The supervisor will mail it back directly to the internship coordinator's office.
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How is HD 498 graded?
Internship will receive a letter grade. Assignments and requirements specified in the portfolio contract will receive a letter grade. Students receive a final internship grade upon completion of three or more internship credits.
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What if I can't complete my internship hours?
- It may be possible to reduce the number of internship credits you are enrolled for depending on the point in the semester.
- Contact the internship coordinator and request an incomplete. The incomplete must be completed within one year.