The IST Internship Process Overview
An internship is career-related professional work experience that enhances your education by giving you experience applying your knowledge and skills in the workplace. The advantages of taking an internship are endless. Internships serve as stepping stones for your future.
Internships can be part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid, credit-earning or noncredit-earning. Students usually schedule internships for one semester or during the summer.
As a College of IST student, you must take at least one internship, with a minimum 300 hours of career-related work experience, to meet degree requirements. You may earn academic credit toward your degree with each IST internship you complete. If you are enrolled in an IST bachelor's-degree program, you may participate in as many as three internships. This means you can gain the equivalent of a full year of career-related experience by the time you graduate.
Steps to an Internship
Step One: Find an Internship
Approved Internships obtained through Compass or the Penn State Career Days do not need prior approval. Internships found on your own need to be approved by the College of IST Career Solutions office. Send an e-mail to the IST Internship Coordinator (Careers
ist.psu.edu) indicating the name of the company, contact, location, and a brief description of the duties involved in the internship. Remember that the IT work experience must be a minimum of 300 hours to be eligible for internship credit.
Step Three: Register for Internship Credit
Once your internship is approved, you can register your internship for credit by sending an e-mail to the IST Internship Program Coordinator. The internship coordinator is the only person who can register you for IST 495; please remember to register for IST 495 the same semester you start the internship!
Please remember that IST 495 is a one-credit internship course; therefore, tuition charges and associated fees apply. Rates for tuition, information technology fees, and activity fees can be accessed using the Tuition Cost Calculator.
Step Four: Complete the Requirements for the Grade
During the course of the internship, you and your supervisor will complete online evaluation forms. See "Internship (IST 495) Grade Requirements" for a complete list of requirements and their corresponding due dates by semester.
- Use the Internship Office resources to register on the Compass job posting system for viewing and applying to IST-specific internship postings. (Log in to Compass to begin your registration.)
- Network with family and friends or faculty contacts to find a position on your own.
- Attend Penn State's Career Days (fall and spring) to find internship opportunities.
Approved Internships obtained through Compass or the Penn State Career Days do not need prior approval. Internships found on your own need to be approved by the College of IST Career Solutions office. Send an e-mail to the IST Internship Coordinator (Careers
ist.psu.edu) indicating the name of the company, contact, location, and a brief description of the duties involved in the internship. Remember that the IT work experience must be a minimum of 300 hours to be eligible for internship credit.Step Three: Register for Internship Credit
Once your internship is approved, you can register your internship for credit by sending an e-mail to the IST Internship Program Coordinator. The internship coordinator is the only person who can register you for IST 495; please remember to register for IST 495 the same semester you start the internship!
Please remember that IST 495 is a one-credit internship course; therefore, tuition charges and associated fees apply. Rates for tuition, information technology fees, and activity fees can be accessed using the Tuition Cost Calculator.
Step Four: Complete the Requirements for the Grade
During the course of the internship, you and your supervisor will complete online evaluation forms. See "Internship (IST 495) Grade Requirements" for a complete list of requirements and their corresponding due dates by semester.
