Frequently Asked Questions

What is an internship?

In short, internships are opportunities for students to acquire work experience in a real-world setting. Mostly, these openings follow clear-cut learning targets as students draw on their knowledge base in an interested field.

Why should we sponsor an internship?

First and foremost, internships exemplify an employers’ commitment to the community while students assist with current initiatives. Second, internships allow employers to identify a robust talent network. Along this same vein, students have been often been recruited to work for their former employers after graduation.

What is the appropriate length of an internship?

Under the Science Internship Program (SIP), internships and their appropriate lengths depend on whether the student applies for academic credit.

Regarding those who receive academic credit, internships should run 12 weeks or more throughout the fall and spring semesters. In the summer semester, however, internships ought to run eight weeks or more.

Concerning those who do not receive academic credit, SIP does not set minimums or maximums in stone.

How many hours per week are appropriate for an internship?

In relation to the fall and spring semesters, students who are studying on a full-time basis cannot work more than 20 hours per week. While on academic breaks, such as the summertime, students can work up to 40 hours per week.

Is funding a requirement for an internship?

With the Science Internship Program (SIP), employers are not required to fund internships. While paid internships attract more students, employers still receive considerable applications with unpaid internships. Over the years, employers have been creative in their efforts to ameliorate the expenses incurred by students, namely uniform stipends or variable payments for gas-related expenses.

What is a service learning experience in comparison to an internship?

According to the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, service-learning experiences integrate community service with instruction and reflection. Generally speaking, students learn more about civic responsibility as they strengthen nearby communities.

To learn more about service learning at CSUMB, check out the Service Learning Institute.

What are the requirements for employers when students receive academic credit with their internship?

The Science Internship Program (SIP) requires the following four items when students receive academic credit with their internship: (1) University-Agency Agreement, (2) Site Visit Form, (3) Liability Waiver, and (4) Learning Agreement.

To learn more about this process, please contact us at science_internships@csumb.edu.

Are employers required to compensate students for an internship?

No, but we strongly recommend that internship sites explore options to compensate student interns in order to help support them in their academic endeavors.