‎Academic Internship Policies

Internship Pay Structure Policies

Students may earn academic credit through either a paid or unpaid internship. All  internship compensation arrangements must comply with applicable federal and state labor laws and University requirements.

• Unpaid or Stipend Paid Internships
  To qualify as unpaid, an internship must meet the criteria established under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which ensures the experience is primarily educational. Unpaid and stipend-paid internships also require a University Community Partnership Agreement, as workers' compensation is not provided.
• W2 Paid Internships
  Paid internships require students to be hired as W-2 employees, earn at least the applicable minimum wage, and be covered by the employer's workers' compensation and liability insurance.

Things to Consider When Looking
for an Academic Internship

• Hour Requirements
  Internships must meet the hour requirement for the course, roughly 90-120 hours for a 3 unit course 
• Clerical and Office Duties
  Clerical and routine office duties should be kept to a minimum (less than 20%).
• 1:1 Work with Minors
  If the intern is not considered a W-2 employee, students cannot work 1:1 with minors without proper supervision.
• Cannabis
  Internships associated in any way with cannabis, smoking, or vaping, or internship activities that violate campus policy or federal law will not be approved.
• Transporting Clients
  Students may not transport clients/consumers of their field internship agency at any time for any reason. 
• Home-Based Businesses
  Home-based businesses may be approved once required criteria are met. 
  Furthermore, a site visit may be required but does not guarantee approval.
• Door-To-Door and Direct Sales
  Students are not permitted to participate in door-to-door sales, telemarketing, canvassing, or cold calling of any kind.
• Internship at Current Place of Employment
  Students wishing to use their job as their internship experience must seek pre-approval from their course instructor to ensure that the experience is above and beyond the student’s regular work duties. 
• Interning for Faculty Supervisor
  To avoid a conflict of interest, students are not permitted to intern at businesses in which their current faculty supervisor has an ownership stake, nor may a faculty member be both a site supervisor and a faculty supervisor.
• Interning for Family
  To avoid a conflict of interest, students are not permitted to intern in family owned businesses (in other words, if a member of their own family owns the business) or to be supervised by an immediate member of the family (i.e., father, mother, sibling).
• Retroactive Internships
  Internships cannot be approved retroactively. 

Additional Topics and Resources

• International Internships
  International Students or Domestic Students in an International Experience should consult with the Office of Global Education for work authorization. Please also contact our office at internships@csusm.edu at least 6 months in advance of the internship experience to start the process of onboarding an international internship site.  *Note: Dependent on agreement of terms, not all sites may be approved. 
• Reasonable Accommodations
  Students who need reasonable accommodations for their internship should contact the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS). 
• Background Checks
  Background checks are the responsibility of the student if required by the site. CSUSM UPD can provide LiveScan service to students for a fee.
• Tuberculosis (TB) Test
  TB tests are the responsibility of the student if required by the site. SHCS provides TB tests for a fee; call 760-750-4915 to schedule an appointment.