- Reaching out to community partners to provide resources for creating virtual opportunities.
- Collaborating with faculty to provide digital tools and best practices for online learning.
- Tag remote opportunities for easier search in the database.
How is the CSUSM Career Center responding to COVID-19?
Due to COVID-19, how can I ensure sites are following safety regulations?
We are working with partners to inform them all in person opportunities must abide by local, county, and federal COVID-19 public health guidelines. As always, continue practicing guidelines that include social distancing measures, wearing masks, washing your hands frequently, and contacting your site supervisor if you feel sick.
Will there be any new requirements based on COVID-19 for the students on the amount of hours?
Faculty determine the number of hours, alternate assignments, etc. Please speak to your course faculty for course specifics in regard to hours, assignments, learning outcomes, etc.
Due to COVID-19 are there any new guidelines that need to be followed?
Please see the following COVID-19 Guidelines for Students. If you have any questions regarding the new guidelines please email our offfice: internships@csusm.edu.
For additional information about COVID-19 and our CSUSM campus please see CSUSM Incident Response Status.
I have a question regarding course enrollment?
Can I begin my internship hours before the course begins?
How many hours am I required to complete for my internship?
How do I find an internship opportunity during COVID-19?
What is a virtual ( remote ) opportunity?
An internship that does not require you to be in a specific physical location. The duties and task assigned to you can be completed online or from a virtual location.
For more information about how to search for a virtual ( remote ) opportunity check out our Internship Information Session.
Am I allowed to complete an in-person internship opportunity?
The safety or our students and community remain a top priority. We strongly recommend that students search for and chose virtual internships, when at all possible. If an in-person internship is necessary to complete required hours, CSUSM students may participate in on-site internships activities in the State of California provided the student and the organization follow current Federal, State, and County public health guidelines effective May 19, 2020.
I’m planning on taking an internship course, how do I start and where can I find one?
If you are planning on taking an internship course, log on to the Internships database to view over 1,000 CSUSM approved internship sites. Handshake will also offer listings to non-credit internships. Refer to the CSUSM Intern Handbook for more information.
Keep in mind that getting an internship takes advanced preparation. Consider the following questions while searching for an internship:
You can also seek out additional resources by:
For additional information about securing an internship, see the credit and non-credit internship sections on our website.
When should I apply for an internship?
The application timeframe is largely based on the organization type. Government agencies and larger companies typically recruit students 6 months up to a year prior to the internship start date. Some businesses and non-profit organization will recruit several weeks prior to the internship start date. For exact deadlines, research organizations you are considering applying to in the future.
Can I get credit for a past internship I've completed?
Is it okay to intern for a family member?
Can I complete my hours at my current workplace?
The Career Center will allow internship hours to be completed at a student’s current workplace under the following circumstances: 1) students must obtain approval from the course instructor regarding the appropriateness of the work for the discipline; 2) the nature of the work must be professional, with no more than 20% clerical and/or routine duties; 3) the work must be related to the chosen career.
Are there any international internship opportunities?
How do I use the database?
The database is helpful to find businesses, non-profits, and government agencies that are approved internship sites. To use the database, log in with your CSUSM credentials. For additional assistance, refer to the Internship Placement Presentation (log in as username@csusm.edu) on the CSUSM Career Center website.
Helpful Tips:
How do I select a site/opportunity in the database?
Can I select more than one site to complete my internship hours?
My internship site is not in the database, how do I add them?
What happens if my site doesn't sign the agreement?
A University Community Partnership Agreement is important because it establishes guidelines and policies for a quality internship experience*. If we do not hear back from your site or if they refuse to sign the agreement, you may still proceed with your internship with the following steps:
How do I modify my placement?
I recently enrolled in my class, why don't I see it in the database?
I am a veteran student, what resources are available for me?
I am an international student, what resources are available for me?
I am an AB540 student, what resources are available for me?
I am an LGBTQA student, what resources are available for me?
*The CSUSM University Community Partnership Agreement requires all parties to follow all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including but not limited to laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment. If you feel you have been discriminated, harassed, or have a non-emergency safety concern at an internship site, contact the Interim Director of the Career Center, Gregg Simmons (gsimmons@csusm.edu), immediately.