myCSUSM
Internships & Jobs
Building experience through internships and jobs is vital to starting your career! Before applying, make sure to have your application materials ready such as your resume and LinkedIn profile.
It is highly recommended that students attend CSTEM career workshops and events before applying for internships or jobs. STEM-specific internship opportunities are available on the CSTEM Career Readiness & Exploration Teams Channel.
- What are the benefits of completing an internship?
Internships provide a unique opportunity for students to apply their academic knowledge, grow as a professional, and showcase their skills for employers.
Benefits include:- Gain professional experience and transferable skills
- Develop new skills and refine others
- Explore a prospective career path
- Network with professionals in their field, for references, and future job opportunities
- Gain a competitive edge on the job market or for post-baccalaureate studies
- Where can I find internships?
Looking to gain experience in your field? Our campus uses Handshake to post paid, not for credit internships. As a current student, you automatically have an account! Just use your Cougar username and Password to login to Handshake.
STEM-specific internship opportunities are frequently posted on the CSTEM Career Readiness & Exploration Teams Channel.
- How do I know if a specific internship is worth my time?
A quality internship:
- Consists of a part-time or full-time work schedule that includes no more than 20% clerical or administrative duties.
- Provides a clear job/project description for the work experience.
- Orients the student to the organization, its culture, and proposed work assignment(s).
- Helps the student develop and achieve learning outcomes.
- Offers regular feedback to the student intern.
- What about academic internships that provide credit?
Interested in receiving course credit for an internship? Our campus uses CalStateS4 to post academic internships. These internships can be paid or unpaid. In order to utilize this option, you must complete all of the following steps prior to the start of the internship:
1.) Obtain an internship.
2.) Consult with your internship course instructor or department to discuss if the internship is appropriate and meets the objectives related to the internship course. Receive faculty approval from the internship course instructor by obtaining a permission code to utilize the internship for the internship course as well as department approval if attempting to utilize the internship course to meet major requirements.
3.) Enroll in the internship course.
4.) Complete the academic internship process through CalStateS4 including student placement. For further information about this process, please visit Step by Step Internship Guide | Career Center | CSUSM.
If you're a CSTEM student and have questions about this process, please contact the Career Center at internships@csusm.edu.
- How do internship academic courses work?
Current STEM Internship Courses Major Internship Course Course Description Biology BIOL 495: Internship in Biology BIOL 495 Biotechnology BIOT 497: Internship in Biotechnology BIOT 497 Chemistry
Biochemistry
CHEM 495: Internship in Chemistry & Biochemistry CHEM 495 Computer Science
Computer Information Systems
CS 495: Internship in Computer Science CS 495 Software Engineering SE 395: Software Engineering Internships I
SE 495: Software Engineering Internships II
Mathematics MATH 495: Internship in Mathematics
Electrical Engineering
Computer Engineering
UNIV 495C: University-Wide Internships UNIV 495 UNIV 495 information:
- Units earned are applied toward the university’s upper-division unit requirement.
- Every baccalaureate degree (i.e., Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science) requires completion of a minimum of 120 semester units. Some choices of majors will require more than 120 semester units; the descriptions of each major specify how many units are required. Regardless of the major requirements, a student must complete at least forty (40) units of upper-division coursework to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
- Inquire with your department chair or faculty advisor about whether these units can be approved to count toward your major.
For more information, please visit the UNIV 495 website.
- Where can I find full-time and part-time job opportunities?
Our campus uses Handshake to post job opportunities. As a current student, you automatically have an account! Just use your Cougar username and Password to login to Handshake.
Local Job Opportunities
Other STEM national databases: Nature , BioSpace , Science Careers
CSTEM Career Events
CSTEM offers career events that connect students directly with local companies and organizations. Events like Chow On the Deck, employer information sessions, and more provide opportunities to meet employers, explore internships and jobs, and make connections that can lead to your next opportunity. Explore our upcoming events schedule to start connecting!
Are you a CSTEM student looking for internships or job opportunities? Please contact our designated STEM Career & Internship Specialist at bcaso@csusm.edu for further support.