Internship Registration

College of IST students have access to various internship and job search resources. Previous interns have successfully found opportunities by:

• Searching Nittany Lion Careers, where employers post internships and full-time jobs for Penn State students.
• Using job posting sites and LinkedIn’s job search and alumni engagement tools.
• Networking with local businesses, family, and friends.
• Connecting with IST faculty for potential opportunities.
• Searching Penn State’s job site.
• Reviewing where other IST students have completed internships and exploring opportunities from those companies.

A position needs to meet the internship criteria and receive approval from the Office of Career Solutions and Corporate Engagement to qualify for credit; it does not need to be called an internship.

Once you've secured an internship, you must get it approved and complete the IST 495 course to fulfill the internship requirement.

To request approval, email careers@ist.psu.edu with the following details:

• Company name and internship title
• Brief description of your responsibilities as they relate to your major
• Start and end dates
• Weekly hours and total hours over one or two consecutive semesters
• Semester in which you will complete the required hours

You will receive an email confirming approval or requesting any additional information.

Once your internship is reviewed and approved, the Office of Career Solutions and Corporate Engagement will email you an application link to register for IST 495.

Next Steps

1. Complete the application. An email will be sent to your supervisor for employer verification. Be sure to review any required enrollment verifications or affiliation agreements with your employer.
2. Employer verification. Once your supervisor confirms your internship, the Office of Career Solutions and Corporate Engagement will register you for IST 495 (you cannot self-register in LionPATH).
3. Receive confirmation. You'll get an email confirming your registration with links to your online evaluations. Keep this for your records.
4. Complete course deliverables. Found in Canvas, these include:
   • Online discussions
   • Professional development modules
   • Final internship reflection

Deliverables must be completed on time to earn credit. If needed, request a grade deferral before the semester ends. If completing your internship over two consecutive semesters, final deliverables are due before the last day of the second semester.

Important Notes:

• Check the University Bulletin for semester credit limits.
• IST 495 is a one-credit course, but you must be registered and pay tuition/fees while completing the internship. See the Tuition and Fees Schedule for details.
• Due to the 240-hour experiential requirement, IST 495 is considered a 12-credit course, limiting students to 12 total credits during the internship. For Credit Limit Exemptions, visit the Undergraduate Education website.

To successfully complete IST 495, you must:

• Work at least 240 hours within the allotted semester(s).
• Complete all course requirements in Canvas with a minimum average score of 70%.
  • If you earn above 70% but do not meet the hourly requirement, credit will not be granted.

Additional Notes

• Military students needing a letter grade for the Army grading portal should review how internships are graded.
• Keep track of your deliverables and online evaluations. If you lose the email with these details, contact careers@ist.psu.edu.
• Evaluation links must come directly from the Office of Career Solutions and Corporate Engagement and are tied to your Penn State Access ID and IST 495 application.