Center for Community Engagement

Academic Internship

What distinguishes an Academic Internship?

 An Academic Internship is just what it sounds like: any internship that provides academic credit for the work that a student does while working with a partner site. They provide experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and professional development in a workforce setting.

For-credit internships (paid or unpaid) programs offer partners the talents and energy of students and strengthens the link between the University and the global community.

Haley Smolinski interned with the Kellogg Corporation in Battle Creek and learned about making Pop Tarts and Corn Flakes.

STEPS TO INITIATE YOUR ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP:

Students should work with an academic and/or career advisor to secure internships related to a specific major or career objectives.

1. Contact your department’s faculty internship advisor/supervisor to develop an internship learning plan and identify organizations meeting internship requirements.

2. Enroll in an internship course with instructor/department and site company approval. Check with your department’s internship instructor regarding how many units can be received for the internship.

3. Before the semester begins, please check the list of approved sites in BroncoSERV. If your internship site/organization does not show as active in BroncoSERV, please provide your internship site supervisor with this link to Request to Initiate Partnership – Academic Internship. This form is for new internship partners and must be completed by the organization providing the internship. Center for Community Engagement will review the submission and contact the site supervisor regarding an agreement with Cal Poly Pomona. Please note the review process at the beginning of each semester may take 2-3 weeks due to high volumes of activity.

4. Once the term of the academic internship course you have enrolled in begins, you will be asked to complete the following forms and releases (see below) before you can proceed with your internship. Log into your BroncoSERV account to access the forms within your enrolled course.

5. Please confirm with your instructor or course syllabus on how timesheet will be submitted. Note that your instructor or placement site may have their own timesheet. View downloadable timesheet.