CGS - College of General Studies - University of Pittsburgh

College of General Studies

Internship Checklist

Steps in Securing an Internship

1. Find an internship
Discuss the internship with your advisor to determine how it will fit into your program. Then begin your search by meeting with either: the ADMJ and LEGLST Internship Coordinator, the Public Service Internship Coordinator, or the CGS 1900 Internship Coordinator. The College of General Studies Career Counselor can also help you prepare your resume, cover letter, and interviewing skills.

These Web sites can jump-start your search process:
- Career Services
- Regional Internship Center of Southwestern PA
- InternWeb 
- Internships.com
- Career Development Office
- Student Employment and Placement Assistance

2. Verify the internship site
Contact the internship coordinator to verify that the internship will take place at an approved site.

3. Research the site
Prepare any questions you may have about hours, responsibilities, dress code, and clearances. Check to see if you will need to provide a resume, academic transcripts, and/or references.

4. Interview at the site
Contact the site supervisor for an interview. Discuss the hours, duties, and responsibilities required. Let the interviewer know if you are considering more than one site; the interviewer may be considering more than one student for the position.

5. Follow up
Send a thank-you letter after the meeting.

6. Complete the agreement form
After accepting the internship:

- Students in CGS 1900 should complete the CGS Internship Agreement Form with the site supervisor.

- Students in ADMJ or LEGLST 1900 should complete the Internship Agreement Form for LEGLST and ADMJ with the site supervisor.

- Students in PUBSRV 1900 should complete the Public Service Agreement Form.

Once complete, submit it to your internship coordinator for approval.

7. Register for the internship
When the internship has been approved, register for it with the approved number of credits.

8. Complete the course requirements
- ADMJ and LEGLST 1900 students keep a journal of their experiences and impressions. Upon the completion of the internship, they submit a paper that tells about their internship site, their duties as an intern, and what they feel they have learned through the experience to the coordinator. The coordinator sends an Intern Evaluation Form to the site supervisor for completion. A comprehensive paper and a satisfactory evaluation are required for an S grade.

- CGS 1900 students work closely with the course instructor who represents the College of General Studies Dean's Office. The student completes an Academic Learning Agreement with their site supervisor, attends three Saturday class meetings, completes three online assignments, and participates in the class online discussion board. The student submits a final report at the end of the term and has the site supervisor submit an evalution.

- PUBSRV 1900 students keep a journal, attend class meetings, and share their own internship experiences. Grading is based on the work submitted and classroom participation.