• What is an internship?
• How does internship differ from co-op?
• Why pursue an internship?
• How many credits may be earned in internship and cooperative education?
• How many hours per week are required?
• What are the eligibility requirements for internship?
• What are the intern’s responsibilities?
• How are internship sites found?

Industrial internship combines the student's academic, technical and management preparation with actual on-the-job experiences in industrial enterprises. Industrial internships have a significant management component in that students are required to engage in management-related activities such as planning, organizing, directing, and controlling at the workplace. The student, the employer, and the Department of Industry and Technology faculty work cooperatively to assure the internship experience achieves the best possible learning value.

Cooperative Education (co-op) experiences allow students to earn college credit for work experience in their major or career area. Credit for Cooperative Education is applied to the Free Electives block in the student’s curriculum requirements in the B.S. degree and the Technical Option block in the A.T. degree.

Industrial Internships are management-oriented work experiences related to the student’s major or career area. Credit for Internship is applied to the Elective Courses in Management block in the B.S. curriculum. There is no provision for internship in the A.T. degree.

Industrial internship serves three primary functions:

1. To provide students with an opportunity to observe and actively participate in industry by applying principles learned in courses.
2. To give students deeper insight into the courses they will take after their internship experience.
3. To establish evidence of the students' preparation for employment in an industrial enterprise.

A total of 12 credits of work experience may be applied towards graduation requirements at Millersville University. For the B.S. degree a maximum of 6 internship credits may be applied to the Elective Courses in Management requirements. The remaining 6 credits may be applied to the Free Electives requirements and can be Cooperative Education experiences. Cooperative Education cannot be used to satisfy Elective Courses in Management; only approved internship credits may be applied to this block. For the A.T. degree, a maximum of 3 credits of Co-op may be applied to the Technical Option requirements.

To earn three (3) semester hours of credit, a student must be employed by an approved employer for a minimum of 225 hours. For six (6) semester hours of credit, an approved employer must employ a student for a minimum 450 hours.

In order to earn six (6) internship credits, there must be evidence that the student will be advancing in job related responsibilities. In other words, performing the same duties for 450 hours will not justify earning additional credits.

To be eligible for an internship, the student must meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Junior or senior Industrial Technology B.S. major.
2. Have a minimum 2.0 QPA.
3. Completed a minimum of six (6) hours of Management Core required courses prior to commencing internship employment

The employer, in consultation with the appropriate department faculty, determines job-related duties. Other responsibilities are determined by the student’s faculty supervisor and generally include completion of a portfolio and daily log. The faculty supervisor will maintain contact with the intern during the semester to assess the student intern’s performance.

Internships are found by researching listings in the CAP office, postings on the bulletin board in Osburn Hall, speaking with your advisor and professors, and by sending a resume with cover letter requesting consideration for an internship to local industries. On occasion, internship notices are distributed by email to all ITEC majors as they become available.

Determine your eligibility (see above).

1. Discuss your plans with your advisor to ensure that internship credit can be applied to your major requirements.
2. Complete the Request for Co-op/Internship Assignment form available in the Office of Community and Academic Partnerships (CAP) located in Lyle Hall.
3. Return the completed Request for Co-op/Internship Assignment form to the Industrial Technology Program Coordinator for approval and obtain a copy of Internship Management Duties.
4. Obtain a job description from the employer detailing the tasks you will perform paying specific attention to management duties.
5. Have the Industrial Technology Program Coordinator pre-approve the internship.
6. Return to the CAP office and complete the requisite paperwork for internship assignment. This paperwork will serve as your registration for the experience; you do not register using the MAX system.