The deadline to apply for internship credit is two weeks before the start of the semester in which you plan to intern.
Step 1: Student meets with Faculty Advisor to discuss the following
- Academic Department requirements for an internship, eligibility based on GPA, academic standing, courses completed, and class year, etc.
- The number of internship credits you should apply for and how they will count towards degree completion
- Approval of the internship position description and learning objectives
- The application process used by that academic department to register an internship for academic credit
Step 2: Complete the internship application in Handshake
- Log in to Handshake at pennwest.joinhandshake.com
- Click on the ‘Career Center’ tab
- Click ‘Experience’ and then ‘Submit an Experience’ to complete your application
Application Tips
- “Experience Type” = Internship Application
- “Term” – Select the term (semester and year) that you are interning
- Review your application to ensure you have entered the correct information, including spelling and punctuation. Check auto-populated fields for accurate information.
- Click ‘Create Experience’ to submit your internship application
About the Application Process
- The internship application approval process can take up to two weeks. Please plan for additional deadlines (scholarships, military funding, etc.)
- Applications are reviewed in the order submitted
- Applications are approved in sequential order by the Faculty Internship Supervisor, Academic Department Chair, Employer Internship Supervisor, and Dean
- The Internship Application Reviewer will communicate with you through Handshake’s Comments and Activity Box. You will receive an email from Handshake each time the reviewer comments on your application. Please ensure these emails are not sent to your clutter or junk folders.
- Once your application is approved, your Academic Department will send you registration instructions.
Hours and Credits
Credits for internship courses generally range from 3-12, subject to program requirements. The number of credits for your internship will be recommended by your academic department and approved by the Dean. Internship credits are earned using the following equation: 37.5 hours of work equals 1 credit. See the chart below for the number of hours you need to work for the number of credits you request. Students can work more hours than they receive credit for but cannot work less.
| Credits | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Required Hours (per semester) | 112.5 | 225 | 337.5 | 450 |
How do I edit my application?
- Go to the Career Center tab on Handshake and click on Experiences
- Click the View Details tab and then click Edit
- After you edit, click Update Experience at the bottom of the page
- You can only update your application when it is in Pending status
What does my internship status mean?
- Pending – Your application was submitted and is pending review by the Internship Center.
- Students can only edit applications in pending status.
- Being Approved – The approval process has started
- Needs Review—The approval process has stopped. Either a reviewer missed the deadline to review and approve an application or declined it.
- Approved – All approvers have approved your application
- Declined – Your application has been declined.
How do I check the status of my application?
Click on the Career Center tab, and then click Experience. The status for each Experience is in the top right corner.
How can I see who has approved my application?
- Click the Career Center tab, and then click Experience
- Click the View Details tab of your Experience and scroll down to the Approvers section
Questions? Contact Us
