Summer 2023 for-credit internship processes vary based on the students’ program and/or PennWest campus.
The new PennWest process will begin in Fall 2023.

Click each step below to read more
Contact and meet with your Faculty Advisor to discuss:
- Academic Department requirements for an internship
- Possibility of a project-based internship
- Eligibility to intern based on GPA and class year (Junior, Senior, etc.)
Activate your Handshake account to begin searching for internship postings. You can also schedule an appointment with the Career Center in Handshake to discuss internship search strategies, application documents such as resumes/cover letters, and interview preparation.
Read more about the Rutledge Internship Award here to see if you qualify for financial help to cover housing, transportation, food and more!
Interview for and/or communicate with the internship site to secure a position. Get approval of the secured internship job description from your Department Internship Supervisor and Faculty Advisor.
- Login to D2L Brightspace from your My PennWest portal
- Once inside PennWest D2L, click the University Resources menu and choose Discover
- Locate and click Internship Success Seminar
- Click the blue Enroll in Course button
- A confirmation will pop up – click Ok
- Click the blue Open Course button
- The course will also be in the Communities semester in your My Courses widget each time you log in to PennWestD2L.
- Log into your Handshake account.
- Go to the Career Center tab at the top of the page.
- Click Experience and then Request an Experience and complete your application.
View the internship process guide for directions to complete your application
Once your application is approved, the Internship Center will help you register for the course.

Click each step below to read more
Contact and meet with your Faculty Advisor to ask:
- What is the current internship process for my major?
- How will the internship credits fit in my schedule?
- Is there an Faculty Internship Coordinator or Designated Faculty Member in the department with whom I should meet?
Contact and meet with your Department Internship Coordinator/Designated Faculty Member to ask:
- What is the current internship process for my major?
- How many internship credits can/should I take?
- Am I eligible to complete an internship based on my GPA, courses completed, and class year?
- What forms/paperwork are needed and what are the due dates?
- Do you have any internship site suggestions?
Activate your Handshake account to begin searching for internship postings. You can also schedule an appointment with the Career Center in Handshake to discuss internship search strategies, application documents such as resumes/cover letters, and interview preparation.
When you find an internship opportunity in Handshake or elsewhere, review the position with the Internship Coordinator or Designated faculty member for your major before applying to ensure it meets the qualifications.
After discussing positions with the appropriate faculty member, submit applications for internship positions.
Interview for and/or communicate with the internship site to secure a position.
Once an internship is secured, work with your Faculty Advisor and/or department Internship Coordinator to register for the appropriate internship course for academic credit. You must register by the last day to add courses for the semester in which you are completing the internship.

Click each step below to read more
Contact and meet with your Faculty Advisor to ask:
- What is the current internship process for my major?
- How will the internship credits fit in my schedule?
- Is there an Faculty Internship Coordinator or Designated Faculty Member in the department with whom I should meet?
Contact and meet with your Department Internship Coordinator/Designated Faculty Member to ask:
- What is the current internship process for my major?
- How many internship credits can/should I take?
- Am I eligible to complete an internship based on my GPA, courses completed, and class year?
- What forms/paperwork are needed and what are the due dates?
- Do you have any internship site suggestions?
Activate your Handshake account to begin searching for internship postings. You can also schedule an appointment with the Career Center in Handshake to discuss internship search strategies, application documents such as resumes/cover letters, and interview preparation.
When you find an internship opportunity in Handshake or elsewhere, review the position with the Internship Coordinator or Designated faculty member for your major before applying to ensure it meets the qualifications.
After discussing positions with the appropriate faculty member, submit applications for internship positions.
Interview for and/or communicate with the internship site to secure a position.
Once an internship is secured, work with your Faculty Advisor and/or department Internship Coordinator to register for the appropriate internship course for academic credit. You must register by the last day to add courses for the semester in which you are completing the internship.
Click each step above to read more