Guidelines for Hosting a Penn State Scranton Intern

Penn State Scranton regards properly coordinated and supervised internships as an important part of a student’s education, deserving of academic credit. Students earn a variable number of credits depending on the academic major.

Paid/Unpaid/Academic Credit

A student can receive compensation for an internship while earning academic credit. The student is charged tuition for the academic credit, just as a regular course. Organizations that offer compensation and agree to supervise the student for academic credit will have the greatest success in attracting candidates.

Be aware of the Department of Labor Guidelines for Internships. This Fact Sheet provides guidance on whether interns and students working for “for-profit” employers are entitled to minimum wages and overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Not all internships are completed for academic credit, and not all Penn State Scranton students are interested in receiving academic credit.  However, students in the following majors are required to complete an internship as a course requirement.  Internships can occur during the summer, fall, or spring semesters.

Majors That Require Internships

Steps to Hiring an Intern

Depending on the major of the student, the time requirement for the internship will be between 100-480 hours over the course of the semester. Many employers begin recruiting for internship talent about 6-9 months before the internship will take place.

1. MAKE A PLAN
Assess your needs and what you have to offer. Develop learning objectives and projects that would provide a professional experience for a student.

2. POST YOUR INTERNSHIP
Post your internship position description on Nittany Lion Careers 

3. INTERVIEW & SELECT
Conduct interviews to select qualified candidates.

4. ON-BOARDING & FEEDBACK
Provide your intern with the information, resources and feedback to be successful in the experience.

5. EVALUATIONS
Complete an evaluation of the intern's performance at the mid-point and conclusion of the internship.  (This is only for majors that require an internship as part of their curriculum)