FAQs
Is an internship required for Honors? Do I have to earn credit for an internship?
Completing an internship for credit is an optional part of the third year Honors curriculum, not a requirement. Honors students must earn 12 credits of Honors junior requirements; students who began in HON 101 or 260 must take one 4-credit HON 407 Junior Seminar; students transferring into Honors as juniors must take both HON 360 and HON 407.
Students can then choose to fulfill the remaining 4-8 credits of Honors junior requirements by completing HON 401 Research credits, HON 404 Internship credits, additional HON 407 seminars, or by taking seminars abroad.
Some students may choose to carry out an internship and not earn academic credits for the experience.
How do I earn Honors internship credit?
1. Register for HON 404 through the usual MyPSU registration hub.
2. Apply for Honors approval of your proposed opportunity. The application opens during priority registration week for the following term; we will accept applications up to the first week of the quarter.
3. Participate in the online Canvas internship course during the quarter in which you are carrying out the internship. This course is led by Honors Internship & Research Coordinator Jennifer Hoskins; it will will help you make the most of your internship by asking you to reflect on your experiences and develop a professional portfolio.
How many hours do I need to intern in order to earn credit?
In general, we expect 100 internship hours during the 10-week quarter in order to earn 4 credits of HON 404. With approval, students may earn up to 8 credits in one quarter for a 200-hour internship or 2 credits for a 50-hour internship.
What kind of internships can I do for Honors credit?
Honors is open to many different kinds of opportunities. It can be an official internship program or position, or it can be an unofficial internship that you create in tandem with an organization. It can be paid or unpaid. It can be in Portland or elsewhere in the world, or it can be entirely remote.
Here are the relevant criteria:
You must intern approximately 10-12 hours a week for a 10 week term in order to earn 4 credits (100 hours total).
Your internship must be connected to your major or career goals in a clear way that you can articulate.
You must be carrying out substantive work that meaningfully contributes to the purpose of the organization. It is important that the organization benefits from your work, but also that you are learning and growing from the experience.
Does Honors place students at internships?
While Honors will support students through the process of finding a position, students are responsible for finding their own internship experiences. We recommend starting with the University Career Center. If you are in Engineering or Computer Science, start with the MCECS career adviser.
Can I earn internship credit for an experience I had in the past?
No. You must be registered for HON 404 and participating in the Canvas course during the quarter in which you are carrying out the internship.
My major requires an internship for credit. Can I use that same internship for Honors?
Yes, you can, as long as you apply for Honors approval before the start of the internship/term. You can choose to register for departmental 404 credits (CCJ 404, PHE 404, PS 404) or for HON 404 credits (in which case you must gain approval from your pathway adviser first). You will not register for both department 404 and HON 404 internship credits. In any case, you must participate in the Honors internship Canvas course during the quarter in which you are carrying out the internship.
I have an Honors leadership position (Anthos, Community Fellow, Writing Tutor, etc.). Can I earn internship credit?
Honors student leadership positions generally cannot count as internships because they do not meet the minimum 10 hours/week requirement. However, there may be exceptions for student leads (ie. Anthos Managing Editor or Lead Writing Tutor) or others who are working the minimum hours and whose positions meet other internship requirements. If you have questions about whether your leadership position can count as an internship, please contact Brianna Avery, the Honors Advisor.
I have more questions.
For questions about finding an internship, or if a prospective opportunity will work for Honors, contact Honors Internship & Research Coordinator Jennifer Hoskins.
To determine how your internship will help you complete your degree requirements, please contact Honors Advisor Brianna Avery.