Honors students have the opportunity to earn up to 8 credits for approved internships related to their major or intended career field.
Why should I find an internship?
- explore and define your professional life
- gain experience for your resume
- earn money and/or credit for your degree
- develop a professional network
- apply classroom learning in a professional and public context
- hone existing skills and develop new ones
- develop ideas and expertise to use in your Honors thesis
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 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 process.
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?
4 credits of HON 404 Internship corresponds to 100 hours of time completed in the internship over the course of the quarter. 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 internship that you create. 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 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.
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.
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.