ECS Academic Internship
Academic internships provide undergraduate and graduate ECS students with the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom in a real-world setting and gain practical experience that is valuable for their careers. ECS strongly recommends that students seek only paid internships, as acquired skills have value and should be compensated.
Students may
submit an
Academic Internship Application
for permission to enroll in the 3-unit academic course, Professional Practice (EGGN 495). Course registration is dependent upon the signature approval from the ECS Dean’s Office.
ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS
Step 1: Receive an Internship Offer
Students must receive an offer letter prior to the submission of the academic internship application.
Students who have not received an internship offer may contact the CSUF Career Center
for assistance in identifying internship opportunities, developing resumes and cover letters, and strengthening interview techniques.
Step 2: Review the Course Prerequisites
Students should review the Center for Internship and Community Engagement (CICE) ECS Information Card
and ECS Academic Internship Policy
.
- Must be an Undergraduate Junior or Senior in Engineering or Computer Science, or a Graduate Student in Engineering or Computer Science
- Student must be enrolled in ECS for a minimum of two semesters (on campus)
- Must be in Good Academic Standing with a minimum 2.0 GPA for Undergraduate Students, and a minimum 3.0 GPA for Graduate Students
Step 3: Submit an ESC Academic Internship Application
Students should allow 2-3 months to complete the application process; International students should allow an additional 2 weeks for CPT processing. Late applications will not be accepted.
Application Deadline:
Fall and Spring Semester: Second Friday of the instructional week of the academic semester at 5pm PST
Summer Term: Thursday prior to the first instructional week of the academic term at 5pm PST
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Please complete and submit the online ECS Academic Internship Application
.You will need to attach the following four (4) documents as one (1) PDF file to the application:
1)Your Internship Offer Letter
The offer letter must include the following:
- Student’s First and Last Name
- Supervisor/Owner signature on Company Letterhead
- Internship position title
- Start date and End date of internship (minimum of 120 hours) - The internship duration should be within a given academic semester. The first day of the internship must be on or after the first day of classes, and the last day of the internship should be on or before the last day of the final exam week.
- Compensation (e.g. hourly wage)
- Description of the internship responsibilities
- Location (Internships outside of the U.S. are not allowed) - If the internship company is located outside of Southern California and the student is doing work remotely while residing Southern California, the internship offer letter must state such an arrangement.
2) Center for Internship and Community Engagement (CICE) Approval Form
- Complete the CICE Approval Form
(Please allow 2-4 weeks for the CICE Review)
- If approved, you will receive a CICE Approval Form (PDF) from the CICE Office by email.
-
Important: Leave the signature line blank. (The signature line will be signed by the ECS Dean's Office as a part of Step 4.)
- For additional guidance and information please see the CICE video instructions
. The internship position and company must be registered with CICE.
3)ECS Department Chair Approval
- Email your Department Chair to request a review of your internship offer letter and to receive approval for 3 units of academic credit.
- If your Department Chair approves your internship, save a copy of the approval email from the Department Chair as a PDF file. (To do this select “Print” then “Destination > PDF” in Outlook)
- Note: If your Department Chair does not approve your internship, you may not submit an application for the ECS Academic Internship.
4) Your Unofficial CSUF Transcripts
- Download your Unofficial Transcript from the Student Portal and save it as a PDF
- Students must meet the minimum GPA requirement and have completed two semesters in ECS
5) Signed ECS Academic Internship Policy
- Download, read and sign the ECS Academic Internship Policy found in Step 2.
- Submit your signed copy with your application.
Step 4: Recieve the Review Decision
A Preliminary Review of your application will be conducted by an ECS Advisor to ensure the completeness of the application.
A Final Review of your application will be conducted by the ECS Dean’s Office to approve or deny your application. (Please allow 2-8 weeks for the Dean's Office Review.)
If the application is approved, the student will receive a signed CICE Approval Form by email.
If the application is denied, the student will be notified of the reason for the denial by email.
Step 5: Enroll in EGGN 495
The student will be notified by email that a course permit for EGGN 495 has been issued to the student.
The student can enroll in EGGN 495 through the Student Portal. Please use the appropriate course number sent with your permit notification. (The course number changes each semester.)
Students must select the “3 units” option when registering for EGGN 495.
After you have registered for EGGN 495, please wait 24 hours to finalize the CICE registration at Welcome to CalStateS4 for CSU Fullerton.
Step 6: International Students - Apply for CPT
To maintain their visa status, international students must complete and submit the CPT Request Form
to receive work authorization for off-campus internships.
Students should contact the Office of International Student Services (ISS Advisor
) with questions related to the CPT
.
Please allow 2 weeks for CPT processing.
Step 7: Begin the Internship
After you enroll in EGGN 495, you may begin your internship at the company on the date that was approved on your CICE Approval Form.
You will not need to attend a class when you are enrolled in EGGN 495. However, the submission of a comprehensive final paper (approximately 25 pages) is required for course completion.
Students will receive course instructions from the ECS faculty member during the early- to mid- section of the semester in which they are enrolled.
Students will receive a letter grade for their academic participation in EGGN 495.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Q: If my internship requires over 120 hours of work may I receive more than 3 units?
A: Students may receive a maximum of 3 units of academic credit.
Q: Do I need to pay tuition for EGGN 495?
A: You will receive 3 units of academic credit for enrollment in EGGN 495 and must pay the tuition for a 3 unit course.
Q: Will the 3 units count toward my degree?
A: If you are an undergraduate student, you will earn course credits which may count toward your degree completion contingent on the Department Chair approval. Please verify with the department how EGGN 495 credits will apply to your Titan Degree Audit (e.g. count as a Technical Elective). If you are a graduate student, you will earn course credit however they will not count toward your degree completion.
Q: Can I enroll in EGGN 495 after my internship is completed? / Can I receive retroactive academic credit for an internship that has already passed?
A: You must enroll in EGGN 495 prior to the start of your internship. You can only receive credit for the semester in which the internship is held.
Q: May I complete an internship without enrolling in EGGN 495?
A: If you are domestic student, enrolling in EGGN 495 is optional. If you are an international student, you are required to enroll in EGGN 495 to maintain your F1/ J1 visa status.
Q: How may I learn more about Academic Internships?
A: Please review the ECS Academic Internship Policy. Students may also attend one of the ECS Academic Internship Information Sessions held each semester. Please see the Portal Messages for Info Session dates and location.
