What is an internship?
An experiential learning opportunity designed to enhance your university education through practical experience that is related to your field of study.
This can be a traditional internship (paid or unpaid), or you may be able to use a current job by having your employer incorporate a project that aligns with your university education.
Need help finding an internship? Meetwith the Career Success Center to chat about internship search strategies or check out our Career Success Guide.
Schedule a Career Support Appointment
Why should I register my internship?
- Credit- You can get academic credit for your internship that could count toward your degree completion. Meet with your academic advisor to see if you will need the credits to graduate.Not all students do, and if not, then they register for BA 004, which recognizes completion of an internship on your transcript but is non-credit and does not charge tuition.
- Requirement - Some majors at the COB require that you fulfill an experiential learning opportunity, such as an internship – check with your academic advisor.
- Transcript - Registering your internship will add it to your official OSU transcript.
What are my internship registration options?
When you register your internship, you'll add it to your course load for the term by using a CRN - just like any other course at OSU. There are four course options, so pick what works best for you:
Credit-based options: You will register for one of the three options like any other course, for the amount of credits you would like (based on your eligibility from the chart in the information form), and you will pay for them the same as any other credits
- BA 210 - For students with less than 90 credits. Elective course, does not apply to experietial learning requirements.
- (COB) 410 - For students with 90 credits or more. Offered for the following subject codes (subject codes should align with major or, generically, BA for business majors and DSGN for design majors): ACTG, BA, BANA, BIS, DSGN, MGMT, MRKT
Non-credit option: If you are registering your internship to fulfill a requirement for your major, or simply would like it on your transcript, and you do not need the credit toward your degree completion.You will register for BA 004 like any other course, but you will not have credits from it and you will not have to pay for it.Hours and equivalent credits must still be determined prior to registration.
- (COB) 004 - For students with 90 credits or more. Offered for the following subject codes (subject codes should align with major or, generically, BA for business majors and DSGN for design majors): ACTG, BA, BANA, BIS, DSGN, MGMT, MRKT
How many credits should I register my internship for?
Use this chart to determine how many credit hours (or equivalent credit hours you are eligible to earn.
| Projected total work hours for term | Equivalent number of academic credits |
30 to 59 | 1 credit |
60 to 89 | 2 credits |
| 90 to 119 | 3 credits |
| 120 to 149 | 4 credits |
| 150 to 179 | 5 credits |
| 180 to 209 | 6 credits |
| 210 to 239 | 7 credits |
| 240 to 269 | 8 credits |
| 270 to 299 | 9 credits |
| 300 to 329 | 10 credits |
| 330 to 359 | 11 credits |
| 360 or more | 12 credits |
| A student can earn a maximum of 12 credits per academic term. The information above is based upon 40 hours per week for 10 weeks equals 12 course credits. | |
Note - You are not required to earn credits for all of your internship hours. Please consult with your advisor to determine the number of credits you need based on your degree plan.
What do I need to register for an internship?
Use this form to help gather the information you'll need to complete the registration process.
- Secure an internship through the OSU Handshake website or search independently for opportunities
- Collect the following internship documentation from the internship organization
- Name and contact information of supervisor(s)
- Job description/objectives
- Duration of internship:
- Start and end dates of the internship
- Total estimated hours for the internship for the term
- Hourly wage
- Find a College of Businessfaculty supervisor.This can be any COB faculty member, but you should work with one who has experience in the field that you're working in for your internship.
- Your faculty supervisor will provide you with an assessment assignment, or work with you to create one. This assignment is what your faculty supervisor will use to assess your learning from your internship, and once successfully completed, will be used to give you a "Pass or No Pass" grade for the course.
- You can reach out to any faculty member you feel comfortable working with, but if you need help finding one, email us at cob.csc@oregonstate.edu.
- Marketing students - Amanda Terheswill serve as your COB faculty supervisor.
- Management students - Pauline Schilpzandwill serve as your COB faculty supervisor.
- Request your internship through Handshake as an "Experience." The process is fully electronic, quick, and easy! Check out the following important things below and then submit your internship request.
- Check your email. Once your application is submitted, the Career Success Center will be in touch with any missing information needed to move your application forward for approvals.
- Register for your course using the provided CRN. Once your application has been approved, you will receive an email with course registration instructions.
International Students
International students must apply for off-campus work authorization for paid and unpaid internships. F-1 and J-1 visa holders should contact the Office of International Services to receive Curricular Practical Training (F-1) or Academic Training (J-1) work authorization at least two weeks prior to the start of the internship.
