All Professional Science Master’s (PSM) students are required to complete four (4) credits of internship (PSM 691) and 440 hours working at an internship. Students may use multiple experiences to fulfill these requirements, such as internships, Build Fellowships, volunteer work, and/or research projects. In some cases, we may use the first few months of your full-time job after all other courses are completed. This may have immigration implications. All experiences must be approved by the internship coordinator, Professor Holli Reyes. Internships must be hands-on, high-quality, master’s level work directly related to your academic program. Opportunities that are not closely aligned with the core components of program curriculum but are peripherally connected are likely to be denied.

1. Find an internship or other experience that meets objectives of the internship program.
   1. The student must work in an environment where the immediate supervisor and other team members have technical expertise that will enable them to act as mentors to the student and give an informed opinion about the performance of the student.
   2. Please contact Chris Babbitt, our internship partner coordinator, at [email protected], Professor Holli Reyes, and the Career Center for assistance in resume building, interviewing, and finding an internship. Be sure to attend the GVSU Career Fairs held in the Fall and Winter semesters.
   3. We will do our best to help you find internship opportunities, but it is ultimately your responsibility to secure one. 
2. Meet with the internship coordinator, Professor Holli Reyes, to discuss the internship and get it approved.
   1. Do not submit an override request for PSM 691 prior to this meeting. Professor Reyes issues the override after collaboratively determining the appropriate number of credits for the experience.
   2. After this meeting, you will be instructed to complete any other documentation as needed to move on to the next step. This may include completing the IMS and/or CPT form, enrollment in PSM 691, and/or providing additional information.
      1. All students should complete the IMS form prior to starting any internship work.
      2. International students may need to complete CPT forms (Faculty Approval Form and Cooperative Agreement Form) prior to starting any internship work. Please contact ISS to work through this process.
      3. Students collaboratively work with the PSM Coordinator to determine how many credits and when to enroll in PSM 691.
      4. Additional information may be requested to determine eligibility.

1. Talk with your internship supervisor about expectations and requirements. Be sure you understand everything expected of you during this experience.
2. Work at your internship and complete the Blackboard assignments, such as reflection journals.

1. Submit a written report.
2. Give an oral presentation on your internship.

Failure to complete all items (journals, report, presentation) will result in an incomplete (I) or No Credit (NC) on your transcript.

Follow this timeline as a guide to pace your journey to securing an internship. Securing an internship is your responsibility. You should retain email confirmations of events you attend, applications you submit, and any other supporting documents to show your alignment to the timeline. While this is a recommended timeframe, your path may vary.

• Poster Guidelines (doc)
• Poster Template (PowerPoint)
• Presentation Guidelines (doc)
• Presentation Template (PowerPoint)
• Report Guidelines (doc)
• Report Template (doc)

The Build Fellowship by Open Avenues Foundation can only be taken as a 1-credit internship. A minimum of two Build Projects are required to fulfill the requirements of 1 internship credit (PSM 691). You must complete the IMS form for each Build Project.

Learn more about Open Avenues | Learn more about The Build Fellowship

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