Internship Process

There are a few key steps that go into the internship process:

  1. Secure an internship related to your degree field. 
  2. Fill out the IMS Form and submit it to the PSM coordinator.
  3. Request permission from the PSM coordinator to register for PSM 691.
  4. Complete the Internship Presentation Signup Sheet.
  5. Complete your internship report; submit this to the PSM coordinator and your program director.
  6. Give an oral/poster presentation about the knowledge you gained in your internship.(Oral presentation requires Prior approval from the PSM coordinator, Fall only.)
  7. Check the internship documents page for Final internship report, presentation, guidelines and templates.

STUDENTS

Visit our database for internship opportunities (PSM students only)

PSM Networking Events Calendar

PSM Networking Event

Semester

Tentative Date

PSM CPT/OPT Workshop

Winter 2024

23 February 2024

Mock interviews by PSM

Winter 2024

22 March 2024

PSM Panel Discussions

Winter 2024

12 April 2024

PSM Internship Workshop

Fall 2024

27 September 2024

PSM Showcase

Fall 2024

22 November 2024

EMPLOYERS

Information for interested employers                                                                              

Click the steps below to learn more about the internship process

Begin your internship journey here!

Begin your internship journey.

Second-year students are a great resource for possible internship sites, as are your program director and the PSM program coordinator.                                                                                                                                                                                            We also hold a workshop in the fall on how to approach the initial stages of searching for an internship.                           Attend possible networking events in and around the campus. PSM department hosts the below throughout the year. Click here to find the events list.

Choose a Mentor for your Internship.                         

When contacting possible internship mentors, always be respectful and professional. Many of them will already be familiar with our programs, but some will not.                                                                                                                                              The PSM program coordinator has information regarding the purpose and expectations of the internship which will be helpful for you.                                                                                                                                                                                                    If there is an employer you would like to contact but you don't know where to start, ask the PSM coordinator for assistance.

PSM Internship Database

We will do our best to help you find internship opportunities, but it is ultimately your responsibility to secure one. Visit our database to view some current opportunities.

What else do you have at PSM/GVSU to find an internship?

PSM Networking events                                                                                                                                                                            Career Center for resume/cover letter reviews, mock Interviews, more resources for finding internships.                      Career Fair that is held by GVSU in Fall & Winter semesters.

Secured an internship!

Once you have found an internship, please talk with your supervisor about expectations and requirements for the experience.    Some places have had many interns through the years, and they have well-structured requirements and expectations to help prepare you for the internship experience.                                                                                                   However, other internship locations won't really know what to do, so that's where you'll have to be more involved.

What are the PSM internship requirements?

The PSM program expects three basic things from you in part of the internship experience:                                                    1.Spend ~440 hours on their internship:                                                                                                                                               First, we expect students to spend ~440 hours on their internship. More than the required hours are acceptable, but fewer is not.                                                                                                                                                                                                        You can complete more than one internship if the total hours required cannot be completed in one internship.        2.Gain practical experience: Second, we expect students to gain practical experience in their discipline.                This means you should perform meaningful work within your discipline and have an opportunity to develop your technical skills, preferably under the mentorship of someone at the internship site.                                                                 3.Show us the IMPACT: We expect students to be exposed to the business and professional side of the workplace. This means  that you should have an opportunity to develop your professional skills - teamwork, communication, leadership, ethics, etc. -  under the mentorship of someone at the internship site.

How to register for PSM 691?

  • Please fill out the PSM Internship Management System Form. The form will be used in the program evaluation and assessment. Once completed, it should be sent to your program coordinator and site supervisor for final approval.

       Click here to find the IMS Form.

 It is the PSM coordinator's responsibility to register students for PSM 691, so communicate directly with the PSM coordinator if you have any questions regarding the registration steps. It is also required that you complete a minimum of 4 credits of PSM 691 to complete your degree. The course can be taken for 1, 2, 3, 4, or up to 9 credit(s) at a time.                                                                                                                                                                                                     This flexibility allows you to select an appropriate number of PSM course credits in a semester to maintain full-time status or to limit the impact on your bank account. If more than 4 credits are requested for PSM 691 (in conditions where students may need a certain number of credits for their GAs), only the required 4 credits will count toward your degree.

All semesters of PSM 691 are graded as incomplete until the oral presentation and written reports have been completed. Only at this point the grade will be changed to CR.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         All international students need to complete CPT Request form , rename the file appropriately with your (Firstname_Lastname_CPT Advisor Form) and send it to PSM coordinator Anirudh Chowdhary at [email protected].                                                                                                                                                                                   You will be required to complete the Internship Presentation Signup Sheet. The sheet will require your name, employer name, supervisor name, internship start semester, and end semester.

Once you've made it this far, the next step is to make the most of your internship experience.

Ask to learn new technical skills that will be useful to you later. Give talks whenever possible. Attend as many meetings as you can. Meet and network with as many people as you can. Take on leadership positions when possible. Be ambitious and interested. Use this time to learn as much about your discipline as possible.

When your internship is nearing its end, you will need to prepare for the final requirements.

  1. Submit a written report: This report should be reviewed and approved by your internship supervisor before sending it to your graduate program director and the PSM coordinator via email. The Internship report must be submitted for Fall Semester by December 1st, for Winter Semester by April 1st, and for Spring/Summer Semester by July 1st. You can find the academic calendar and report guidelines for more details.

      Be sure to complete the Internship Presentation Signup Sheet by the above dates. Contact Anirudh Chowdhary       at [email protected] if you have specific questions. 

  1. Give an oral presentation on your internship: The contents of this presentation should be approved by your internship supervisor, and the date and forum for your presentation can be arranged with your graduate program director.
  2. Be evaluated by your internship supervisor: Once your internship is completed, the PSM coordinator will send a request to your advisor asking them to fill out a short evaluation. This evaluation will not impact final grades for PSM 691 since it is an evaluation of the program, not the student. Once you submit the report and give the presentation, grades will be changed towards the end of the semester. 


Page last modified March 20, 2024