Undergraduate student internship FAQs
Looking to get academic credit for your internship? We’ve provided answers to common student questions to help you understand the pre-internship process and requirements.
Get started: Pre-internship process
The Experiential Learning team does not place undergraduate students into internships. Students are responsible for securing their own experiences. Since each internship is tailored to individual goals, students are responsible for identifying an eligible site, conducting outreach and securing a commitment from the site. This outreach and application process typically requires several weeks, and associated contracting paperwork may take an additional few months to complete. Our team is here to help you navigate the process and to ensure compliance with academic credit requirements.
Our Experiential Learning team has a dedicated internship support coordinator who helps students who have enrolled in, or planning to enroll in, an internship course for the upcoming semester. Students can receive support for navigating the process of finding an eligible opportunity and submitting required documentation.
Students should also work with their academic advisors to confirm course plans, get answers to enrollment questions and get assistance with understanding the experiential learning options for their major.
While some undergraduate degrees require that students complete an internship for academic credit in order to graduate, most Health Solutions degrees have multiple options to fulfill the experiential learning requirement for your major. Talk to your academic advisor to understand your options.
Regardless of academic credit requirements, we encourage students to complete an internship and other experiential learning opportunities outside of the classroom. This is an important way to learn and explore what you like – and don’t like! – and to influence your future career decisions.
Students who are interested in non-credit experiences may also be interested in exploring micro-internships with Forage and Parker-Dewey.
Begin by reviewing our guide to applying for internships for tips on getting started, resources and step-by-step instructions about the pre-internship process.
MyCHS Opportunities: Undergraduate students can view internships from employers that already have agreements with ASU. Most of these employers have strong relationships with the College of Health Solutions and frequently hire our students as interns. Searching the database is a great place to start, but it is only a sampling of the types of opportunities available. Most opportunities are based in Arizona.
Handshake: Explore opportunities in the ASU-wide job and internship database, Handshake. Keep in mind that internships found outside of the MyCHS Opportunities database require the submission of a Pre-Internship Petition (PIP) to start the contracting process.
Keep applying to additional opportunities until you have a confirmed internship. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! You may find it helpful to speak with your faculty, ASU Career Services or even your classmates as you think through your internship priorities and site ideas.
A clinical internship is any opportunity that involves direct patient contact or observation. The ASU Pre-Health Internship Program (PHIP) is a university-wide program that oversees the majority of undergraduate clinical internship opportunities. This means that students interested in a clinical internship will typically need to apply through the PHIP placement process.
Contact the Experiential Learning team if you have questions about whether the experience you are interested in would qualify as a clinical experience. Note that students intending to intern with an outpatient PT site will typically be managed through the Experiential Learning team, even though there is direct patient contact.
Yes, if your current place of employment aligns with your major and academic plan, you may be able to arrange for your internship to occur with your current employer. Your internship responsibilities must be separate from your current work responsibilities. Students are encouraged to seek out new experiences and identify new goals to achieve during their internship.
Talk to your Experiential Learning support coordinator to discuss whether an internship experience at your place of employment meets your degree requirements. As a reminder, students need to submit a Pre-Internship Petition (PIP) for internships at a current place of employment so that our team can begin the contracting process.
It’s never too early to start making connections and building your network! Employers recruit on different timelines depending on the organization size and the type of opportunity. Many hospitals and larger organizations will recruit 6-9 months in advance, especially if they are hiring multiple interns. Smaller clinics or community programs are more likely to hire 2-4 months in advance. It’s important to do your research and work with ASU Career Services to develop an outreach strategy.
Do you have tips for how I should reach out to employers?
Check out these resources and be sure to connect with ASU Career Services for targeted support.
Students interested in using an internship for academic credit must meet the following compliance deadlines. Forms can be found and submitted in the MyCHS Opportunities database.
The Pre-Internship Petition (PIP) is only required if you want to work with an internship site that you did not find in the MyCHS Opportunities database or if you want to intern at your current place of employment. This is due 8 weeks before the start of the semester.
The Internship Learning Agreement (ILA) is a required document for all students that verifies information about your internship and learning goals. This is due 1 week before the start of the semester.
The Pre-Internship Petition (PIP) is an application that you will complete if you want to work with an internship site that you did not find in the MyCHS Opportunities database or if you want to intern at your current place of employment.
Sites found outside of the database are often with unaffiliated organizations. Because an affiliation agreement is required for students to receive academic credit, students should submit a PIP as soon as they receive an offer from a site. We can only begin the contracting process once we receive the PIP.
PIPs must be submitted at least 8 weeks before the start of the semester. We cannot guarantee affiliation agreements will be reached for sites without an active contract. Finalizing an affiliation agreement can sometimes take 3-6+ months and terms are subject to legal policies set by the site, by Arizona State University, and by the state of Arizona.
We recommend students speak with their academic advisor to discuss backup course options in case an internship falls through due to contracting or other reasons.
The Internship Learning Agreement (ILA) is a required document found within the MyCHS Opportunities database that verifies information about your internship and learning goals.
The ILA is available 8 weeks before the start of the semester. Students enrolled in an internship course will receive notification from the Experiential Learning team once the ILA is available to complete.
The ILA must be approved by the Experiential Learning team before you may accrue any hours at your internship site.
Once your ILA is approved, you will receive an email with an attached ILA approval certificate. This certificate should be submitted to Canvas as your first internship course assignment.
In addition, a confirmation email with a list of internship guidelines and course assignment information will automatically be sent to your internship supervisor upon approval of the ILA.
Students typically self-enroll in the appropriate 484 or 444 class through MyASU when course registration opens. If you are unable to enroll, please contact [email protected] for additional information, as some internship courses require pre-requisites.
Students enrolled in internship courses will be added to an email list to receive specific pre-internship guidance from their Experiential Learning support coordinator.
Students who do not submit required pre-internship paperwork by the established deadlines will be dropped from the course.
Visit our internship credit hours calculator and reach out to your academic advisor to confirm the credit hours required for your major and course map. Internship hours must be completed during the academic semester.
Students cannot receive academic credit for past internship experiences. You must take a course concurrent with your internship in order to receive academic credit. Please reach out to your academic advisor for any course planning questions or concerns.
Employers typically request an interview to discuss your experience and qualifications. Use ASU Career Services resources for interview practice, preparation and advice.
Remember that you are interviewing the site as well. Ask the site about the nature of their work, what type of work previous interns have completed, and what the day-to-day tasks look like.
Absolutely! There are many opportunities to connect with employers both virtually and in-person. Check the Health Solutions student activities calendar for a full lineup of events each semester. Additional employer opportunities are hosted by ASU Career Services and by ASU student clubs.
Please visit the International Students & Scholars Center (ISSC) to learn more about authorizations required to complete an internship, regardless of if academic credit is involved.
Students who participate in an internship, rotation, observation, applied project or other experiential learning opportunity with a clinical partner are required to comply with the site’s policies related to vaccinations for common communicable diseases. The majority of ASU’s clinical community partners require proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Students who are unable to be vaccinated for medical or religious reasons may be able to make arrangements for reasonable accommodation, depending on the policies of the clinical site. Accommodations may be limited in number and may require additional safeguards such as testing, personal protective equipment or alternative/limited duties.
Students who are concerned about their ability to complete a course or program requirement with a clinical partner due to their vaccination status should contact their instructor or program director to discuss the possibility of placement at another site or the process to apply for a reasonable accommodation. Alternative placements and reasonable accommodations are dependent on the availability and policies of clinical partners. Students who anticipate needs relating to vaccination requirements should contact their instructor or program director as soon as possible.
Title IX protects individuals from discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity operated by recipients of federal financial assistance. Sexual harassment is one form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX. ASU takes its Title IX obligations seriously and works to foster an environment for students free of sexual harassment.
Employers are required to maintain a discrimination-free environment for off-site internship/externship experiences. Please review the Internships and an Environment of Respect information sheet to learn more and to view Title IX coordinator contact details.