Academic Internships Office
What is an academic internship?
An academic internship is a high-impact learning experience that engages students in meaningful opportunities that integrate knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. A high-quality internship includes collaborative community partners that provide mentoring, to help students achieve personal and professional growth, and skill development to gain a competitive advantage in the global workforce.
CSULB Policy on Academic Internships (non-clinical/non-licensure) defines academic internships as:
“An Academic Internship formally integrates students’ academic study with practical experience in a cooperating organization. It is a faculty-approved and directed activity designed to enhance academic knowledge and promote professional preparation by offering supervised experience in business, nonprofit, government, educational, and/or other workplace settings…
Academic Internships are those completed for either undergraduate or graduate credit. They can be on or off campus, in-person or remote/virtual, paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, and can be done at any time during the academic year (i.e., fall, spring, summer, and winter).
For the purposes of this policy, Academic Internships do not include teacher preparation or clinical placements such as nursing, counseling, social work, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech- language pathology, or other pre-professional, credentialing, or licensing requirements.”
CCE Academic Internship Office at CSULB
The Long Beach Community Internship Program (LBCIP) is a collaborative internship program that creates pathways for CSULB juniors and seniors who are Long Beach Promise Students to engage in meaningful paid internship opportunities while they apply coursework to real world settings, hone professional skills, network, and explore local career.
College Corps @ the Beach program works with campus and community partners to place students in two-semester paid internships. Internships will focus on key issues related to climate action and environmental justice, food insecurity, and K-12 education with an emphasis on climate literacy.
Project Resilience Internship Program offers opportunities for AAPI students to gain workplace experience and learn career skills. Two different semester-long paid internships are available for students: the College of Liberal Arts Internship and Career Development Center Scholarship. Through these internships, students are able to explore potential careers and gain invaluable work experience with industry partners and community organizations serving the AAPI community.
Students who participate in academic internships engage in meaningful opportunities that integrate knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Through a high-quality internship with collaborative community partners, students achieve personal and professional growth, and skill development to gain a competitive advantage in the global workforce. Students receive academic credit for their internship through a department or college level internship, or related, course. Get more information regarding academic internships for students.
The CCE engages the university and community in creating a just and civil society where every member functions as an agent of social change. The Academic Internships Office supports this mission by providing institutional infrastructure and support to colleges to sustain and scale academic internships. Get more information regarding academic internships for faculty and staff.
Community partners are a vital part of the internship experience. Community partners provide valuable hands-on training and mentorship for student interns that enhance their academic experience, engage students in career exploration, and prepare students for post-graduation success. Get more information regarding academic internships for community partners.
