“Giving students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.” (source: National Association of Colleges and Employers)

Internships can be intimidating, and some students aren’t aware of what they are and what they could potentially do for them during and after their college career. For Penn State Brandywine students, they fortunately have Career Services to help them along in this experience. Furthermore, for students with specific majors, getting an internship is actually a requirement for graduation, and Career Services has proven a necessary resource for fulfilling this requisite.

Five majors at Penn State Brandywine have this requirement, and they are as follows: Business, Corporate Communications, Elementary Education, Human Development & Family Studies and Information Sciences & Technology. Each of these specifically holds a required number of hours / credits and has their own Internship Coordinator.

Credits and courses are usually associated with class work, and not many students are keen on class work. But don’t fret just yet!  This is not your typical class. In the Corporate Communications major, for example, with Internship Coordinator Karrie Bowen, seniors are required to take the course for at least three credits and spend 120+ hours at the internship. These internship “classes” could translate to the most useful credits one will have in a college career.

“The internship being required for the major was a positive thing because it gives you hands on experience in the real world from things you learned in class,” sAnthony Olivastro, a Corporate Communications major who has just recently completed his internship with Crozer-Keystone, said.

Utilizing the skills you’ve been developing throughout your years at college, these internships provide the practical application of these skills, giving students the chance to see what the real world is like and decide what sort of job is or isn’t for them. The best part about the program is that it is not limited to just those required to the course.

For more information on internships and how to go about acquiring one, contact Career Services for the help you need and get involved to build that resume.

RJ Karwoski

Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, rjk5139@psu.edu