FAQ

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Internship Program
Internship FAQs

Internship Class overview

The internship class is primarily an online class. You will need to attend one mandatory in-person orientation meeting. The Internship Coordinator will tell you the date & time of that meeting.

Deadlines for Registration

Internship and Credit-bearing Course Registration

Fall Registration: March 29 - August 24

Spring Registration: October 29 - January 20

* Summer Registration: Will open March 1st

* Visit the Registrar's Office for more information on summer tuition.

Registration Process

To obtain academic credit for your internship, complete the online registration form. The registration form can also be found on the Career and Professional Development Center homepage under the Internship Program.
Once the CPDC has received your registration, the Internship Coordinator will review your site's quality and learning objectives to determine if it will be approved.
You will receive an email from the CPDC to inform you of the status of your request. If approved, we will complete a course override. You cannot register for the course until we complete the override.
Once we approve your internship, you must register for the class in FALCON link.
Registering for the internship class is no different than registering for any other class. Select the correct class code (INTE 391 or INTE 394) AND update the number of credits you want. INTE 391 = 1 to 3 credits; INTE 394 = 4 to 12 credits
Be aware that the system automatically defaults to the lowest possible number of credits for that course (e.g., INTE391 - it would automatically show “1” even though you may want to sign up for “3”). Click on the Schedule and Options tab, find the box labeled hours, click on the number and update this to the number of credits you want. Click submit. Please contact the Registrar¹s Office if you have any questions.
Make sure you have signed up for the correct number of credits to receive the credit you need.
You will be sent an email when the canvas course opens. You are now ready for the internship class.

Remember, completing the registration form is just the first step.

It does not guarantee you will be approved, nor does it automatically enroll you in the class.

Sample Syllabi

Below are two different sample syllabi for the internship classes.

Please select the ID number of the course you are registered or are planning on registering for

INTE 391 1 to 3 credits

INTE 394 4 to 12 credits

Housing Options

If you are an intern from out-of-area and have located a Central Pennsylvania Summer Internship at a location other than Messiah University, please see the below information.

Messiah University has housing options BUT they are not free housing options.
You will be required to fill out the paperwork, signing up for a summer internship out of area does not automatically reserve you a room.
Please contact housing@messiah.edu for more information.

Please see the below information regarding the housing and where to find more information on each.

On-Campus: This is on-campus housing in Witmer.

Typical Search Process

Make a list of potential sites you will be applying to and keep track of their important information, any contact you have had with them, and what materials you have sent them.
Know the important information for each organization you are applying for such as names, job availability, job description, application timeline, hours, compensation, and academic credit options. Make sure you have an list of all the information you need to make a decision.
Contact Employers – there are several situations in which you might need to contact an employer such as you need more information, you are following up on a job application, or checking to see if they need more information from you.
Apply to your internships. Make sure you send in your resume and any supporting documents they may have asked for.
Wait to hear back. If you have not heard anything in 5 business days, follow-up with a phone call (see sample phone call below). It is appropriate to ask if they have received your application or where they are in the decision making process. Be polite and courteous.
If you are offered an interview treat it no differently than you would an entry-level job. Please refer to our Interview Guide. You can also schedule a mock interview at the Career and Professional Development. Attend your interviews prepared and always follow up with a thank-you note.
When you receive any internship offer be sure to thoroughly consider every aspect of the job. Make the best decision that aligns with your goals. If you have received more than one offer ask for a few days to decide. Politely decline the ones you do not want and confirm the one you do in writing.
If you want to earn credit for your internship, complete the Registration form. Learn more about this process here.

For more helpful suggestions about the entire internship process please see our handbook.

Sample Phone Conversation

This sample phone conversation is based off an interaction with an employee BEFORE the interview.

Sample Phone Conversations:

(Please be pleasant, prepared and direct)

Dial the number and confirm the name of the person listed as intern coordinator or ask to be forwarded to the appropriate person.

"Hello, My name is _____. Is _______ still the person in your office who handles the student intern program? If so, may I speak with her (or him)?"

(If you don't have a contact name)

"Hello, My name is _____. May I please speak with the person who coordinates internships in your organization?"

Next Steps:

Immediately ask whether this person is willing to take a few minutes to discuss the internship and answer your questions, or whether they prefer to email materials to you.
Be prepared. Some site sponsors may want to interview you right away by phone. Be ready to briefly describe who you are, where you go to college, your goals, and why you’re interested in that organization.
Always express gratitude for their time and information before you hang up.
- If the organization indicates they have never had interns, ask if they may be willing to explore the possibility. The Career and Professional Development Center has a manual to assist employers.

Past Internship Sites

For a complete list please see past years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Below are some example sites

Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz
Capital Area Crisis Pregancy Center
Carlisle Police Department
Catholic Charities Immigration Services
CBSâ3/CW PHILLY 57
Church World Service
Comcast SportsNet
Creative Health Services
Cumberland County Hist. Soc.
Cumberland Physical Therapy
FAITH + TRAVEL Magazine
Greater Philadelphia Film
Greensaw Design & Build
Hamilton & Musser, CPA
Holy Spirit Health System
Invotex
Jersey Shore State Bank
JPL Integrated Communications
Klinge Corporation
L.V.Prasad Eye Institute
LAM Systems
McKonly and Asbury
National Adoption Agency
Northwestern Mutual
Nursing Foundation of PA
Old Navy
PA House of Representatives
Park Pleasant Nursing Home
Rite Aid
RoadRunner Records
Salvation Army Harrisburg
Special Olympics Area M
The Contemporary Music Center
The Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg
U.S. Marshals Service
United Parcel Service
Willow Mill Veterinary Hosp.
Caitlin's Smiles
Chemical Solutions Ltd.
Children's Resource Center
Computer Aid, Inc.
Downey Elementary
Drayer Physical Therapy Institute
Fink and Company, PC, CPAs
Florida Keys Wild Bird Center
FootballNation.com
Full Tilt Recording
Fulton Bank
Georgia State House of Rep
GetâKinetic, Inc.
Harrisburg City Islanders
Harristown Enterprises Inc.
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts
HOPE International
HydroWorx International
International Justice Mission
LIFT
Mannix Marketing
Nashville Predators
New Harvest Productions
Ocean City Police Department
PA Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources
Penn State Hershey Med. Ctr
Pennlive â The PatriotâNews
Pennsylvania School Boards Assoc
Phoenix Contact, Inc.
Pinnacle Health Infant Development
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Purdue University Basketball
Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc.
Salisbury University
Salt 'n Light Youth Ministry
SmithsonianâNational Air & Space
TE Connectivity
U.S. Army War College Chapel
uFinancial Group/MassMutual
United Way
vCalc
WITF, Inc.
World Affairs Council