INTERNSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
WHAT IS A CS INTERNSHIP?
Practical experience in a formal work environment is a
valuable aspect of a Computer Science or Computer Systems curriculum. The
intent of the CS Internship program at Northern Michigan University is to
provide students with an opportunity to earn academic credit while gaining
work experience at a business, government, or other institutional computer
center. Students are employed on a full-time basis typically for a four to
eight month period. The hours, wages, and benefits associated with the job
are determined by the employer prior to hiring the intern. Although tasks
assigned to the student usually correspond to the student's educational
background, new and exciting challenges may be encountered. Additional
formal or informal training may be provided by the employer either on-site
or off-site. Computer Science-related tasks, such as, network design and
installation, software programming, testing, documentation, and user
training would be considered as appropriate job duties for an intern.
Internships can be credit generating for the student
(refer to the Syllabus
for CS491-CS Internship for more requirements). In addition to providing
a work experience for the student, the internship must also provide a
learning environment where the student can gain technical skills in the
field of computer science. The student must be working under a mentor or
expert that can provide training and guidance to the student. A work
environment where the student is the expert would not qualify as a valid CS
Internship.
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
Employers will have their own set of requirements for
interns. Usually, employers are looking for Junior or Senior level students
since they have already had a majority of their college course work
including many of their Computer Science classes. Normally, a student will
need at least a 3.00 or better grade point average in order to qualify or
interview for an internship. Employers interview potential interns, and then
make the hiring decision. No student is guaranteed an internship position,
but students with good academic records are usually placed.
ADVANTAGES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES: EMPLOYER
Through the CS Internship Program, employers become
familiar with students that are good candidates for permanent employment
upon graduation. Students who have previously worked with the firm can be
productive more quickly than those new to the company. In addition, interns
may bring new tools and ideas into the work place, providing the company
with ongoing education and increased productivity.
The employer will be responsible for providing a
meaningful work experience for the student intern. Skills the student
possesses should be utilized and developed by assignment to appropriate
computer-related tasks. Supervision and guidance must be available to the
student in a professional environment. The employer will sign monthly status
reports written by the student in order to verify their accuracy. At the end
of the internship period the employer will complete an evaluation of the
student, including performance, strengths and weaknesses of the student, and
any comments regarding the strength and validity of the CS academic program
at Northern Michigan University. The CS Internship Supervisor should be
contacted in the event that problems occur with the student.
ADVANTAGES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES: STUDENT
The internship experience allows the student to see their
profession in a more realistic light. Working side-by-side with programmers,
analysts, and computer users helps the student to develop a sense of
responsibility and confidence in their abilities. Listing professional work
experience on the resume helps the student secure employment after
graduation. In some cases, students are offered employment by the company
where they interned. Upon returning to classes after an internship, students
tend to be more focused on their course work and show more interest in
research.
During the internship, the student will be required to
submit monthly status reports to the CS Internship Supervisor. These reports
summarize the job duties and projects done during each monthly (or 4-week)
period. Upon completion of the internship the student will be expected to
compose a written report of their internship experience, including details
of job duties and projects, as well as the benefits of the internship
experience. Also, after completion of the internship, the student will be
expected to make an oral presentation of about 20 minutes to a CS class. The
topic of the presentation will relate to some part of the work experience
and/or a topic of current study or interest as determined by the CS
Internship Supervisor.
INTERNSHIP SUPERVISOR
Jeffrey Horn, Associate Professor
Phone: 906-227-1607
Fax: 906-227-2010
E-mail: jhorn@nmu.edu |
