STUDENT RESOURCES

Internships and Co-ops

With our location in the heart of Oregon's technology and industry base, students at the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science (Maseeh College) enjoy many opportunities to participate in internships. Most Maseeh College students either participate in an internship or work as a part-time or full-time employee in their field before they graduate. Maseeh College graduates are in demand as full-time employees in part because of their experience in real-world engineering and computer science through internships, capstones, and direct work experience.

Being in such a prime location close to industry, PSU can arrange internships by coordinating with industry leaders in the region. For more information about internships, please see the internship FAQs or contact your department.

Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program (MECOP):
Maseeh College undergraduate students in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering can participate in MECOP, an internship program developed and run by industry representatives. Students apply for admission to MECOP at the end of their sophomore year. Admission is competitive. Students selected for MECOP participate in two paid, six-month internships at area companies, gaining invaluable work experience and professional contacts.

Internship FAQs

What are the purposes of internships?

Internships have two primary purposes:
1. To match engineering and computer science student educational goals with industry needs.
2. To provide students with practical engineering and computer science experiences which reinforce their academic experiences.

Which students are eligible for internships?

All Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science undergraduate and graduate students may participate in internships. However, undergraduate students often wait until they have completed the first two years of their engineering program before applying for internships.

Can international students participate in internships?

International students with some types of visas may participate in internships even if they may not be required to do so.

What type of internship arrangements can be made?

There are two possible internship arrangements:
1. Company Paid Internship/Academic Credit
2. Company Paid Internship/No Academic Credit

Can a current company employee participate in an internship with his or her company?

Students often ask if they can arrange an internship with their present employer. Each request must be handled individually. It may be permissible if the internship involves working on a project that is significantly different from their regular job tasks and it contains engineering tasks. For further clarification on this issue, please contact your Maseeh College faculty advisor or department chair.

What are the requirements of for-credit internships?

Students decide whether they want to receive academic credit for an internship arrangement. They are not required to take an internship for credit and many do not. If a student pursues academic credit, he or she is required to locate a faculty sponsor. The sponsor monitors their work, checks on their progress, assigns homework, and issues a grade. There is no administrative work for employers regarding student academic credit although the supervisor will be asked to complete an evaluation form. Students with questions about credit procedures and requirements should refer to their sponsoring faculty member.

Who matches students with internship opportunities?

The matching of student and business is done by the parties involved. PSU engineering students visit their departmental bulletin boards and check departmental electronic bulletin boards regularly looking for intern opportunities. When they identify internships in their interest area, they either respond directly, following the company's application instructions, or consult with their advisors for application assistance. Departmental offices provide general assistance and faxing services to engineering students applying for intern positions.