Course Syllabus
Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change. Instructors will notify students of any changes and students will be responsible for abiding by them. Even if you print this syllabus, please check the online version often.
Description
IST 295B: IST Internship (1-3 credits) - Supervised work experience where the student is employed in an information sciences and technology position in industry, government, or academia.
Faculty and industry collaborate to specify the duties of the intern. The faculty member responsible for the course then approves the internship. The internship must consist of a minimum of 150 hours of meaningful information and technology related tasks. The student must also successfully complete all deliverables assigned in the IST 295 Canvas course and receive an average grade of 70% or higher to receive a SA for the course.
Course Goals
An internship is a career-related professional work experience that enhances your education by giving you experience applying your knowledge and skills in the workplace. The advantages of taking an internship are endless. Internships serve as stepping stones for your future.
Internships can be part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid, credit-earning or noncredit-earning. Students usually schedule internships for one semester or during the summer.
As an IST student, you must take at least one internship, with a minimum of 150 hours of career-related work experience, to meet degree requirements. You may earn academic credit toward your degree with each IST internship you complete. If you are enrolled in an IST Bachelors degree program, you may participate in as many as three internships. This means you can gain the equivalent of a full year of career-related experience by the time you graduate.
Nothing enhances your education, prepares you for professional life, or helps you make good career decisions like an internship experience. That is why it is a required part of the IST program. As a student intern, you set your professional development in motion and take charge of your future. You are essentially test-driving a particular set of job duties, a company, or a career path to see if they truly suit your interests and skills. All bachelor's and associate degree students in IST must complete at least one internship prior to graduation.
Prerequisites
- IST 110
Objectives
With an Internship you can:
- Explore Your Career Opportunities: An internship helps you focus on and evaluate your academic and career choices. It helps you answer these questions: Am I focusing on the right areas of IST in my education? Is this the kind of work I want to pursue?
- Develop Yourself Professionally: An internship helps you polish the skills it takes to succeed in the workplace. You also learn the value of networking and how to search for a job.
- Enhance Your Maturity and Self-Confidence: Experience what it means to be a professional. Know how to get a job done and done well. Get a handle on what it takes to take care of business – relocation, housing, transportation, and financial obligations.
- Improve Your Marketability: Build a solid resume with hard evidence of successful work experience. Broaden your skills. Get the knowledge you need to convince an employer that you are the candidate of choice.
- Further Your Education: An internship gives you the opportunity to gain and practice important technical skills in the real-world work environment while you improve your oral and written capabilities. You also may earn academic credit.
Instructor
- TBD
Materials
- none
Assignments & Grading
| Grading Category | Percentage of Final Grade |
|---|---|
| Discussion | 5% |
| Resume | 10% |
| Student Evaluation | 10% |
| Supervisor Evaluation | 25% |
| Final Report | 50% |
Course Grading Scale
The following are minimum cutoffs for each grade:
- 93.00% = A
- 90.00% = A-
- 87.00% = B+
- 83.00% = B
- 80.00% = B-
- 77.00% = C+
- 70.00% = C
- 60.00% = D
- less than 60.00% = F
In order to receive a SA (Satisfactory) grade for IST 295, the final average score must be 70% or higher. Students who do not meet the minimum requirement will need to take IST 295 again for a conventional letter grade as per University Policy 49-60 and receive a C or better to receive the required internship credit to graduate.
Course Policies and Expectations
- Logging into Canvas - Students are expected to login regularly to check for course updates, announcements, emails, discussions, etc.
- Emailing through Canvas - Students are expected to use Canvas for all course email communication.
- Attending virtual meetings - Students are expected to use a specified virtual meeting tool(s) for collaboration, meetings, presentations, etc., as needed.
Academic Integrity
Penn State and the College of Information Sciences and Technology are committed to maintaining Penn State's policy on Academic Integrity in this and all other courses. We take academic integrity matters seriously and expect you to become a partner to the University/College standards of academic excellence.
For more information, please review these policies and procedures:
While utilizing additional sources outside of this class is encouraged for gaining a better understanding of course concepts, seeking explicit answers for graded assignments from outside sources (e.g. Course Hero, Chegg, tutoring services like tutor.com, etc.) is considered CHEATING and will not be tolerated. Sanctions range from failure of the assignment or course to dismissal from the University. Additionally, sharing course content without permission is a violation of copyright and may result in university sanctions and/or legal ramifications. Contact your instructor with questions related to this topic.
University Policies
Review current information regarding various Penn State policies (such as copyright, counseling, psychological services, disability and military accommodations, discrimination, harassment, emergencies, trade names, etc.) on the University Policies page.
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage (http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/).
Resources
Find extensive information and links to many Penn State and IST resources (including the Penn State libraries, video conferencing tools, technology and software, writing and research help, and much more) on the Resources page.
Technical Requirements
Standard World Campus computer technical specifications are assumed for this course. Please test your computer for requirements. In addition, a webcam and a headset with a microphone are REQUIRED for the course. These may be used for virtual meetings, virtual office hours, interactions with classmates and your instructor, and group presentations - which are all conducted with virtual meeting tools. No special software is required.
Schedule
The following schedule outlines the topics covered in this course, along with the associated time frames, readings, activities, and assignments. All due dates reflect Eastern Time (ET). Specifying the time zone ensures that all students have the same deadlines, regardless of where they live.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|