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College of Arts & Sciences

Internship Opportunities

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GAIN NEW SKILLS & BUILD YOUR RESUME

College of Arts and Sciences internships offer an individualized, hands-on experience that is an ideal way to gain new skills and build your resume to stand out to potential employers. Internships serve as a way to apply your classroom knowledge to real-world problem solving and projects.

Students in College of Arts and Sciences internships have interned for several local businesses and organizations, including the Richland Public Library, Fuse, Gravis Law, Confluent, Tumbleweird, the Hanford History Project, Historic Downtown Kennewick, East Benton County History Museum, and Tri-Cities Union Gospel Mission.

Internship Placement

Students are expected to find their own internship placement, and work with a site coordinator to determine a pertinent project or a set of projects. Since the availability of internships cannot be guaranteed for any specific semester, it is best for students to make arrangements the semester prior to starting an internship. An internship may or may not be a paid position. Any arrangements for a paid internship must be negotiated between the student and the site coordinator.

Handshake is Washington State University Tri-Cities’ free online employment resource for students, alumni, and employers. Handshake is a digital platform that connects students and alumni to professional full-time, part-time, internship, and on-campus employment opportunities. 

Internship Credits and Course Grade

Most students enroll in three-credit internships. As a general rule, students complete 50 hours of work for one internship credit, so a standard three-credit internship involves 150 hours of work (typically 10 hours a week over the course of 15 weeks). Specific work schedules are determined with the site supervisor.

To receive a passing grade for an internship, students will need to fulfill the requirements outlined by the department.

Course Enrollment

Prior to completing an , students are required to meet with their faculty supervisor and the department’s faculty internship coordinator to discuss their internship project. Students will then submit the online internship request form, which will be routed for department approval. Once approved, the student’s Academic Advisor will provide the student with permission to self-enroll in the course.

Anthropology Internships

Anthropology student internships are unpaid, but students earn 1 credit of Anth 498 for every 45 hours of service performed. Organizations that have provided student internships in the past include the East Benton County History Museum (Kennewick), the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission (Pasco), and the Coyote Canyon Mammoth Site (located just south of Kennewick). Students who have participated in these organizations’ internships have reported rewarding experiences, in addition to developing useful skills and important contacts to help with their future careers.

Only juniors and seniors can enroll in Anth 498, which is limited to a maximum of 3 hours total per students.

Digital Technology and Culture Internships

Digital Technology & Culture student internships can be volunteer or a paid position. While students’ internship experiences are varied, the common theme of the DTC internship is for students to apply their critical thinking and technical skills in a real-world environment.

Three credits of DTC 498 Internship are required to graduate with a BA in Digital Technology and Culture. Students may choose to do these all at once or in 1 credit segments.  Each 50 hours of work at an internship site amounts to 1 semester credit.

English Internships

English internships offer students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience working in professional settings. The student and their employer need to agree upon a project or a set of projects that involve writing, editing, and/or researching problems pertinent to the specific internship.

Students may earn a maximum of 15 credits for English 498 and typically register for one to three credits per semester (maximum six credits per semester). Three credits typically involve at least 10 hours of work per week, spread over a 15-week semester for a total of 150 hours. Other credit-hour amounts should be proportional. The student and the employer will negotiate distribution of those hours.

History Internships

History internships provide students firsthand experience working with a local organization or historical society.  Organizations and agencies that have provided student internships in the past include the Hanford History Project, the East Benton County History Museum, and the Kennewick Historic Preservation Commission. Students will work with an on-site supervisor and a faculty advisor to complete an approved project.

Students may earn a maximum of 12 credits for History 498 and typically register for one to three credits per semester. Three credits typically involve at least 10 hours of work per week, spread over a 15-week semester for a total of 150 hours. Other credit-hour amounts should be proportional. The student and the employer will negotiate distribution of those hours.