Internship Checklist and Agreement Form

Securing an Internship 

Step 1. Look for an internship

Start the process at least six months prior to the term in which you intend to complete the internship. 

Discuss your internship plan with your advisor to determine how it will fit into your program.

Contact the College of General Studies career counselor, Carol Balk, for assistance with resources in locating an internship.

Go to pitt.joinhandshake.com (Pitt’s comprehensive career services and internship platform) and log in with your Pitt user name and password.

  • Set up your student profile and complete your Career Interests Survey to help tailor your Handshake experience.
  • Follow employers you want to work for to boost your internship search.

For international internships, see also our Study Abroad, For-Credit Internships webpage for additional steps.

Step 2. Research the site

Prepare any questions you may have about hours, responsibilities, dress code, and clearances.

Check to see if you will need to provide a resume, academic transcripts, and/or references.

Step 3. Interview at the site

Contact the site supervisor for an interview.

Discuss the hours, duties, and responsibilities required.

Let the interviewer know if you are considering more than one site; the interviewer may be considering more than one student for the position. 

Confirm the supervisor has agreed to internship.

Step 4. Follow-up with the internship interviewer

Send a thank-you letter after the meeting.

Registering Your Internship for Academic Credit

Step 5. Complete the internship agreement form

To fill out the CGS Internship Agreement Form please follow in guidelines below. 

Note: This form should be completed by a CGS student at the University of Pittsburgh with a valid Pitt email account.

Please have the following information available in advance as you will need it to complete the contact section of the Internship Agreement form:

  1. CGS Student - your name and your Pitt email
  2. Internship Provider / Site Supervisor - name and email
  3. Faculty Sponsor / Course Internship Instructor - name and email
    1. ​Poppi Ritacco - pritacco@pitt.edu (Faculty Sponsor LCJS1900)
    2. Carol Balk - carol.balk@pitt.edu (Faculty Sponsor PUBSRV1900)
    3. Mark Burdsall - pauab5@pitt.edu (Faculty Sponsor CGS1900)
    4. Carry Balaban - cbalaban@pitt.edu or Kenneth Sochats - sochats@pitt.edu            (Faculty Co-Sponsors NPHS1900, either instructor can be added to the form)
  4. Your CGS Advisor - name and email

Note: Please carefully review the spelling of your Supervisor’s, Faculty Sponsor’s, and Advisor's name and email for accuracy. If an email is typed incorrectly, it will not arrive to the next appropriate signer and must be resubmitted correctly in its entirety.

Upon your form being processed, you and each of the signers will receive a copy of the completed form to your email. By completing the signing process, you are agreeing to receive the document to your Pitt email.

  • For questions about this form, contact CGS Academic Programs.
  • Not sure what internship course to pick or which faculty sponsor to list, please visit our Internship Course Options page.
  • Please submit only ONE agreement. Too many copies will create duplicates and complicate the process.
  • A fully completed internship agreement (starting with the student, then emailed to the supervisor, and lastly going to faculty sponsor) may take weeks to complete.
  • For the status of an agreement, please contact your CGS advisor or CGS Academic Programs at cgsapa@pitt.edu.
  • For additional internship information, please check out our CGS Internships page or contact your advisor.

Step 6. Enroll in the appropriate CGS internship course

Register for the internship course with the approved number of credits. Information on course options can be found on the Internship Policy page.

Forward a copy of your completed and signed agreement form (via email or as hard copy) to your CGS advisor and/or CGS career counselor, Carol Balk.

Note: Your internship MUST be approved by your Course Internship Instructor prior to the start of the internship. If you do not receive pre-approval for the internship, as indicated by a signature at the bottom of the internship agreement, you may not receive credit for the internship. You must be registered for the appropriate internship course at the same time you are completing the internship. Tuition fees apply.