COSC 493 Internship in Computer Science

Catalog Description

Prerequisites: COSC 105, COSC 110, COSC 210, COSC 220 (except L&S track), COSC 300, COSC 310, COSC 319, COSC 341, COSC 380, other courses depending on type of internship position desired, completion of application, and selection by a faculty committee. COSC 319, COSC 341, and COSC 380 prerequisite may be waived when registering for first six credit hours.

Positions with participating companies provide students with paid experience in computer science under supervision of the companies and faculty. Requirements include three on-site consultations (one during first six credit hours and two in final six credit hours), two university consultations (one during first six credit hours and one in final six credit hours), completion of progress reports, oral presentation (final six credit hours only), and a final cumulative paper (final six credit hours only). An internship is offered only to students who have completed their sophomore year. No more than two credit hours of the first six credit hours of COSC 493 and two credit hours of the last six credit hours of COSC 493 may be applied toward the credit hour requirement for a major in Computer Science.

Internship can be completed as one 12-credit-hour unit over a minimum of twenty-three weeks, or in two six-credit-hour units each over a minimum of twelve weeks.

COSC 493 is designated writing intensive. As such, an internship requires completion of designated writing intensive components.

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:‎

1. Apply what they have learned in the classroom to the corporate setting, and make professional contributions to the organization in which the student is placed.
2. Learn concepts in the computing field that are difficult to teach in the classroom, such as user interaction, testing, and software configuration management.
3. Experience the business and industrial environment in which a computer professional must learn to function.
4. Grow professionally, emotionally, socially, and intellectually.
5. Sharpen their focus on career goals and course selection to reach those goals.
6. Develop writing skills that are necessary in the professional world of computing.

Course Requirements and Procedures

In order to be considered and approved for an internship:

1. The student must have completed or enrolled at the time of application in the following courses: COSC 105, COSC 110, COSC 210, COSC 220 (except L&S track), COSC 300, COSC 310, COSC 319, COSC 341, and COSC 380. A student preparing for a specialized area of computer work may offer a different set of courses than those listed above provided a suitable internship is available. Such cases will be decided individually. COSC 319, COSC 341, and COSC 380 prerequisite may be waived when registering for the only the first six credit hours.
2. To be approved unconditionally, a student must have an overall GPA of 2.75 or better and a GPA in Computer Science courses of 3.0 or better and meet the other requirements fully. To be conditional, the student must have an overall GPA of 2.5 or better and a GPA in Computer Science courses of 2.5 or better and have met the other requirements, with the possible omission of not more than one of the courses listed in requirement 1. Internship candidates will be identified by program, coursework completed, and academic record; then presented to potential employers. Information provided to potential employers will include the unconditional/conditional designation. Other students will not be eligible for an internship.
3. The student who is applying must have completed or be enrolled in a total of 57 credits or more.
4. The student must complete an Application for Internship, and submit this with an appropriate resume.
5. The student must be approved by the Computer Science faculty.

Approval by Computer Science faculty does not guarantee placement. Enrollment in internship is subject to successful placement at a participating company. For students electing to complete an internship in two six-credit-hour units, there is no guarantee to be placed at the same company for both units.

While on an Internship

1. The student must work a normal work week (usually forty hours) for a minimum of twenty-three consecutive weeks when registered for 12 credit hours (twelve consecutive weeks when registered for six credit hours).
2. The amount the student is paid should be at least 75 percent of the salary paid by the employer to an entry-level programmer/analyst, but no less than 150 percent of the current minimum wage.
3. The student must host the university supervisor at three on-site visits (one during first six credit hours and two in final six credit hours) and come back to campus twice (one during first six credit hours and one in final six credit hours) for a campus visit. If the site is over 300 miles away, then phone calls and/or e-mails may be substituted for one university supervisor visit and one campus visit.
4. The student must keep a daily log of the internship experience, including work assignments and learning experiences.
5. Upon completion of 12 credit hours, the student must write a comprehensive paper which details the complete internship experience. If registered for only the first six credit hours, the student must produce an outline of the internship experience for the first unit. The outline is to be incorporated into the comprehensive paper on completing the final six credit hours.
6. Upon completion of 12 credit hours, the student must make a professional oral presentation of the internship experience.
7. The student must maintain a writing portfolio that contains copies of all writing done, including business letters, memos, and software documentation.

After Completing Six Credit Hours of Internship (either as a six credits or 12 credits)

1. The student must be enrolled at IUP as a full-time student the semester immediately after an internship experience.
2. During the semester immediately following the internship, the student must successfully complete a Computer Science elective course.

The semester must be completed as prescribed in order to fulfill the COSC 320 or COSC 493 requirement for graduation. This may be waived with approval of the Computer Science Department chair.

Special Features of the Computer Science Internship Program

1. All internships are paid at least 75 percent of the salary paid by the employer to an entry-level programmer/analyst, but no less than 150 percent of the current minimum wage.
2. The internship is for a minimum of twenty-three weeks for 12 credit hours (or twelve weeks for each six credit hours).
3. The student applies to the Computer Science Department and the department places them. (Student may supply the department with leads for an internship site, and may then be the primary candidate for that site.)
4. A formal presentation of the internship is given at the end of 12 credit hours to faculty and students on campus. Company representatives and family are invited to attend.
5. The student receives six to 12 credits for the internship work, and is graded using the normal grading system.
6. Only completion of 12 credit hours fulfills COSC 493 or COSC 320 requirement.
7. Only completion of 12 credit hours fulfills Liberal Studies writing intensive requirement.

Evaluation Methods

The final grade for the course will be determined as follows:

* designates a writing-intensive component.

Required Textbooks, Supplemental Books, and Readings

The student normally does not purchase any books, but must read books that include corporate standards manuals, language and software package manuals, reference manuals, users manuals, etc.

Special Resource Requirements

Each student will be required to:

1. Purchase or generate a daily log/internship booklet
2. Utilize computerized presentation software for the professional oral presentation.

• Computer Science Department
• Stright Hall, Room 319
  210 South Tenth Street
  Indiana, PA 15705
• Phone: 724-357-2524
• Fax: 724-357-2724

• Office Hours
• Monday through Friday
• 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.