Internships at CCA
Internships are a great opportunity to apply and develop the skills you are learning in your degree.
For some programs at CCA, students must complete a Required Internship in addition to their coursework in order to graduate.
Students in programs without required internships may still wish to complete a non-required or “secondary” internship. Students can complete a non-required internship in addition to their required internship. Students can receive credit for non-required internships at the discretion of their program chair.
International Students: International Student Services (ISS) must approve your Curricular Practice Training (CPT) for the internship. You must wait for ISS approval and receive the CPT I-20 before beginning your internship. Working without authorization can result in the loss of your F-1 status.
Finding an Internship
Students can use Handshake or other Job Boards to search for internships relevant to their field of study.
Faculty may be able to provide students with advice or connections to help secure an internship. Contact your Program Chair or Internship Coordinator
The experience gained from an internship can significantly launch a student's career. Many employers use the internship process as a means to screen or hire candidates early.
Enhance your professional visibility and job search success through Handshake, CCA's preferred recruitment platform. To maximize your opportunities:
- Create a comprehensive profile featuring your academic accomplishments, professional experience, and extracurricular activities
- Include relevant coursework, work history, leadership roles, and volunteer experience
- Craft a compelling personal statement that highlights your career aspirations
- Showcase your portfolio by attaching notable projects
A well-maintained Handshake profile demonstrates your professionalism to recruiters and increases your chances of connecting with potential employers.
Be sure to meet with your Internship Coordinator or your Program Chair before you start your internship search process to set goals, prepare your résumé and cover letter, review your portfolio, and practice for your interview. Connect with the Learning Resource Center for help with resume or cover letter writing and LinkedIn account setup, and book an appointment on Handshake with an Industry Professional Advisor for more support!
Once you have found an internship and you have discussed the opportunity with your Internship Coordinator or Program Chair, be sure to email HelpDesk@cca.edu (and copy them on your email) to enroll you into the CCA Internship Moodle pathway to start your Internship Learning Agreement process.
Please note this can take a couple of weeks to complete.
Note: Apply for an internship as seriously as you would for a job search!
In the state of California, an internship must provide financial compensation or significant educational benefits to the intern. Speak to your Internship Coordinator or contact CCApro@cca.edu to confirm that your internship is fair and legal
Documenting Your Internship
Students with required internships are automatically placed in their program's internships course in Moodle—usually before they are eligible to begin the internship. If you are not in your program's internship course—and believe you should be—contact the Help Desk.
Once in the internships Moodle course, there is a How to Complete Your Internship page that describes the steps to complete the internship. The steps may vary depending on your program.
To begin a non-required internship, email Help Desk helpdesk@cca.edu asking them to put you into your program's internship course. You should copy (cc) your program chair on the email you send to Help Desk. If you do not know who your program chair is, search Portal's people directory for "[name of program] chair" e.g. "industrial design chair".
As with required internships, the specific steps to complete an internships are shown on the How to Complete Your Internship page once you are in the Moodle course.