Communication 317 - Communication Internship
Program Guidelines & Procedures

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Prerequisites   Application Procedures   Course Requirements   Obtaining an Internship   Contract Guidelines

Internships are among the most valuable learning experiences that a student can have while enrolled at the University of Louisville. By working part-time in a business that relates to the student's career plans, individuals will gain professional experiences and status that are essential to future success. Students will have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom, they will make important networking and reference contacts, and they'll affirm (or refute) career plans. U of L Communication students have previously interned in corporate settings, at advertising and public relations agencies, radio and television stations, magazines, newspapers, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and more.

Students may receive up to 3 credit hours (summer, spring, or fall) by working about 15 hours per week (or approximately 225 total work hours) in an approved internship position (paid or non-paid). Students accepted into the program enroll in Communication 317 and the class credit may be counted as a "300" level elective toward the B.A. Communication degree, while an internship is required for the B.S. Communication degree. Only one additional internship credit hour may be allowed at the discretion of the Department of Communication Internship Director for a second internship in a new position/job. Grades for the internship are determined by successful completion of a series of materials that are submitted at the end of the semester (as outlined on page 3), and by an evaluation from the supervisor at the place of employment. The field supervisor for the internship must hold a position normally involving supervisory responsibilities.

Student internships for credit must be performed in organizations approved in advance by the Internship Director. To avoid disappointment, students should obtain the Internship Director's approval for positions they are seeking, PRIOR to applying for credit. Internship positions must provide substantive, meaningful, new experiences to students in an organization with which the student has not had previous contact, so that the student can have an independent learning experience that includes training and socialization into a new work environment. Accordingly, the Department of Communication will not grant internship credit for past work performance. In addition, students may not do internships for academic credit with organizations for which they have previously worked (or are currently working), nor may students do internships for credit with family-owned companies or under the direction of relatives.

Internships are typically done no earlier than the junior year of study so that students are prepared for their positions and get the maximum benefit from the experience in terms of learning, career development, and networking. Internships may be done, however, as late as the final semester of undergraduate study or even as a post-graduate activity. Internships typically run over the course of an academic semester or the summer months, but may also overlap semesters through prior arrangement with the Internship Director.

Students must approach internships not merely as a "part-time" job or a typical college course. Instead, they must recognize that the internship is intended to be a professional learning experience similar to student teaching. As such, interns have not only academic responsibilities, but also obligations to the organization employing them. Student interns are expected to maintain a high standard of mature and professional conduct at all times as a representative of the Department of Communication and the University of Louisville.

 

Internship prerequisites:

Introduction   Application Procedures   Course Requirements   Obtaining an Internship   Contract Guidelines

In order to receive academic credit for an internship, students must be approved for Communication 317 by the Internship Director. Generally, applicants must meet the following requirements to be approved for academic credit:

  1. Compliance with College of Arts and Sciences guidelines: Either 45 total credit hours including 9 completed in Communication, or 60 credit hours with 6 completed in Communication. Transfer students must have completed a minimum of one full semester of academic work (12 hours).
  2. Minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
  3. Introductory academic experience/training in the area of the internship. The following Communication courses meet this requirement for each field as noted:
    The Internship Director will consider other positions and requests on a case-by-case basis. If in doubt, consult with the Director.

 

Internship Application Procedures:

Introduction   Prerequisites   Course Requirements   Obtaining an Internship   Contract Guidelines

  1. Fill out an internship application and turn it in to the Internship Director WITH a current resumé and unofficial transcript. No application will be accepted or approved without a resumé and transcript. If you do not have a resumé yet, this requirement will prompt you to complete one. Check out these examples or see the Internship Director.
  2. Obtain the approval of the Internship Director for credit and register for the course. You'll be notified when you are approved to proceed with telephone registration for this course.
  3. Obtain your position. While the Internship Director will assist you in this endeavor if you desire, ultimately this is your responsibility. You will need to send resumés and cover letters, follow-up with phone calls, obtain interviews, and secure a position. See notes on obtaining an internship on the next page for more information about this topic.
  4. Submit a written, signed internship contract to the Director. This document will outline job responsibilities & learning objectives. You will find written guidelines for the contract on page 4 of this document. You will also need to complete and sign the College of Arts and Sciences internship contract form that is attached.

 

Internship course requirements:

Introduction   Prerequisites   Application Procedures   Obtaining an Internship   Contract Guidelines

Once you have been approved for the program, obtained your position, and completed your internship contract, you are ready to start work. In order to get academic credit at the end of the semester, you'll need to turn in the following items to the Internship Director. You will receive a memo from the Director about a month before the end of the semester that reiterates these items and sets a deadline for submitting required materials.

  1. A work log summarizing daily activities, project progress, likes and dislikes, observations, accomplishments, and lessons learned. This document should make overt connections between work activities and Communication concepts/courses. You should begin this document immediately when you start work and then get in the habit of updating (like a diary) on a daily basis. You might want to open a word processing file on a floppy disk and use that as your work log diary for the semester.
  2. A portfolio of work completed while on the internship. Get in the habit of saving everything (or at least copies of everything) so that you will have samples for future job interviews or as reference tools. You'll want to save everything you write or produce, as well as evidence of events/materials/presentations that you coordinate or are involved with in some manner. You may re-obtain this portfolio after the Director has reviewed your materials.
  3. A 4-6 page, typed, double-spaced paper that summarizes your internship experience. You will receive written guidelines for this paper from the Internship Director about a month before the end of the semester.

 

Obtaining your internship:

Introduction   Prerequisites   Application Procedures   Course Requirements   Contract Guidelines

The Internship Director may have job leads or know of openings at the time of your application. You can also check with the University of Louisville Department of Communication Internship Web Page (http://comm.louisville.edu/~al/internships/ index.html). Other openings may be available through the E-recruiting system operated by the UofL Career Services program (career.louisville.edu)

You are encouraged to utilize you own resources, contacts, and ingenuity to obtain internships. It is acceptable (and encouraged) to independently and aggressively target a group of companies/agencies/media outlets for internship positions. Be sure to consult with the Director to make sure the positions you are seeking will be approved.

Positions should be sought a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the desired start of the internship and in some cases longer (TV stations and ad agencies for example). However, do realize that this course is flexible and unlike any other class that you've had at UofL. If you do not obtain a position until several weeks into the semester, you are allowed to work in a position after the conclusion of the semester to meet the 180-225 hour work guideline, in order to obtain credit.

 

Internship Contract Guidelines:

Introduction   Prerequisites   Application Procedures   Course Requirements   Obtaining an Internship

Once you have obtained a position, you will need to create a formal internship contract with your supervisor. This document serves as the formal agreement between you, the sponsoring organization, and the Department of Communication Internship Director. It also provides a basis for evaluation of your performance during the internship. This typed contract should be signed and dated once you and your supervisor agree to its contents. The Director will then review the document, potentially ask for revisions or clarification, and then will sign it as well.

Your internship contract should include all of the following:

  1. Organization, department, and unit where you will work.
  2. The name and title of your supervisor at the organization, as well as full mailing address, telephone, fax number, and e-mail address (if available).
  3. Actual position you will hold, including specific title.
    4. li>The internship duration including exact starting and ending dates, work hours (if a regular schedule) and total number of hours to be worked.
  4. Specific duties you will be performing.
  5. Your specific goals/learning objectives for the internship, connecting the position to Communication courses/concepts.
  6. Any additional expectations/requirements or agreements related to the internship position (e.g., dress code, agreed upon holidays, conduct).
  7. Date and signature lines for you, the internship supervisor at the place of employment, and the U of L Department of Communication Internship Director.

Please note: The internship contract is not an agreement for permanent employment and carries no obligation for continuance past the established internship period. Until all three parties are satisfied with and have signed this document, you do not have a valid internship and may not receive credit. The contract must be signed and filed with the Internship Director prior to the start of the internship hours.