Internships

Communication Studies (CMST) Internship Program

Your classroom experiences in Communication Studies provide you with the ability to think critically and give you valuable, applicable skills including presenting, writing, listening, group work, and decision-making. Internships build on that knowledge, allowing you to put what you learned into practice in an organization.

Internships are where theory meets practice, practice meets real life, and your higher education meets employment.

Internship Program Benefits

As interns, Communication Studies majors receive the real-world experience employers want while earning college credit.

Our CMST students have interned at local, regional, and national organizations. The list includes, but is not limited to:

• Alzheimer’s Association
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
• International Storytelling Center
• Harvey Willis
• Mountain Empire Literacy Outreach
• Shelter Insurance
• Washington County Public Library

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the CMST Internship Program you must:

• Be a declared Communication Studies major.
• Have a minimum overall 3.0 GPA.
• Have completed 60 credit hours.
• Have completed COMM 2330: Communication Theory (formerly SPCH 2330), with a “C” or better.
• Have completed or be enrolled in COMM 4346: Business & Professional Communication (formerly SPCH 4346).
• Complete and submit an Internship Application before the deadline for the semester in which you wish to do your internship.

Application Deadlines

Internships are typically arranged and approved the semester prior to the semester when the internship is to begin (i.e., spring semester internships are approved the previous fall). It is necessary you plan ahead to meet the deadlines. Late applications will not be accepted.

• Applications for fall semester internships are due no later than August 31 at 5 PM.
• Applications for spring semester internships are due no later than November 30 at 5 PM.
• Applications for summer session internships are due no later than April 30 at 5 PM.

How to Apply

Steps to Apply for a Communication Studies (CMST) Internship

1. Complete the Internship Application and turn it in to Dr. Herrmann. His office is located in Campus Center Building, Room 224.
2. TEN DAYS after the application deadline, contact Dr. Herrmann to see if your name is on the "Internship Approval List."
   1. If you are in the process of taking COMM 2330: Communication Theory, your approval will be provisional until you have completed that course with a minimum grade of C.
   2. If approved, you must ask the Internship Program Director (Dr. Herrmann) for a permit to register for COMM 4380 - Communication Studies Internship.
3. Once approved, locate a sponsor† and arrange your internship through one of the following ways:
   1. Internship Board: The Internship Board is located in the hallway of Campus Center Building next to room 224. The clients are approved and may be contacted directly.
   2. Find an internship on your own: If you have found an organization to sponsor you but they are not listed on the board, have the company representative fill out and submit a Sponsor Application. All organizations must be approved by the Internship Program Director. Not all internships will be approved.
4. Fill out and sign the Internship Contract. Your sponsor must also sign the contract. Submit the completed contract to the Internship Program Director for final approval.
   1. Completed contracts must be in your file by the first day of classes for the semester/session during which your internship is scheduled.
   2. Students are encouraged to submit their completed contracts as soon as possible to confirm that their internship is approved before the semester begins.
   3. If your internship contract is not approved, you will need to find a different internship before the deadline.
5. Plan your schedule to attend the bi-weekly COMM 4380 - Communication Studies Internship class meetings (one 50-minute session with the Internship Program Director and other student interns)

†Internship opportunities should draw significantly upon your communication studies education and skills.