COMM 495
College of Communications
Internship
 What Every Intern Needs
to Know
 5 Majors within the
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College of
Communications
Why you should do an
Internship
Internship for-Credit vs
for Experience Only
Internship Application
Process
7 Requirements for
COMM 495
 Overview of the
Internship Packet
 COMM 495 - how it fits
into your degree
requirements
 Internship database
 How to get an internship
location approved
3 Prong Approach
Excel Academically
Get involved in extracurricular activities
Internships, Internships, Internships
The 5 majors within the College of
Communications
 Advertising/Public Relations
 Film/Video
 Journalism
 Media Studies
 Telecommunications
WHY DO YOU NEED AN
INTERNSHIP?
 IT’S YOUR CHANCE TO GAIN
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HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN YOUR
FIELD!
TO AQUIRE VALUABLE WORK
EXPERIENCE!
TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE
MARKETABLE UPON
GRADUATION!
TO NARROW YOUR FIELD OF
INTEREST.
YOU NEED EXPERIENCE AND
FOCUS TO GET A JOB.
TO LEARN HOW TO EFFECTIVELY
DEVELOP A SEARCH FOR THE
INTERNSHIP THAT BEST SUITS
YOUR NEEDS. THESE SKILLS ARE
TRANSFERABLE TO YOUR
FUTURE CAREER SEARCH
Like to take an Internship?
 You must decide if you are taking the internship for - NO
CREDIT
 This means you are taking the internship for the experience
only.
 Or taking the Internship for-CREDIT
 If taking the internship for-credit you MUST be approved by
the Office of Internships & Career Placement and REGISTER
for COMM 495.
Freshman Students - are you eligible to take
an Internship?
 As a freshman, you may not be eligible to take an
internship for-credit; however, you can take an
internship for experience.
 If you want to take an internship for-credit or it is
required you must do the following.
 Speak to your adviser before you pursue an internship for-credit.
 Prove you have previous experience relating to the specific
internship.
 Obtain a letter from your supervisor stating that they are aware
that you have not had the pre-requisite course but they are willing
to accept you as an intern.
Taking an Internship For Experience NO CREDIT
 The College of Communications
has no jurisdiction over your noncredit internship. The College is
not involved in the internship
process other than helping you
find prospective internship
opportunities.
 The internship locations you
have chosen must agree to have
you intern for NO CREDIT.
 If the internship location agrees
to have you as an intern for NO
CREDIT, then you only need to
adhere to the requirements set
by the internship location.
 You are NOT required by the
College of Communications to
complete any assignments when
taking an internship strictly for
experience.
2 reasons why you would take an Internship for-Credit.
1.
Apply credits towards your degree.
2.
The Internship location requires you to take the
internship for-credit.
COMM 495 - Internship for-Credit
• Pay per credit (unless you are a full-time student during
the semester of the internship)
• Must register for the course
• Must complete assignments
• Receive a grade that goes towards your G.P.A. for the
amount of credits you have taken.
Only exception: you do not go to a classroom…..you go to your
internship location.
It is NOT a degree requirement to take
an internship for-credit!
Each student in the College may receive a maximum
of 6 credits of internship - COMM 495. You may take
an internship for 1, 2 or 3 credits during one
semester.
Internship Application for Credit
 Complete the College of
Communications Internship
for-Credit Application
 Write a 5 sentence paragraph
as to why you want to take an
internship for-credit
 Attach your resume
 Submit all three items for
APPROVAL to the Internships
and Career Placement Office
- 208 Carnegie Building
Use your 6 credits of
COMM 495 wisely!
 Many internship locations
require internships to be taken
for-credit. You may take an
internship for 1, 2 or 3 credits.
 If you intend to do multiple
internship for-credit during
your undergraduate career,
then you will want to split the
credits between internships.
You have 6 internship credits
available throughout your
entire undergraduate college
career.
Example: Joe Smith is a Junior in Telecom
1st Internship – will intern @ QWK Rock
during Spring for 2 credits
2nd Internship –- will intern @ Howard
Stern Show during the summer for
3 credits
3rd Internship will intern @ Verizon
during the Fall for 1 credit
Total credits used = 6 credits
1 credit = 67 hours, 2 credits = 134 hours, 3 credits = 201 hours.
7 Internship Requirements
 All College of
Communications
students must meet all
7 requirements.
 Please note your
internship location may
have additional
requirements.
#1
Pre-requisite courses must be
completed with a C or better prior
to taking an internship for
credit.
There are different prerequisite courses for each
major.
 Advertising – COMM 320
 Public Relations – COMM
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260W or COMM 370
Journalism – COMM 260W
Telecommunication – COMM
180 or 283
Film/Video – COMM 150, 250 or
242
Media Studies – To be
determined based on
internship
IMPORTANT NOTE: Film/Video students please be aware the COMM
495, internship for-credit course, does not formally count as credit
toward completion of the major. You must receive pre-approval from
your faculty advisor.
Prospective Intern:
The following pages, refer to the
appropriate check sheet for your major.
Please consult with your Academic
Advisor to confirm this information.
#2
#3
 You must complete a minimum
 Internship Contact Sheet (page
of 67 hours of internship work per
credit
5 of your packet), to be
completed by you the student
on the first day at your
internship.
 Confirmation of Internship
Placement Form (page 8 in the
supervisor section of your
packet) to be completed by
your supervisor on the first day
at your internship.
This hourly requirement is the
College of Communications
requirement. The internship
locations may have a higher
hourly requirement, thus you
must adhere to the higher
requirement.
#4
Weekly Journals
#5
THE MID-TERM EVALUATION. IT IS YOUR RESONSIBILITY TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOUR SUPERVISOR IS AWARE OF THIS REQUIREMENT TO
BE COMPLETED BY YOU AND YOUR SUPERVISOR AT THE MID-POINT
DATE OF THE INTERNSHIP (DETERMINED BY THE START AND END
DATES OF THE INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE.
#6
You must complete an internship critique at the end of the internship –
details are provided in the internship packet
#7
You must have your
internship supervisor
complete the Supervisor
Assessment Survey and
the Supervisor Evaluation
at the end of
your internship, but
before the deadline listed
on your internship
packet.
How your internship
grade is determined.
 Journals X 30%
 Critique X 20%
 Supervisor Mid-term/Final
Evaluation X 40%
 Assistant Dean’s
Evaluation X 10%
Additional resources available to you, the
potential intern and the future communications
professional:
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Internship locations other than those listed as registered internship
locations with the College of Communications
Washington DC Program
Resume and cover letter critique and preparation
Interviewing - role playing and preparation
Professional networking contacts
Professional mentors
Career placement guidance
PSU alumni contacts
Career Opportunities
JobExpo.COMM – Communications Job Fair held at the HUB March 20,
2015
“Success in the City” – Communications Job fair held in New York City,
April 10, 2015
Film n Friends – Peer networking event held in New York City, April 10,
2015
Where do College of Communications
students go to find internship opportunities?
The College of Communications has developed a database of more than
3,500 registered internship locations.
Internship locations not found through our database must be
approved as a registered internship location with the College of
Communications.
It is our mission to only accept internship locations that will provide
a viable learning experience and a nurturing environment for you to
perform the job in the career field you have chose.
This ever-growing list includes every type of communications
organization from high profile companies to cutting edge technology
companies, from premiere broadcast journalism organizations to
highly respected advertising agencies and public relations firms.
Internship profile sample.
Please
follow the
PRQCAR
Method
Interested in taking an internship for-credit at a
location not registered with the College of
Communications?
 You must have the supervisor of
your prospective internship
complete an Internship Prospect
Form and return to the Assistant
Dean of Internships and Career
Placement before you can begin
your internship.
 The prospective internship
location must be APPROVED
before you begin your internship
 It is your obligation to find out if
the internship location has been
approved.
Internships & Career Placement Office
Bob Martin – Assistant Dean for Internships and
Career Placement
208 D Carnegie Building
rpm163@psu.edu, 814-86-4674
Stephanie Girouard – Administrative Assistant
208 Carnegie Building
sfg10@psu.edu, 814-865-4349