COURSE DESCRIPTION

Communications 496: Internship in Applied and Professional Communications (1-5 units). Designed to permit the student to gain practical experience in the field of professional communication, primarily at an off-campus site. Students are assigned to various business firms or agencies and work under joint supervision of supervisors and the course instructor-Internship coordinator. Requires participation in staff and Internships conferences, assigned readings/projects where appropriate. Offered only on a credit/no-credit basis. (Arrangements should be made with the Internship Coordinator well in advance of the quarter in which the Internship is to be taken, as the number of available Internships is limited.)

ACADEMIC UNITS

Comm 496 may be taken for 1-5 units per quarter.

DURATION OF INTERNSHIP

An Internship is recommended for all students majoring in Communications. The student intern enrolls for 2-5 quarter units Internship during a given quarter or during the summer. Time requirement: 2 units = 4 hours/week; 3 units = 6 hours/week; 4 units = 8 hours/week; and 5 units = 10 hours/week. The Internship is intended as a practical work experience following the completion of major course work in Communications.

REPEATING INTERNSHIPS

Comm 496 may be repeated for additional units. However, no more than a total of 5 units from Comm. 496 will be counted toward the Communications major.

If you wish to re-enroll in an Internship course, you must complete the application process in full each time you repeat. This includes submitting an updated resume that reflects the experience you've gained from previous Internships. If you plan on interning with an employer you've worked for in the recent past or at present, the interview is not necessary.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

A student in the Internship program, along with on-site and school supervisors, should select and complete an applied project as part of the Internship experience. The project generally involves hands-on experience or the identification and solution of a problem in the Internship setting. The student submits to the Internship Coordinator a paper documenting the nature of the project and defends the analysis and handling of the problem.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Internship opportunities may be further defined by the department's Internship Coordinator based on the abilities and needs of individual students and Internship employers. The Internship Coordinator may help guide the student toward an Internship that is appropriate to that student's current abilities and stage of development, but the decision to employ a student is entirely up to the Internship employer. Like any other job, you will be competing against other applicants.

Students are encouraged to develop their own Internship opportunities, but these must meet the approval of the Internship Coordinator prior to the interview. Unapproved Internships will not receive academic units.

COMPETENCY LEVELS AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Enrollment in the Internship program is limited to students who are in their final two years and have been determined to possess the background, knowledge, and skills necessary to master specified competencies with a reasonable amount of supervision. For the intern, the scope and sequence of experiences should be directed at mastery of all competencies provided by the training agency prior to the end of the intern experience.

SUPERVISION

Throughout the Internship, the Internship Coordinator typically remains the student's main resource and evaluator. The on-site supervisor is selected on the basis of demonstrated competence and professed interest in training. The Internship Coordinator serves mainly as a liaison between the university and intern employer. Interns meet with the Internship Coordinator at least once every two weeks to explore and hear case presentations on their internship experiences.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The intern is directly responsible to the on-site supervisor. The student completes assigned duties in a professional and ethical manner. The student is also responsible for documenting the nature and the extent of the Internship experience. The documentation usually consists of a weekly report, a midterm report, and a final summary of professional experiences. During the course of the Internship experience, the intern will meet with the Internship Coordinator on occasion or as the Coordinator decides.

BEGINNING THE INTERNSHIP

The student and on-site supervisor should set up a tentative outline of experiences for the student. The experiences should represent various job positions in the intern setting. Attention should also be given, during the early meetings, to limitations on the student's authority and responsibility and to the conditions of working in the setting.

COMPENSATION

Interns are generally not paid but receive compensation in the form of university credit and industry experience. Your internship employer may elect to pay you or make contributions to help offset the expenses of tuition and commuting. These arrangements are strictly between the student and the Internship employer.

EVALUATION

Evaluation of the student's performance should be viewed as an ongoing process that provides feedback through the Internship. Additionally, at the conclusion of the Internship, the on-site supervisor will give a summational evaluation.

ADDITIONAL ADVICE

Remember that the Internship employer is under no obligation to you or the university to make these opportunities available. As an intern, you are an unofficial representative of the Department of Communications and California State University, Bakersfield. Like it or not, your actions and words will reflect upon us all.

Be professional at all times, starting with the interview! Be on time and have a resume and references. A good attitude is vital, and appearance is important. Dress and groom appropriately for your environment. Also, know your place in the "food chain." Intern opinions should only be offered when asked for. If you feel compelled to make a statement, be sure you are addressing the right person, at the appropriate time. Chain of command is important. No one likes a "know-it-all" intern. Be prompt. Late interns are usually known as "ex-interns."

As an intern, your professional abilities and attitudes will be analyzed by your work place supervisor(s). This is a "closely-knit" industry, and people talk about you. Even though your immediate Internship employer might not be in a position to hire you, they might be in contact with someone who will. If you get a bad reputation as an intern, you might consider an alternate career, or at least relocating to another geographic location. Likewise, a good reputation can open a lot of doors. Good Luck!

ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP SYLLABUS

Internship Course Listing

Communications 496: Internship in Applied and Professional Communications (2-5 units)

Objectives

1. To give students occupational experience in a wide variety of organizations and jobs in public relations. These can include advertising agencies, public relations firms, public information agencies, government agencies, citizen advocacy groups and other sites as deemed appropriate.

2. To give students, through Internship placements, a range of practical experiences in the utilization of their communication skills and knowledge.

3. To provide the student with job responsibilities and work experiences that prepare him/her for a career in public relations after graduation.

Internship Responsibilities

1. Meet with the Internship coordinator/advisor prior to the Internship.

2. Work as an intern in the field of public relations/journalism/digital media.

3. Keep a daily journal of activities and observations on the job.

4. Meet with the Internship coordinator/advisor during the quarter to share Internship experiences.

5. Successfully complete the Internship.

Grading Policy

Students will be evaluated by both the on-site supervisor and the Internship coordinator/advisor. The grade (credit/no-credit) will be determined by combining these two evaluations.

FORM #1: WEEKLY INTERNSHIP REPORT

Name _________________________________ Date Submitted _________________

Place of Internship______________________________________________________

Number of Hours Per Week _____________________________________________

Supervisor ________________________________ Telephone __________________


This form is to be submitted each week by the student.

1. Objectives: What were you trying to do in this period (be specific)?



2. How did you attempt to accomplish the above objectives?



3. What happened? How did you actually spend your time? With who? What did you do? Were you assigned any jobs?



4. What happened with regard to your assignment in item #3? Relate what happened with your objectives in item #1.



5. What, if anything, would you like to change with regard to your objectives, goals, strategies, or techniques?



6. What recommendations would you make regarding your experience during the week?



7. Any other comments or observations?



FORM #2: MIDTERM INTERNSHIP REPORT

Intern's Name _________________________________________________________

Supervisor's Name ________________________ Telephone __________________

Company _____________________________________________________________

Hours Worked to Date __________________________________________________

Summarize your thoughts regarding your Internship to date. Include duties you've performed, facts and procedures you've learned, and observations you have made. Use the back of this sheet and additional pages if necessary.

































FORM #3: FINAL REPORT

1. Did your supervisor(s) provide you with learning/practical opportunities or make an effort to train you? Explain.










2. Do you feel satisfied with the variety and nature of experiences of your Internship? Explain.









3. Would you recommend that this organization be retained as a participant in the Internship program? Explain.










4. Summarize your main thoughts and observations regarding your Internship.




Your on-site supervisor will be contacted at the end of the quarter for an evaluation of your work.