The Communication Studies Department administers an internship program designed to provide majors (and minors) with practical experience working for a business, a non-profit or government agency, or an educational institution.
Students in the Internship Program work for 140 hours over the course of the semester and receive credit for COMM 4994 – Internship in Communication (4 credits). During the Fall and Spring semesters, interns generally work 10 hours a week for 14 weeks. So, for example, a student might schedule classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday to allow for an internship on Tuesday and Friday.
There is more flexibility in scheduling an internship during the summer. Students need to work for 140 hours, but this could done by working 10 hours a week for 14 weeks (full summer) or by working 20 hours a week for 7 weeks (either Summer 1 or Summer 2). If a student wants an intensive experience, it is also possible to work 35 hours a week for 4 weeks.
Students have three meetings (in-person, via Skype, or on the phone) with the internship coordinator during their placement. Over the course of the internship, students are also required to maintain a journal and write two papers (one at the mid-point of the internship and another when the hours are completed). Written performance evaluations are submitted by the intern’s supervisor. Course grades are assigned on a pass/fail basis.
To learn more about the Internship Program, contact Sam Lotuff, Internship Coordinator, 247 Holmes Hall, 617-373-4072, [email protected].
FAQ
Communication Studies majors, Media and Screen Studies majors, combined COMM and MSCR majors, and Communication Studies and Media and Screen Studies minors are eligible to participate.
Students register for COMM 4994 after they have secured a placement. This courses is by “department permission,” so you do not need to worry about the class closing.
The Communication Studies department does not place students in internships. Our Internship Coordinator will, however, help you identify appropriate opportunities. In recent years, students have secured internships in the fields of broadcasting, journalism, public relations, advertising, marketing, and other media-related areas.
Experience is the reason why many students seek an internship. While it helps to have work experience, employers are also interested in extracurricular and life experiences that demonstrate skills that would be useful in work. So too, employers are often impressed by students with a positive attitude who are seeking to develop professional skills.
Students take an internship as part of their regular course schedule. In most instance, this means taking three classes and an internship during a semester.
Students on co-op work full-time and do not have a full schedule for classes. (Some students will take an online course while on co-op.)
While at Northeastern, many students will participate in both the Internship and the Co-op Program. Some students will use an internship to prepare for a co-op. Other students register for an internship after completing a co-op to continue their education
Students pay tuition because they are receiving academic credit for the internship. In contrast, students do not pay tuition during co-op and that means they do not receive academic credit. This explains why many students will use an internship to accelerate their pace of study.