Gain Field Experience
An internship is your window into your future profession. It’s a chance to explore an industry, build your network and garner critical professional experience.
The “CM421 Communication Internship” course is designed to companion your internship. It is meant to set guidelines for your on-site experience, and the course is designed to bridge the distance between the academic world and the professional world.
The internship coordinator, Professor David Belz, will serve as an advisor to all students taking this course. In some cases students experience difficulties with their internships, if this is the situation you find yourself in, Prof. Belz will be able to help resolve the problem. If problems do arise, tell your course instructor immediately, do not wait three or four weeks to address the problem. You can reach Prof. Belz via e-mail (dbelz@loyola.edu).
Get experience, Earn Credit
An internship is a type of employment that provides a person with the opportunity to gain valid career experience before actually entering the work force. Internships can either be for payment or for credit. Obtaining an internship while in college is becoming more and more important these days. The job market is extremely competitive and an internship is an excellent way to gain the extra edge over the competition.
Who does internships?
Anyone can, and everyone (at least in our department) should do at least one internship prior to senior year. Whether you’re an advertising major or your focus is non-fiction prose, there’s an internship out there for you. It’s all about “experiencing” your field, testing your interests or even trying out new ones.
Why do I want one?
Experience. Experience plays a key role in the process of finding a job after college. Experience makes you a better candidate for any job you are looking for. It is very advantageous to do at least one internship before graduating. The knowledge you will gain and the hands-on, day to day dealings you will have in a professional work environment will be invaluable.
Would I like this job?
Internships also provide an opportunity to find out what types of jobs you like and which jobs you dislike. You may intern at a radio station and find out you love it, or you may intern at a newspaper and discover you do not want to be a reporter. Either way, you have made a discovery that would not have been possible without an internship.
Would I like this job culture?
By doing an internship you also get the chance to see how the workplace functions: how people dress, interact, how meetings are run, etc. This will help you when it come to starting your own career. You will be more comfortable and secure in your new work place.
Networking
One of the most important aspects of having an internship is having the opportunity to network. While you are gaining hands on experience you are also interacting with people in your future career field. Working alongside these individuals allows you to make contacts which will greatly help you in your job search after college. In addition to interacting with these individuals, you also get the opportunity to show your skills and prove your abilities.
Interns get hired
Research shows that graduates with internship experience have an edge over other candidates.
Why Intern?
Interning has multiple benefits. First, it provides an opportunity to gain professional skills. There’s also the benefit of “trying before you buy”… seeing if the field fits your interests before you take a job that’s not quite right for you.
Find an Internship
If you’re just starting your search, visit Loyola’s Career Center or visit Internships.com, or check out our archives (no longer maintained) of local companies/organizations interested in Loyola CM majors. Contact the internship directly to apply.
Requirements for Credit
In order to receive college credit for an internship you must take the communication internship course CM421 (or CM423 for 1-credit, which doesn’t count toward graduation requirements) concurrent with the internship. Permission to register for the course is granted on the assumption that student and advisor both understand the following:
- It is Loyola University Maryland policy that sophomores, juniors and seniors may receive academic credit for taking an internship.
- The internship may be paid or unpaid.
- Only internships that provide on-site supervision will be approved (i.e., “virtual/remote” internships are not permitted).
- Two internships (and only two internships) may be counted toward graduation.
- CM421 can be counted as an Intermediate Course or a Free Elective Course for the Communication major or minor.
- It is the student’s responsibility to make the arrangements for the internship. Although there is some flexibility, internships average 120-150 hours (roughly 8-10 hours per week for 15 weeks) of on-site internship work. Faculty in the Dept. of Communication can give advice about places to do internships, but finding and arranging the internship is done by the student.
- During the semester that the internship is taking place, there may be meetings with the intern coordinator, though most of the work is done via Moodle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What requirements does CM421 fulfill in the CM major/minor?
CM421 counts as an Intermediate Course or a Free Elective Course for the Communication Major or the Communication Minor.
Q: Communication internships are not required. Should I do one anyway?
Q: Communication internships are not required. Should I do one anyway?
Yes. Internships are a great way to learn about careers, to get experience, and to make job contacts. Internships allow you to sample different kinds of work; sometimes finding out that a given job is not for you can be extremely valuable to you.
Q: When can I do a Communication internship for credit?
During Sophomore, Junior or Senior years or summers as rising Juniors or Seniors years via CM421.
Q: Which courses count as internships?
CM421 Communication Internship (and the CM423 one credit internship) in addition to internship courses in other Loyola majors.
Q: May I do more than one internship for credit?
Yes. The first TWO internships may count toward degree credit and subsequent internships are taken for non-degree credit; that is, only the first two counts toward completion of your graduation/degree requirements.
Q: How can I fit an extra internship for credit into my program of courses if only one counts toward my undergraduate degree?
If you take more than the minimum number of courses (40) or credits (120) for undergraduate degree completion. Students with transfer credits, sixth courses during the Fall or Spring Semesters, and summer courses might accrue on their transcripts more than the minimum courses required for graduation.
Q: Why would I do more than two internships for credit if they won’t count toward my graduation requirements?
Some employers give internships only if the students receive course credit; you might want one of those internships. Plus, the more experience the better?
Some employers give internships only if the students receive course credit; you might want one of those internships. Plus, the more experience the better.
Q: Communication internships are not required. Should I do one anyway?
Q: Communication internships are not required. Should I do one anyway?
Yes. Internships are a great way to learn about careers, to get experience, and to make job contacts. Internships allow you to sample different kinds of work; sometimes finding out that a given job is not for you can be extremely valuable to you.
Q: Can I get paid for an internship and also receive course credit?
YES! The university allows paid internships to count for credit.
Q: Which courses count as internships?
CM421 Communication Internship (and the CM423 one credit internship) in addition to internship courses in other Loyola majors.
Q: How many professional internships should I do?
As many as you can manage. Most students should do two with different employers to get a variety of experience. It is not uncommon for Communication students to do three internships. Some internships might be for pay instead of credit.
Q: How can I fit an extra internship for credit into my program of courses if only one counts toward my undergraduate degree?
If you take more than the minimum number of courses (40) or credits (120) for undergraduate degree completion. Students with transfer credits, sixth courses during the Fall or Spring Semesters, and summer courses might accrue on their transcripts more than the minimum courses required for graduation.
Q: Why would I do more than two internships for credit if they won’t count toward my graduation requirements?
Some employers give internships only if the students receive course credit; you might want one of those internships. Plus, the more experience the better?
Some employers give internships only if the students receive course credit; you might want one of those internships. Plus, the more experience the better.
Q: Does Loyola assign an internship to me, or do I arrange for my own internship?
You must arrange your own internship. You are more likely to be suited to an internship that you research and apply for. We have contacts for internships in the Baltimore area.
Q: How can I find out what communication internships are available?
Check Loyola’s Career Center site and Internships.com to posted internships. Browse our archives (old listings, so you’ll need to check with the employer’s site for up-to-date contact information).
Q: Can I do an internship without taking CM421?
A: Yes, but it won’t count as a course, and it won’t end up on your transcript. Some internships (most TV stations, the Baltimore Sun) require that you receive academic credit while interning.
Q: To get credit for an internship, do I have to pay for it?
A: Yes. After all, it counts as an elective, so you must pay for the 3-credit CM421 just as you would any other class. If you are required by your internship to receive internship credit, but don’t want to register for the 3-credit course, you can register for CM423 for one credit (this won’t fulfill any degree or graduation requirement). Check with the Records Office for current fees. The course may be included in your tuition depending on the number of credits you’re currently taking. If taking the course over the summer, you must pay for the course.
Q: If I do a summer internship, when do I take the internship course?
A: You register for it as a summer class. If your internship is in another region (NY, LA, etc), you will communicate with the coordinator regularly via Moodle or e-mail.
Q: Can I intern anywhere I want?
A: An internship must pertain to your study — somewhere within the field of communication. Interning as a clerk in a law firm doesn’t cut it unless you’re researching communications law. Working for McDonald’s won’t fly unless you’re working in their advertising or public relations branches. Interning at Bank of America makes no sense unless you’re in their in-house graphics department. Of course, these are just examples. It’s best if you think outside of the box when internship hunting: everyone applies for internships at the big media outlets (the Baltimore Sun, WBAL-TV, etc). Think creatively and you’ll score a unique, quality internship!
Q: How much time must I commit to the internship?
A: You must complete at least 120-150 hours during the course of your internship. This is roughly 8-10 hours per week.
Q: Are there any restrictions as to where I take an internship?
A: No. If it’s during Spring or Fall semester, the internship generally needs to be within commuting distance. Students have commuted to Washington, Alexandria, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Annapolis and other regional locales. By choosing a summer internship, you open yourself to other markets such as New York, Los Angeles, even abroad! Many on-campus departments/offices offer communication internships, as well.
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