Internships offered for credit through the Department of Communication Studies give students the chance to gain experience in the various fields of communication. Interns may work for non-profit organizations, in political communication, in human resources, in public information offices, on public service campaigns, or in other areas that inform and/or are informed by the systematic study of human communication.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to earn credit for an internship, students must meet the following minimum requirements:

  1. Have obtained (or working to obtain) an internship that will (a) allow you to work with an on-site mentor to gain professional experiences in an area related to your career interests and (b) provide you with 150 hours of internship time over the course of the academic term;
  2. Junior standing as a major or minor in the Department of Communication Studies;
  3. A 3.00 or higher overall grade point average;
  4. A minimum of 12 upper-division (300/400-level) credits earned in Communication Studies courses that prepare students to perform the internship;
  5. Consent of the Internship Coordinator.

Registration for COM 499 (Internship) Credits

  1. The Internship Application form may be downloaded from the Communication Studies website or requested from the Department’s Internship Coordinator. Complete the entire application and submit it to the Communication Studies Internship Coordinator (either hard, paper copy or via email). Approval to enroll in COM499 is at the Department’s discretion.
  2. Students should start arranging for an internship at least four weeks before they plan to register for courses. Internships posted on the Career Services website at UNLV typically qualify as Internship opportunities for COM students. ALL internships must be preapproved by the Internship as a part of the COM 499 application and registration process. Internship applications will NOT be processed once a semester begins—they are only processed for the NEXT semester. Students must not assume that because they have secured an internship with an organization that it will be approved by the Communication Studies department for COM 499. Preliminary conversations about potential internships with the COM Internship Coordinator and Career Services should occur the semester before the internship would occur and before securing the position with the internship sponsor.
  3. Students are responsible for arranging interviews with prospective on-site supervisors and negotiating their duties and the details of the internship opportunity. On-site supervisors must agree to serve as the contact for the COM department and be willing to provide oral and/or written assessments of the student’s performance during and end of the academic term.
  4. On-site supervisors finalize interns’ work schedules and duties.
  5. Students may register for a maximum of 3 credits for each internship. As a rule, the department approves a second course (additional 3 units) of internship for credit, only if the second internship is with a different organization, company, office, etc.
  6. Though students can take up to 6 internship credits, only 3 credits of internship (i.e., COM 499) can be applied toward a degree program. Additional credits may be considered general university electives. Consult with the Greenspun College Advising Center before assuming additional credits will count toward a degree.
  7. The department approves a maximum of one internship (3 credit units) in any given semester.
  8. Applications for COM 499 must be submitted to and approved by the Internship Coordinator 1 week prior to beginning of term the internship will be completed.

Grading Procedure

  1. Students work a minimum of 150 hours per internship, regardless of the academic term (about 10 hours per week for 15 weeks).
  2. Evaluation of internships is based on successful completion of:
    1. required on-site hours,
    2. several weekly written assignments,
    3. a final summary narrative,
    4. a portfolio (a professionally organized document that provides examples of work completed in the internship and other important items for career transition),
    5. an exit meeting with the Internship Coordinator, and
    6. input from the onsite internship supervisor.
  3. Failure to complete any of the requirements results in an Unsatisfactory grade (U/F) for the course.