Internships

Internships for Course Credit 

A recent article on Forbes discussed the importance of students gaining practical experience in their desired field before college graduation. In today's competitive job market, it is important for college students to research job listings to identify the skills and level of experience that is required for positions in their desired field and ensure that they meet requirements before going on the job market. 

What are the benefits of being an intern? 

• Internships allow students to gain experience and hone their skills while developing relationships with professionals who can attest to their abilities.
• Undergraduate students may complete up to three internships for course credit (3 hours toward the Communication major electives; 3 hours toward the university upper-division electives; and Public Relations and Digital Journalism minors may apply 3 hours towards the minor's electives).
• Graduate students may complete on internship for course credit.
• Some organizations pay their interns and/or off other incentives.

What requirements must I meet to register for the internship course? 

Undergraduate Students: 

• Must be a Communication major, Media Arts major, Communication minor, Public Relations minor, or Digital Journalism minor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
• Must have Junior-standing or higher.
• Must have completed 12 hours of Communication courses (beyond COMM 1311 or COMM 1315) at TAMU-CC.
• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0*.

*Students will also be required to have a GPA of 3.25 in their Communication coursework. 

Graduate Students:

• Must be enrolled in the Communication graduate program.
• Must have completed at least 6 hours of graduate coursework in Communication.
• Must have permission from the Graduate Coordinator.
• Must have a minimum GPA of 3.5.

How do I register for the internship course? 

Interested student should: 

1. Contact our Internship Coordinator, Dr. Kellie Smith (kellie.smith@tamucc.edu) to express your interest in the internship course. Include your A# in your e-mail so she can verify that you meet the aforementioned requirements.

1. If you qualify for an internship, arrange a meeting with Dr. Smith to discuss your interests and to obtain a list of placements that are available in the community.

1. Once you have secured an internship, Dr. Smith will provide you with two electronic forms that will need to be filled out. Upon submission of the completed forms, you will be registered for the internship course.

What type of work is expected to receive a grade for the internship course? 

Interns will: 

• Complete 120-150 hours of work in the internship.
• Submit monthly work logs to the Internship Coordinator.
• Submit a 4-5 page midterm benchmark essay.
• Submit a final portfolio suitable for inclusion in a job portfolio

A confidential evaluation/verification of hours completed and signed by the intern's supervisor is also required for students to receive course credit. The course is graded Credit/No Credit. 

Where can I serve as an intern? 

Internship opportunities exist on campus, throughout Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend area, across the state of Texas, nationally, and internationally. Do some research and open your mind to a wide range of possibilities! The only limitation is that students may not intern at their place of employment and may not repeat an internship for additional hours of course credit. 

We recommend reviewing the current list of available internships (e-mail Dr. Sollitto), visiting the Department of Communication and Media on Facebook, searching listings on Hire an Islander, contacting Career Services, and calling or visiting the website of organizations that you may be interested in interning for. 

Organizations that have sponsored TAMU-CC Communication interns in the past include: