Breadcrumb
Internship FAQs
- 1. Am I eligible for credit?
- 2. I need a resume review – who should I see for that?
- 3. How do I search for internships?
- 4. How do I get credit?
- 5. Can my current internship or part-time job count for credit?
- 6. How do I choose a faculty supervisor?
- 7. Do I need an internship to graduate?
- 8. How many hours do I need to work?
- 9. How much does internship credit cost?
- 10. Can I get paid and earn credit at the same time?
- 11. Can international students do an off campus internship?
Please see the Internships Guidelines page for class prerequisites and other requirements.
Note: These do change somewhat frequently as the departments change names, numbers of courses and curriculum in general, but it will be kept up to date for the current semester. If you have any questions, contact our team.
Upload your resume and get direct feedback with Quinncia. Students can go over Quinncia feedback with a career advisor at an individual advising meeting or a drop-in appointment.
Schedule via Buff Portal Advising. Click on the Career Services tile and select CMCI in the drop-down to see available appointments. You can also schedule using the Career Services Live Chat, or by calling Career Services at 303-492-6541.
Utilize Handshake, the CMCI Internships and Jobs List, and LinkedIn for your internship search.
Need help navigating Handshake? Click here.
Please see Getting Credit for Internships. The deadline for reporting the current semester's internship will always be on the main Internships page.
This is ultimately up to professors and your faculty supervisor. Generally, if your internship meets these three requirements, then, yes, it could count for credit:
- Your internship or job duties relate directly to your major.
- You are being supervised by someone with significant industry experience who is willing to train/mentor/teach you.
- You can get at least 50 hours/credit. For details on hours worked per credit hour, see Question 8.
Note: It is important for students to know that the final decision is up to your faculty supervisor.
Currently, Communication students must contact Christy Maurer. All other students may choose any full-time professor who is in their department. Students can filter to their department’s full-time professors.
Please note graduate students are not able to serve as faculty advisors. You must select a full-time faculty member.
We suggest selecting a professor with whom you have previously taken a class and enjoyed the experience, or someone currently teaching a class you are enrolled in. If you are unfamiliar with any of the professors on the list, don't worry! Take some time to read through their bios and identify the one who appears to be the best fit for you. Contact them directly via email with your request.
For a full list of internship prerequisites and internship course codes, visit Internships Guidelines.
Currently, only Journalism and Media Studies undergraduate students are required to complete 3 internship credits to graduate. JRNL 4931 and MDST 4931 are required.
Master’s students are not required to intern to graduate but do have the option to do an internship for credit.
JRNL 5931 (optional internship credit for master's students) fulfills one capstone requirement.
MDST 5931 and COMM 5930 are optional for master’s students. See your faculty advisor.
You must complete 50 hours per internship credit. Internship credit is given to students based on the number of hours worked. Intern hours must be completed during the semester in which the student is receiving credit.
For all majors:
- 50 hours per semester = 1 credit hour earned
- 100 hours per semester = 2 credit hours earned
- 150 hours per semester = 3 credit hours earned
Note: There is a 3 credit hour maximum per semester and a 6 credit hour maximum per summer.
Enrollment in an internship course might impact your tuition, and it is expected that students contact the Bursar's Office to understand how this addition will affect their personal tuition situation. The internship course is offered as an in-person Main Campus course in the Fall and Spring semesters and as a Special Programs Continuing Education course during the Summer semester. Once students are enrolled in the internship course, they will be unable to drop without penalty.
Yes! Students often think it is "one or the other", but it's perfectly fine to have both.
International students with F-1 status, if they want to do an internship off campus, they need to apply for work authorization – Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) and get it approved before they start working, working without work authorization off-campus will jeopardize their immigration status and we must terminate their F-1 record and they will be advised to leave the country.
If an international student wants to do an internship off campus and wants to take the internship course for credits, they must apply for the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization. You can find more detailed information on the CPT website.
For more information regarding CPT or OPT, visit the ISSS Office.