GWU: School of Media and Public Affairs

Internships in the School of Media and Public Affairs are open to juniors and seniors who are declared majors or minors in Journalism & Mass Communication (JMC) or declared majors in Political Communication (PCM). Students can earn academic credit for up to a total of 6 credit hours toward completion of the majors or the JMC minor. JMC students may register for 1-3 hours per internship, the number of credit hours must be chosen at the time of registration for the internship. PCM students must register for 3 credit hours per internship. SMPA 197 is offered every semester.

The School of Media and Public Affairs also offers a wide array of internship opportunities for Master’s students. Each week new internship and job opportunities opportunities are sent to our students through our newsletter and listserv distribution networks. Simply download the Application to Receive Internship Credit application and submit this form along with your completed add/drop form to the graduate secretary (MPA Suite 400). Upon approval students will then be enrolled in SMPA 297: Directed Readings and Research. The master's internship application form can be found here.

A student who wants to enroll in SMPA 197 must take the following steps to register:

1. Secure an internship position that fills the requirements for the appropriate program (see below).

2. Complete the SMPA Application to Receive Internship Credit form.

3. Submit this Application and a Registration Transaction (Add/Drop) Form (available at Philips 107) to the SMPA front desk for faculty approval. At this stage, each student who qualifies for internship credit will be assigned to a faculty advisor. Students will not be able to register for internships online.

4. After the internship has been approved, students will complete a memorandum of agreement with the employer-sponsor, which states the expectations for the internship. By signing the memorandum, the work supervisor agrees to give substantive work assignments to the student, supervise and guide the student’s performance and provide a written evaluation of that performance at the end of the semester. The memorandum of agreement must be turned in to the faculty advisor.

5. Students will also complete a learning contract with their faculty advisor, which states the specific work assignments and educational objectives of the internship as well as the topic and nature of the final work product that the student will submit at the end of the semester. All internships are graded on a pass/no pass basis. Each major has specific requirements as outlined below.

JMC REQUIREMENTS:

1. The internship must be at an approved news organization.
2. For each credit hour earned, the student must work 5 hours per week at the internship. The recommended maximum is 15 hours per week.
3. Students read at least three books related to the internship that are approved by the faculty advisor and produce a final project. The final project might be a news feature article on some angle relating to the news organization, a video package or a research paper. The nature of the final project will be determined by the faculty advisor in conjunction with the student. JMC students taking the internship for reduced credit will negotiate adjustment of these requirements with the faculty advisor.
4. Students meet with the faculty advisor at least twice over the course of the semester to discuss how the internship is progressing and the status of the final project. Students should submit a brief synopsis or overview of the final project midway through the semester.
5. Students present the final project along with a portfolio of work completed at the internship to the faculty advisor by the last day of classes.

PCM REQUIREMENTS:

1. The internship must be at an approved news organization, agency or office.
2. Students must take the internship for 3 credit hours, and work 15 hours per week. The recommended weekly maximum for a PCM internship is 15 hours.
3. Students must keep a daily or weekly journal of their activities on the job and their observations.
4. Students must read at least 3 scholarly books that are approved by the faculty advisor. Students write a 10-page paper that incorporates internship experience with the concepts from these readings. Papers and journals are due on the last day of classes.
5. Students meet with the faculty advisor at least twice over the course of the semester to discuss how the internship is progressing and the status of the final paper.