Internship FAQ’s

Q: What is an internship?
A: Internships are short term learning experiences in a work environment. Interns do entry-level work with a business or organization. Some students earn credit. Other’s do not. Students may complete internships during college. A few do them after graduation.

Q: Why are there deadlines for the application for an internship-for-credit?
A: Each application must be reviewed and approved by the Internship Coordinator. Once approved, each intern must be registered, files must be established, and information must be added to a database. This takes time, but must be done before the intern can participate in the online course and the work experience. Students are responsible for searching and securing internships on their own.

Q: Can you do the internship work one semester and get credit another semester?
A: No. We treat the internship-for-credit course like any other class. You register first, complete online coursework and other requirements, then get credit.

Q: Can I do more than one internship for credit?
A: Yes. There are two course numbers, COMM 4091 and 4092. You can do a second internship and earn an additional 3 credits. Each internship requires a separate application and review process.

Q: How is the internship-for-credit course run?
A: Once registered, interns complete responsibilities listed on their signed application. There is also a Canvas course with it’s own syllabus and due dates. This class facilitates interaction between interns and the professor. Interns are expected to log on regularly and complete assigned activities. The coursework is designed to add value and learning to the internship experience.

Q: When should I complete my internship?
A: Interns should be juniors or seniors. These students have valuable contributions to offer in exchange for the learning opportunity. (Students earlier in their college careers can shadow a professional or do other activities to learn more about their intended career. Ask a faculty member for ideas.)

Q: Will I get paid during my internship?
A: It depends on who is sponsoring the internship. Some internships are paid. Many are not. Either way, you will be getting valuable work experience to help you prepare for your career. (By the way, we are encouraging more internship providers to offer internships with pay.)

Q: Why would I want an internship?
A: An internship is like getting immersed in some aspect of your career before you are out in the work world full time. You can learn what you like or don’t like about a profession. You can learn more about how a particular business works. You can network with professionals doing what you aspire to do. You can gain valuable experiences that make you more desirable for that first job after college. You can add the internship to your resume.

Q: Are internships mandatory in School of Communication?
A: No. We encourage students to complete a variety of pre-professional work experiences. Besides internships, students should register with the Career Center and take advantage of opportunities they offer. Students should also find opportunities to observe professionals on the job, to do service-learning in their classes, to do independent volunteer work, and to get other part-time or full-time paid work related to their intended career.

Q: When do internships usually occur?
A: You can do an internship either during the summer or during a regular semester as long as you can complete a minimum of 140 hours of work at the internship site.

Q: What kind of experiences should I expect in my internship?
A: The SOC internship application requires you to list learning goals. Talk with your internship supervisor and your faculty mentor about the kinds of things you want to experience (and learn) during the internship. Sometimes you can get a copy of a job description from your supervisor that will help answer your questions.

Q: Why do I pay tuition for an internship?
A: You pay tuition for any ECU class that earns credit. That is, all courses earning
credit require ECU facilities, faculty, staff involvement. In this case, the classwork is done via Blackboard and the whole process is managed by the Internship Coordinator

For more information contact: Brittany Thompson, Internship Coordinator. Current internship opportunities.