According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), “An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.” Internships are an excellent way for students to gain real world experience, network in their desired field, build their resume, and ultimately explore and launch a rewarding career.
The M.A., Communication and Business Leadership (M.A., CBL) internship provides students the opportunity to complete a meaningful career oriented work experience in a variety of professional organizational settings. The supervised internship experience requires students to balance both their professional worksite responsibilities and their academic course responsibilities in effectively completing the masters level internship.
M.A., CBL students have two options when gaining internship experience:
These internships are graded for credit.
For M.A., CBL students interested in creating and completing an Internship, please print the M.A. CBL Internship Guide using the link provided above. The Guide will take you through the process you’ll follow in researching possible internships, preparing for and meeting with potential internship employers, securing your internship, obtaining HPU approvals, and finally, completing your internship and internship course requirements.
PREPARING TO MEET WITH YOUR POTENTIAL INTERNSHIP SITE SUPERVISOR
Download a Microsoft Word copy of the M.A., CBL Internship Site Guide to your laptop.
The Internship Course Site Guide is written for the Site Supervisor. It outlines the internship site supervisor’s responsibilities, along with student intern’s internship responsibilities. Review the Site Guide’s contents.
Use this document in meetings with your potential internship site. It will guide both you and your site supervisor in assuring that you both have a clear agreement about the ground rules for your internship. (There are spaces to fill in your learning objectives, job responsibilities and work schedule in the document). Provide a copy of the completed document to your faculty supervisor.
BEFORE APPLYING FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT
APPLICATION PROCESS
DOCUMENT UPLOAD & APPROVAL PROCESS
AFTER APPLYING
Interns are evaluated by both their Site and Faculty Supervisors on progress towards their learning objectives. Evaluations generally fall into the following categories: performance as a member of the staff, performance on assigned tasks, professionalism and ethical behavior, ability to work with others, and potential for work in this field.
Keep in mind that your specific department may require more than what is listed below during the course of your internship. It is important that you check with your Faculty Supervisor or your Department Chair to make sure that you are aware of all additional requirements before beginning your internship. All paperwork must be submitted electronically.
You cannot begin logging your hours until after you complete the entire application process and are registered. In order to receive a “P” for your Internship, you are required to keep Weekly Time Logs of the hours that you work on-site. Please access your Weekly Time Log HERE. Your weekly logged hours will be analyzed by the Office of Career & Professional Development weekly at the mid-term and final periods of your experience.
At the mid-point of your internship (when you have completed half of the total number of required hours) both the student AND Site Supervisor will complete separate Midterm Evaluations.
Please email the Midterm Evaluation link to your Site Supervisor so that they can complete the evaluation in a timely manner AND access the link here to complete your individual evaluation. These evaluations will keep all parties up-to-date on the progress that you have made at your internship site thus far. Once submitted, a copy of these evaluations will go to the Faculty Supervisor, Site Supervisor, and the Office of Career & Professional Development.
At the end of your internship (when you have completed all required hours) both the student AND Site Supervisor will complete separate Final Evaluations. The evaluations are due on or before the last day of class for that particular semester.
Please email the Final Evaluation link to your Site Supervisor so that they can complete the evaluation in a timely manner AND access the link here to complete your individual evaluation. Once submitted, a copy of these evaluations will go to the Faculty Supervisor, Site Supervisor, and the Office of Career & Professional Development.