Media studies majors may do up to two internships for credit as MDIA electives, if they meet the application requirements and complete the on- and off-campus internship elements as specified. Internship course enrollment is limited to students majoring or minoring in Media Studies.
Here are some guidelines to keep in mind as you pursue your internship. If you do not have an internship in mind, you should contact CUA's Career Services office in the Pryzbyla Center. Notices also go out over the department listserv. Internships (especially the best ones) are often very competitive, and may require interviews, portfolios, and some amount of administrative paperwork: starting the application process the semester before you intend to intern is always a good idea. If you have any questions, contact us at x5601.
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To be eligible for an internship the student must have satisfactorily completed MDIA 201 and MDIA 202 and have a cumulative 2.75 GPA or higher.
- The student is responsible for identifying and making contact with the organization and fulfilling any application procedures that it may require. Information about available internships is available in the Media Studies office and through the Career Services office.
- The student should then discuss his/her plans with the Department Chair or acting Internship Coordinator and fill out a brief application sheet in Marist 105. The application sheet must be accompanied by two letters:
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- One from the student, describing the internship.
- One from the internship site, from an internship supervisor, outlining the responsibilities and hours involved for the intern, and agreeing to supply an end-of-term written evaluation.
- The work done during the internship must include substantial responsibilities in the field sufficient to justify awarding of academic credit. As a rough guideline, the internship sould involve 170 hours of work in the course of the 15 week semester. Internships with CUA offices or organizations are not permitted. "Virtual internships" are not permitted.
- Once the application process is completed, the student will be given permission to register for MDIA 502 or MDIA 503, the on-campus element for academic credit. The student then registers her/himself for 502 or 503. The student must be registered during the semester in which the internship is performed in order to receive credit.
- MDIA 502 and 503 each involve regular class meetings and written assignments. Requirements are decided by the faculty member who is supervising MDIA internships on campus that semester.
- Over the summer -- and only in the summer -- it is possible to do internships outside of the Washington, DC area, but students must still register for (and pay for) MDIA 502 or 503 and complete assignments described by the facutly member who is supervising MDIA interships that summer.
Obviously, this process may not be completed on the last day of the add/drop period. Please plan ahead.