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General Information
The Communication Arts Department at Valdosta State University offers a variety of internship opportunities in mass media (radio and television), public relations, organizational communication, and speech communication. An internship is designed to give students "real life" experience in a professional communication setting while receiving college credit. It is also designed to help students identify a range of future employment possibilities in the person's specialty area.
Assistance in selecting the internship is available, but each student usually locates his or her own internship to suit individual needs and career objectives. Cooperating host organizations participate in the department's internship program on both a regular and seasonal basis. When a working arrangement with a host organization has been established, a schedule of hours and duties should be prepared and communicated to the department's internship coordinator. Unless otherwise approved by the internship coordinator, interns will report to the host company on the first day of class in any given academic period and end the internship on the last day of class in the same academic term.
Seminars and Site Vistitations
At the end of the term, all interns are required to return to the university for day-long seminar activities. This meeting is on Dead Day unless otherwise indicated. Interns must have completed certain university assignments in preparation for this meeting. See other enclosed material for instructions.
The internship coordinator will, when possible, visit an intern and host organization supervisor during the latter part of the internship period. The intern will meet briefly with the university coordinator to give a summary report of his/her work up to that point. Following this meeting, the coordinator will speak briefly with the host supervisor about the intern's professional development and adaptation to the working environment.
Remuneration
The Department of Communication Arts sets no policy regarding intern pay. Some organizations provide a moderate stipend to help with expenses; other companies do not. The department does, however, expect a host organization to reimburse any out-of-pocket expenses a student makes on behalf of the host organization. This may include gas if you are asked to regularly make calls, for instance.