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Internship Information

 


Internship Requirements


How do I get internship credit/credit for MCOM 111?
How long does my internship have to be?
Does my internship need to be paid?
Can I get an internship at a "home business"?
Can I do my internship at my parent's/relative's business? Or with my current employer?
Can I take time off from my internship?
Can I get the internship requirement waived?



How to Get Your Internship Credit:
  1. Students must have completed, turned in and had their Internship Agreement and other necessary documentation approved by the JMC Office before starting their internship. Once they receive official permission, they may start.

  2. Students must enroll in MCOM 111 to receive credit. You can only sign up for classes during priority registration (there are absolutely no adds), however this does not have to coincide with when you start your internships.  However, if, for whatever reason, you are dropped from MCOM 111, you will not be able to late add-- no exceptions. You will have to re-enroll the next semester.

For example: Let’s say Faith wins an internship that starts in March. Before she can start working, she has to turn in her Internship Agreement and other documents before she can start. However, this is already in the middle of spring semester! How is she going to enroll in MCOM 111 if there are no late adds?

Answer: She attends her internship, works hard, gets paid and then when summer semester starts, she’ll enroll in MCOM 111 and receive her credit.

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Duration:

All internships must be completed before the last semester of senior year. Please keep this in mind, as many companies require that the student be eligible for school credit in order to be considered.

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Wages:

All internships at for-profit companies must be paid internships. This is to prevent businesses from using students as free labor. Students must be paid by either a stipend or an hourly wage, unless there is an exceptional circumstance.

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Licensing and Zoning:

Internships must be done at a licensed business in an area zoned for business/commercial purposes, i.e. no “home” business, street vendors, etc. unless there are proper permits issued by the city government.

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Conflicts of Interest:

Students cannot complete an internship for MCOM 111 credit in a business that is owned by the student’s parent(s) or relative(s). Additionally, students cannot do an internship in a business where they are currently employed unless the following conditions are met:

  1. The student is formally transferred to a different department than the one they are currently employed
  2. This new department is under the direction of a different supervisor
  3. The supervisor must be a professional in the student’s field of study

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Extended Time Off:

Students may not interrupt an internship, except in cases of emergency. This must be approved by the student’s supervisor and a faculty advisor.

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Waiving the Requirement of Internship:

Students who have received an adequate amount of comparable professional experience can have the internship requirement waived, at the discretion of the department. For example, if you have been working at your local newspaper for a few years, you may not need an additional internship, but keep in mind that internships are still invaluable learning and networking experiences.

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