Internships

The School of Communication at Western Michigan University is pleased to provide eligible communication and journalism majors and minors the opportunity to complete for-credit internship(s). The internship may count toward their major or minor, or for general elective credit (overall hours needed to graduate).

Finding an internship

Students are responsible for securing your own internship, but are not on their own in the process. Start with these key resources:

Handshake – WMU’s primary job and internship board, updated regularly with new opportunities from employers specifically looking for Communication students.
Dr. Chris Dobmeier, Director of Internships – Reach out for guidance, questions about internship credit, or help thinking through opportunities.
WMU Career and Student Employment Services – Offers career coaching, résumé and cover letter support, and additional career resources to help you put your best foot forward.

Earning Credits for Your Internship

If you plan to count your internship toward your degree, you must apply for internship credit through the School of Communication. Credit is optional—many students complete internships for experience only.

Eligibility

To be eligible for internship credits, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

Have a declared School of Communication major or minor
Have accumulated at least 56 credit hours
Have completed the core courses in the major or minor
Hold a minimum GPA of 2.5 or above

Credit limit: You may earn no more than 6 internship credits.

Not sure if you should apply for internship credits? Talk with Nate Robinson (Academic Advisor) about how the credits fit into your graduation plan.

Applying for Internship Credit(s)

Once you have secured an internship offer from your employer, complete this Internship Credit Application.

The School of Communication will review your eligibility and the internship details.

If approved, you will enroll in internship credit through COM 4990 for the same term in which you complete the hours.

To earn internship credit, you are required to complete coursework reflecting on the internship experience, as directed by the faculty internship supervisor over the term in which are enrolled in internship credit.

Quick Facts

Students may earn one credit per every 40 hours of internship work
No more than six credits may be earned through internship experiences
The internship course is graded Credit/No Credit
Internships can be completed in the fall, spring, or summer