Internships

Why should I get an internship?

 Build Your Resumé

build resume

Be the most attractive and well-rounded job applicant you can be. Employers put a premium on experience outside the classroom!

 Explore Career Options

explore careers

Get your feet wet in a job market that interests you before going all in. It might lead you to careers you hadn't considered!

Diversify Your College Experience

diversify experience

Take a break from the classroom. It's worthwhile and refreshing to network and get connected with professionals in your field.


Internships are a great way to for you to get a head start after graduation. Not only do you get real world experience in your area of interest, you also get an opportunity to network with professionals in your field. These are real benefits that can be a distinguishing factor in your future job interviews. An internship can expand your horizons and get you thinking about your career aspirations in ways you never thought of. 

Your Responsibilities:

  • Get a member of your selected organization to serve as your supervisor.
  • Complete the internship contract form.
  • Complete Internship Log.
  • Upon completion, supervisors will return internship evaluation to the Internship Director.
  • Any out-of-state internships will need to gain the approval of the Internship Director.

Laurie Brady

Internship Director

Laurie Brady
lbrady@uark.edu 
Internship Director
Department of Communication

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Students receive guidance in professional development and skills training. Employers receive intelligent, highly motivated, goal-oriented students eager to learn and skilled in time management.

One semester. You spend 160 contact hours in the organization. This contact averages out to 10 hours a week.

Intern after you have completed 18 hours of communication coursework. A GPA of 2.5 or better is required before you can submit the completed contract form (see below).

Skill areas include (but are not limited to): public relations, sales & marketing, leadership, Internet, photojournalism, media production, teamwork, word processing, motivation, public speaking, customer service, persuasion, interpersonal communication, cross-cultural communication, conflict management, small group dynamics, graphic arts, promotional campaigns, surveys, brochures, information search.

  • EDUCATIONAL REWARDS: Internships provide actual application of classroom learning. You can begin to put the pieces of the college/career puzzle together.
  • PROFESSIONAL REWARDS: Many employers in communication fields only hire people with direct experience. You gain opportunities for networking and may receive offers for paid position which can lead to full-time positions after graduation.
  • PERSONAL REWARDS: Students often make career decisions based on what they learned during internships. Internships allow you to experiment with your chosen filed to identify what areas best suit your abilities and interests.

  • Submit a completed Internship Contract Form (see below) to the Internship Director, 417 Kimpel Hall, the semester prior to the internship.
  • Research Internship Opportunities the semester prior to the internship.
  • Meet with the Internship Director to discuss your chosen position at least 1 month prior to registration.
  • Fill out the Internship Contract Form immediately before the semester begins when you are doing your internship.

After your internship paperwork has been approved by the Internship Director, the internship will be added to your schedule through UA Connect by the END of add/drop for the semester in which you've been enrolled. You do not have to do anything to add the internship on UA Connect since enrollment in the internship is by permission of the Internship Director in the Communication Department.

By the end of the first week of the semester, you should appear in both UA Connect and Blackboard. If you do not appear in UA Connect or Blackboard and your internship has been approved, contact the Internship Coordinator ASAP.

  • Determine your area of interest such as public relations, media, customer relations, etc. (For a more comprehensive list of areas of interest see the Internship Application.)
  • Ask current interns, other students, and faculty about position openings. Tell friends and family what type of position you are seeking.
  • Contact potential employers you are interested in working with to see if they are receptive to participating in the internship program.
  • Check with the Internship Director or watch the internship opportunity notices on the board.

  • The position must be directly related to the field of communication.
  • Clerical work may not constitute more than 15% of the job and must be relevant to your other responsibilities.
  • You must work a minimum of 160 hours over the semester.
  • An on-site supervisor must be willing and able to mentor you and evaluate your professional communication skills and abilities.

INTERNSHIP LOG: In order to earn academic credit for your internship, you must keep a log of your internship activities. The log consists of three parts: a summary of jobs done, a discussion of your host organization's communication, and the raw data record. Each component of the log must be typed and digitally submitted to Blackboard.

  • JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY: This consists of a summary (3-6 pages typically) of your job activities. Each aspect of your job must be covered in a separate section. For example, an intern at a television station would write a summary with five sections that looks something like this (in outline form):
         1. I
    ntroduction
         2. Editing
         3. Taping
         4. Camera
         5. Other Duties. 
    Certainly the sections depend on the job. The important thing is to give each duty an individual heading. Show not only what you did, but also how it works and relates to other aspects of the job. Be concise.
  • INTERNAL COMMUNICATION SUMMARY: This is a discussion of the communication at the place you interned. Discuss the way conflicts are caused and handled, the way information is processed through the organization, what type of feedback, if any, is present, and other things you have learned in your communication courses. Illustrate your job experiences using ideas, concepts, theories, and solutions from your communication classes.
  • RAW DATA & WEEKLY OBSERVATIONS: Your observations can be broken down either on a day-to-day or weekly basis in paragraph form. This log will be valuable to future employers as you revise your resume.

You will receive credit or no credit. Internships are not given a letter grade.

The Offices of Career Connections -  Career Studio is a great place to get help with all things career related. They have lots of resources and people to help find internships and get professionally prepared for success after graduation. If you want one-on-one, individualized help, the Career Studio can help you think through the process and find ways to connect.

Check out our Handshake feeds below for an up-to-date look at thousands of internships related to your career interests.


Where can I get help finding an internship?

The Offices of Career Connections is a great place to get help with all things career related. They have a variety of resources and staff to help find internships and get professionally prepared for success after graduation. If you want one-on-one, individualized help, the Career Studio can help you think through the process and find ways to connect.

Check out our Handshake feeds below for an up-to-date look at thousands of internships related to your career interests.

 


For Employers

Companies and organizations interested in hiring Fulbright College students for internships and jobs can contact Sarah Denison, Director of Career Initiatives. 

Sarah Denison, Director of Career Initiatives
 
 
Sarah Denison
Director of Career Initiatives
479-575-7909
sdenison@uark.edu

Visit the Offices of Career Connections website for more resources for employers.

 

Also, check out the UA career platform, Handshake. All current UA students and recent grads have a profile on Handshake. Click on the feeds below for an up-to-date look at hundreds of internships and jobs posted for UA students of all career interests.