Internships

Communication and Public Relations Internships

Communication Studies (CMST) at SIU recognizes the importance of hands-on, experiential learning for academic and career development. We are proud that we have a tradition of helping students earn credit for practical experiences. On this page, learn more about internship opportunities and how to complete the process to obtain internships for academic credit. Practical experience, including internships, increase students’ marketability.

We allow students to take up to nine internship and practical experience credits. This is more than most other academic programs at SIU or other Communication programs at other universities! Just another great reason to choose SIU Communication Studies!

SIU Communication Studies graduates have completed the following internship opportunities in recent years:

Boeing Corporation (St. Louis)
American Heart Association (Chicago)
Palmer House Hilton (Chicago)
Southern Illinois Healthcare (Carbondale)
Shedd Aquarium (Chicago)
Talk, Inc. (Wilmington, N.C.)
Careerbuilder.com (Chicago)
Southern Illinois Miners (Marion)
St. Louis Post Dispatch (St. Louis)
Spectrum Science Communication
Fleishman-Hillard Public Relations
U.S. Department of State (Brussels)
Defense Finance Accounting Services (Indianapolis)
@Properties (Chicago)
and many others

View a partial list of current internship opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I earn credit for internships?

We encourage students to complete internships or work while in school to develop useful resume experience and professional skills. Students can apply for and complete internships without SIU being involved. In cases where students want to earn academic credit or are required by the employing agency to register for credit, they must complete the appropriate paperwork, provide additional documentation during the term in which they are registered for the internship, and complete additional coursework as part of the CMST 494 requirements. See details explained later on this page.

How do I find an internship?

Most students find internship opportunities through Handshake, a service SIU subscribes to for our students. The SIU Career Development Center can also assist with identifying internships. Career sites, such as Indeed and LinkedIn are also popular. Sometimes organizations will email us to ask if we can recommend students. We send these communications via email to our students. So pay attention to emails coming from siucmst@siu.edu.

Do you place students in internships?

Do I need to do an internship for credit?

How many credit hours can I earn?

CMST students can take up to 9 credit hours of practical (non-classroom) hours. Internships, practicums, and independent study count towards practical hours. 6 credit hours can be in a single category. For example, many CMST students will take 6 credit hours of internship and 3 credit hours of practicum prior to graduation. Students can take 1 to 3 credit hours of internship during the fall or spring and from 1 credit up to 6 credit hours in the summer terms (but each 3 credits must be taken consecutively as each is treated as distinct internship). Each credit hour of credit requires 35 internship work hours. Below are two typical scenarios:

Scenario 1: Student works 7 hours per week as part of the internship during a fall/spring semester, completing the internship hour requirements (105 work hours) for a 3-credit course in 15 weeks.

Scenario 2: Student completes 6 credit hours over the summer. 3-credits are received in June for working 30-40 hours per week. They submit their internships paper and portfolio. They then register for another 3-credits, which are completed in July. They submit their paper and portfolio before grades are due in August.

FYI: Students can take up to nine internship and practical experience credits. This is more than most other academic programs at SIU or other Communication programs at other universities! Just another great reason to choose SIU Communication Studies!

Where can I do an internship?

Students do all types of internships in many different places all over the world. Many students will complete an internship on the SIU campus with the Student Center, SIU Athletics, or other campus unit. The benefit of an on-campus internship is there is no legal documents or contracts that need to completed. It is okay to do an internship in Carbondale, a city, another country, or even remotely.

Can I get credit for remote work internships?

Can I get internship credit for a job I already have?

Possibly. The goal of a communication internship is to do professional communication work. It is also designed to expand a learner’s knowledge and skills. If your employer will design special projects or elevate the nature of your work (this must be explained in an email or job ad) and they consent to all the necessary legal requirements, it is possible. Several students have completed internship credit in this way.

When should I start looking for an internship?

SIU Communication Studies Student portrait

Details for Applied Communication Internships for credit

Important: You MUST complete this process BEFORE beginning an internship. Credit cannot be given for internships already started or completed. The information on this page only applies if you are doing an internship for credit. You can search, find, and complete an internship on your own if you are not seeking academic credit.

To receive academic credit, students need to search for an internship and complete the following steps after receiving an employment offer. All steps must be met for paid or unpaid internships receiving academic credit.

Step 1. Download and read syllabus guidelines
Download the Course Syllabus and Notes
Note: Students can earn between 1 to 6 credit hours of academic credit, and each credit hour requires 35 clock hours of internship work.

Step 2. Complete the necessary form
Download the Internship Details Form
As noted in this document, students must supply with this form a description of activities (on company letterhead) OR a job ad/position description and an offer letter from the company.

Step 3. Submit paperwork to the coordinator of CMST internships
Email all of the paperwork to the current coordinator of CMST internships (contact information above).

Step 4. Internship provider completes an official SIU Memo of Understanding (Off-Campus Internships Only; NOT required for on-campus internships)
This is something that is taken care of on our end; however, note that you will be copied in the initial email to the internship provider, and you may need to follow up with them if they are not completing the necessary paperwork in a timely manner. Follow-up with the internship provider is YOUR responsibility. This document certifies that the internship provider meets the necessary legal requirements to protect our students.

Be advised that it is not uncommon for organizations to reject signing the legal agreement or provide the additional required information requested. In these cases, students CANNOT receive academic credit. However, students can still do the internship on their own. Once we receive the paperwork back from the internship provider/organization, we then must submit the paperwork for the following signatures: Dean, Provost, SIU Legal Counsel. This process can take more than a month. Student CAN NOT register for internship credit prior to SIU Legal signing the forms.

Step 5. Register for Credit
Be advised that it is not uncommon for organizations to reject signing the legal agreement or provide the additional required information requested. In these cases, students CANNOT receive academic credit. However, students can still do the internship on their own. Once we receive the paperwork back from the internship provider/organization, we then must submit the paperwork for the following signatures: Dean, Provost, SIU Legal Counsel. This process can take more than a month. Student CAN NOT register for internship credit prior to SIU Legal signing the forms.

Sections:

CMST 494A-1 to 6 Internship-Communication Pedagogy.
CMST 494B-1 to 6 Internship-Debate
CMST 494C-1 to 6 Internship-Intercultural Communication
CMST 494D-1 to 6 Internship-Interpersonal Communication
CMST 494E-1 to 6 Internship-Organizational Communication
CMST 494F-1 to 6 Internship-Performance Studies.
CMST 494G-1 to 6 Internship-Persuasive Communication.
CMST 494H-1 to 6 Internship-Public Relations

Step 6. Complete Internship & Submit Portfolio
You will need to submit all required end-of-internship paperwork to receive credit for the course. Failure to complete all of the required paperwork will result in a failing grade. You will submit this work via D2L or other digital means established by the internship coordinator.

Additional Information & Helpful Resources

Here is a list of useful information and resources.

School of Communication Studies | College of Liberal Arts | 618-453-2291 |

Internships | Communication Studies | SIU

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