Northeastern State University

College of Liberal Arts

Department of Communication, Art, & Theatre

Tahlequah, OK

(last updated 12/18/11)

 

INSTRUCTOR:

Amy Aldridge Sanford, PhD

351 Seminary Hall

aldridga@nsuok.edu

 

COURSE TITLE AND NUMBER:                                   CLASS DAYS & TIME:

MC 5983 Media Internship                                                   By Arrangement

 

PREREQUISITES:

Approval of Graduate Director

           

CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF COURSE:

This course is a supervised practical experience in a mass communication environment, such as a newspaper, radio or television station, public relations operation or advertising agency.  Note: Students cannot apply more than three (3) hours of internship credit to a graduate degree.

           

COURSE PURPOSE:

This course should provide students with educational experiences that are not available on a traditional university campuses.  These experiences reinforce classroom education, offer a lab where a student can apply classroom education, and offer an expanded education owing to the cost prohibitive nature of the working tools used by contemporary media.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The student willÉ

į      Identify an organization where they would like to perform a media internship.

į      Secure permission to intern at the organization.

į      Spend a minimum of 10 hours per week at the organization during the course of a 16-week semester or 20 hours per week during the 8-week semester.

į      Submit a minimum of 14 weekly internship reports.

į      Submit a portfolio, rˇsumˇ, and final paper centered on the internship experience.

           

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: (Required Textbook)

None

 

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:

Minimum requirements for a studentÕs participation in an internship program are (1) a 3.0 GPA in all university work; (2) submission of all necessary forms; (3) the maintaining of formal student/faculty intern meetings that specifically deal with this application for an internship; and (4) attendance at a general intern meeting with the intern adviser.

 

Note that an internship can be entered into only after the participating media supervisor and the department adviser have had a full dialogue regarding the individual student request.  Please note that a studentÕs request for an internship can be denied if it is determined that a specific internship may not be beneficial to all parties.

 

STUDENT PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES: (Attendance/Punctuality)

Each student is required to work a minimum of 10 hours per week during a 16-week semester or 20 hours per week during an eight-week summer semester.

 

Administrative Withdraws: 

Students who enroll this course and have poor attendance and/or poor participation (as determined by the instructor) may be administratively withdrawn (involuntarily). Students who are administratively withdrawn will be responsible for payment and repaying any financial aid received for the course or courses that must be returned to the provider. If you are concerned about your absences, progress, or success in a particular course, meet with your instructor immediately.

 

ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES:

By the end of Week 1:  Agreement Forms (email to Amy or deliver in person).  The internship cannot formally begin until Amy has received and approved the agreement forms.

 

Weeks 2-14:  Weekly Intern Reports sent to aldridga@nsuok.edu .  (Amy will confirm receipt.  No more than one intern report should be sent in a week.  Each internship report is worth a maximum of 10 points.)

 

Weeks 8 and 15:  Evaluations by Media Supervisor (have supervisor FAX or email to Amy).  The grades given by the supervisor are averaged into your final grade.  A zero will be averaged into your grade for any evaluation that is not sent to Amy.

 

Week 15:  Submit portfolio and final paper to Amy.

 

Portfolio:  The portfolio should include work completed during the internship, the internÕs most up-to-date rˇsumˇ, copies of the weekly intern report, and anything else the intern believes is important and relevant to the internship experience.  The portfolio is worth 100 points.

 

Final Paper:  The final paper should include data from your internship reports AND application of research from your communication courses. You need a minimum of 8 pages (not including the cover page, abstract, appendix, or references).  Papers much conform to APA standards.  The completed papers should be emailed to aldridga@nsuok.edu by the Friday before FinalsÕ Week.  Amy will confirm receipt.  Papers received after the deadline will be counted late and one letter grade will be deducted for every day the paper is late (including the weekend).  The final paper is worth a maximum of 200 points.

 

STUDENT EVALUATION:

Student evaluations will occur on an ongoing basis.  A studentÕs final grade will be jointly determined by the media supervisor and intern adviser.  Essential elements in the evaluation process include (1) the student internÕs timely submission of comprehensive weekly written reports, including detailed outlines of the internship work schedule and analyses of work assignments and learning experiences; (2) the media supervisorÕs and intern adviserÕs evaluation of such matters as the internÕs work ethic, eagerness to learn, and cooperation.  Part of this evaluation includes the media supervisorÕs timely completion of the midterm and final grade report; (3) at the end of the semester each student should have a portfolio, rˇsumˇ and paper to present for evaluation to his/her intern adviser.

 

Please go to http://offices.nsuok.edu/academicaffairs/SyllabiInformation.aspx for required information pertaining to:

 

Academic Misconduct

American Disabilities Act Compliance

Inclement Weather/Disaster Policy

Teach Act

Accessibility

Release of Confidential Information  

 

 

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