COM 491: Internship

Summer 2016

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Contact Information

Dr. Steven Hammer
email: shammer@sju.edu
google+/Hangout: stevenhammer8@gmail.com
office: 301 Bronstein Hall
appointments: hammer.youcanbook.me

About

An internship in the field of Communications affords students the opportunity to obtain practical, career-related experience while still in school. Students may independently locate an internship or use the services of the Career Development Center. Students are expected to work 10-12 hours a week for the 15-week semester (150-180 hours total). While this course will primarily take place online, students will also meet in person once during Spring semester and once during Fall semester to present their work and experience to other students. Because this course is focused on professional experience and development, the bulk of students’ work will help connect internship experiences to future goals. In this course, students can expect to:

  • Learn and practice professional document genres like the resume and cover letter;
  • Develop a deeper understanding of their job market through analysis of job ads and requirements;
  • Practice speaking–both in interview and public speaking settings–about professional experience and background.

 

University and Class Policies

Academic Honesty: Please familiarize yourself with the University’s Academic Honesty Policy.

Disability Support: In accordance with state and federal laws, the University will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. For those who have or think that you may have a disability requiring an accommodation (learning, physical, psychological) should contact Services for Students with Disabilities, Room G10, Bellarmine, 610-660-1774 (voice) or 610-660-1620 (TTY) as early as possible in the semester for additional information and so that an accommodation, if appropriate, can be made in a timely manner. You will be required to provide current (within 3 years) documentation of the disability.

For a more detailed explanation of the University’s accommodation process, as well as the programs and services offered to students with disabilities, please see the Student Resources Page. If you have any difficulty accessing the information on-line, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities at the telephone numbers above.

If you have any questions or concerns about the syllabus, assignments, or content throughout the semester, please feel free to contact me.

Required Materials

Course Requirements

Job Market Analysis

> 25% of final grade
> Due 1 July

You will analyze the job market and positions in the field/discipline/industry you wish to pursue in the future, making note of common practices in several areas, including: web presence, social media, resume/CV, cover letters, portfolios, job advertisements, skills and proficiencies, etc. You will find at least three current job ads that pique your interest to help guide you. You will write a 1000-word analysis paper that covers these areas, and that you can draw from as you enter your internship and begin logging activity. For details and grading criteria, refer to the assignment sheet.

 

Activity Log/MidTerm Check-in (mid-July)

> 25% of final grade
> Due 1 August

You will keep an activity log for the duration of your internship, in which you will briefly report the work that you do on a daily basis. You will base some of your reporting based on your analysis, noting when you gain experience or skills. You will report work in three primary areas: skill, relationship, and portfolio. You will complete this log in one GoogleDocument that you share with me, and complete a minimum of 20 entries. For details and grading criteria, refer to the assignment sheet.

 

Final Report/Presentation

> 50% of final grade
> Due 1 August

This assignment is twofold. First, you will deliver a 15-minute final report to your peers that summarizes your internship experiences, frames those experiences in terms of skills, relationships, and portfolio, and outlines how your experiences help you move toward the job ads you selected and analyzed in your Job Market Analysis. Second, you will prepare a 10-minute presentation for other SJU COM majors considering an internship that will take place early in the Fall 2016 semester. For details and grading criteria, refer to the assignment sheet.