Internship Information - Employers
Thank you for your interest in providing real-life work experience to our students in the School of Communications!
Internship Purpose
The primary purpose of an internship in the School of Communications (SOC) is to provide a student with real-life work experiences related to the student's major. An internship is part of the student's total academic experience and is not a job per se; it is a learning opportunity having direct relationships to the student's program of study and career interests.
Students may complete an internship to enhance their education associated with any of eight
major areas of study in the School of Communications at GVSU:
- Advertising/Public Relations
- Broadcasting
- Communication Studies
- Film and Video Production
- Health Communications
- Journalism
- Photography
- Theatre
General information About internships
- They should provide meaningful work experience.
- Assignments should go beyond clerical work to include research, writing, creative, technical and other hands-on tasks related to the student’s field of study.
- There should be one primary supervisor to whom the intern should report (ideally this person will be experienced in the field).
- 1 credit equals 50 hours of work in an internship. Students do internships for anywhere from 1- 6 credits, which can take place at any time of the year and for whatever schedule best suits the employer.
- Pay is not required, but paid internships do draw more students. Info on federal law and paying interns.
- Credit for the internship is assigned by Grand Valley faculty, not the employer. However, employers will be asked to fill out a short form evaluating the intern at the end of the internship period.
The Process of Getting an Intern
We believe the internship should simulate a real job as much as possible, including the
interviewing and hiring experience. That’s why we encourage employers to submit an internship
opportunity announcement or job description, encouraging students to apply. We post these
internally in the School of Communication and in “Laker Jobs”, GVSU’s Career Services
database of jobs and internships (see http://www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs/ to register and post your
internship and job opportunities directly).
Your internship opportunity announcement should include:
• Name of your organization
• Title/type of internship
• Qualifications expected of student and duties required
• Time frame, duration of internship
• Payment, if any
• To whom students should apply, with contact information.
You may also email the opportunity announcement directly to The School of Communications via the apprpriate internship coordinator.
| Advertising & Public Relations | Professor Tim Penning |
| Broadcasting | Professor Keith Oppenheim |
| Communication Studies | Professor Melba Hoffer |
| Film & Video Production | Professor John Philbin |
| Health Communication | Professor Lorie Jager |
| Journalism | Professor Larry Beery |
| Photography | Professor Stafford Smith |
| Theatre | Professor Al Sheffield |
The GVSU Career Services Office has an Employer Internship Toolkit with helpful resources for employers hosting interns. Contact them at 616-331-3311.
Other contacts:
Deb Barko in The School of Communications office 616-331-3668
Career Services Office, 616-331-3311
Page last modified December 4, 2011
