Overview
The nature of the job market is highly competitive and most employers seek candidates with both relevant knowledge and hands-on experience in their chosen field. Consequently, all students in the Communications major are required to complete an internship for credits during their senior year by enrolling in COMM 495. Our program requires students to complete 50 internship hours per credit earned, meaning that 3 credits of COMM 495 equals 150 hours of internship experience, or about 10 hours per week during the 16-week semester. Students also have the option to either take on an extended (300 hours) internship, or complete an additional internship at a different location (conducted in a different semester), in order to earn 3 additional credits of COMM 495 that can be used toward the completion of their B.A. degree.
Communications students work with the internship coordinator, their faculty advisor, and the Center for Career Education and Development to identify and attain an internship experience appropriate to their post-graduate goals. Internships may be in any position related to Communications and must provide students with professional mentorship and a valuable workplace experience. If you are a current or prospective student seeking more information about the internship requirement, please consult the resources below and feel free to direct any questions to the Communications Internship Coordinator, Dr. Michael Vicaro, or Dr. Erica Tachoir who serves as the Manager of Division of Undergraduate Studies Advising. She can be reached via email at eec16@psu.edu or by phone at 412-675-9117.
The Internship Process
- Click here for detailed information.
- Additional tips and guides on searching for an internship, via Penn State Student Affairs.
Communications Internship Listings
- The College of Communications at Penn State University maintains a large list of authorized sites for Communications internships.
- The English Department at the University of Pittsburgh maintains excellent lists of potential internship sites in Pittsburgh, which are organized into categories of publishing, journals/magazines/news, PR and marketing, and sports. They also have resources organized around non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, and government. Those links are all accessible in the ‘Internship Guide’ section.
- Point Park University similarly maintains a useful list of relevant internship sites in Pittsburgh and the region.
- The Communication Department at the University of Pittsburgh also posts info about relevant internship opportunities in Pittsburgh.
Below is a non-comprehensive list of internship opportunities that would be ideal for Communications majors.
Pittsburgh
- The English Department at the University of Pittsburgh maintains excellent lists of potential internship sites in Pittsburgh, which are organized into categories of publishing, journals/magazines/news, PR and marketing, and sports. They also have resources organized around non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, and government. Those links are all accessible in the ‘Internship Guide’ section.
- The Communication Department at the University of Pittsburgh also posts info about relevant internship opportunities in Pittsburgh. Below is a non-comprehensive list of internship opportunities in Pittsburgh that would be ideal for Communications majors.
- Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting (90.5 WESA and 91.3 WYEP)
- Pittsburgh City Paper
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Pittsburgh Current
- Pittsburgh Magazine
- WQED
- Pittsburgh Film Office
- The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust | Internship Program
- Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
- 1Hood Media
- Repair the World
Local, Regional & National
- The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications maintains a large list of authorized regional and national sites for Communications internships.
- Free Press (MA & DC) | Internships
- Democracy Now (New York) | Internships
- WGBH (Boston) | Internships
- Free Speech TV (Denver) | Internships
- DCTV (DC) | Internship Opportunities
- FAIR (New York) | Internship Program