Internships

An internship involves three people: the student intern, the site supervisor, and the CMST internship director.

• CMST majors must have completed at least 50% of their coursework.
• CMST minors must have completed all CMST coursework.
• Both majors and minors must have completed Communication in the Workplace and/or Organizational Communication.

St. Cloud State University requires all students to complete 45 credits in upper-division courses, and CMST interns may apply 8–16 of those credits toward this requirement through an internship.

Most CMST internships are graded pass/fail.

The number of academic credits a student receives during an internship depends on the number of hours worked per week.

• 8 credits = 20 contract hours per week
• 10 credits = 25 contract hours per week
• 12 credits = 30 contract hours per week
• 14 credits = 35 contract hours per week
• 16 credits = 40 contract hours per week

Students may need to apply for an internship. It is important to update a resume or curriculum vitae tailored to the specific internship. Students should also prepare a brief cover letter stating their intention to apply and review their interview skills.

The Career Center offers free resume reviews and guidance on writing cover letters.

1. Attend a mandatory pre-internship seminar. One is held toward the end of each semester.
2. Make an appointment to meet with the CMST Internship Director.
   • Begin considering desired internship qualities, such as paid or unpaid positions, for-profit or nonprofit organizations, and the number of credit hours.
   • In preparation for the meeting, reflect on CMST courses completed and type a list of 25 practical, real-world communication skills to develop, as well as 50 communication theories and concepts. The more specific, the better.
3. Acquire and complete an internship interest form.
4. Begin the internship search.
5. Select an internship site.
   • Obtain the following information about the internship: job description, supervisor name, start dates, outline of responsibilities, number of working hours, and salary.
6. Design a Learning Agreement with the Internship Director. This document is similar to a syllabus. Type and present the completed Learning Agreement for discussion, revision, and signature.
7. Return the signed Learning Agreement to the Internship Director. Once completed, students may register for internship hours.

During an internship, students participate in Internship Seminars. These monthly meetings include all students completing an internship during the semester and focus on discussing what students are learning through their experiences.

In addition to the seminars, students will:

• Send weekly emails providing updates on internship progress.
• Arrange a site visit during which the CMST Internship Director visits the internship site.
• Write journal entries reflecting on one selected skill or theory/concept observed during each internship day.
• Write a final paper.
• Create a portfolio of materials developed during the internship.
• Present the final paper at the concluding internship seminar of the semester.