Communication internships at NKU

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Communication Internships

A bridge from the classroom to the professional world

A communication internship is essentially a short-term apprenticeship that gives junior and senior majors in journalism, public relations, radio/tv, and speech communication an opportunity to enhance their college education with on the job training. It's a way to learn how to be a more effective communicator by doing actual communication work under the watchful eyes and helpful guidance of a "master communicator" who is already working in the field the student hopes to enter after graduation.

It's also a chance to test the waters of the work place by applying theories and techniques learned in classes to "real world" settings in a way that bridges the gap between the classroom and the work-a-day world of professional communication. This helps prepare students for their future careers and often serves as the culmination of their careers as students and the beginning of their careers as professional communicators.

As a bridge between the academic world and the working world, internships include elements of both. They're not just classes, but neither are they just jobs.

As a class, an internship is graded by a faculty member and normally earns three hours of academic credit. It has an assigned textbook and requires students to submit written progress reports and participate in two or three group discussions during the academic term.

As a job, an internship is directed and evaluated by a site supervisor at an approved work site who guides the student in completing a minimum of 150 hours of paid or unpaid communication work.

The Communication Department has long had separate internship programs in journalism, radio/tv, and speech communication, but it is now taking steps to consolidate them so all communication interns, regardless of their majors, will have the same requirements for work hours, written assignments, and meetings. Students still register for an internship under the course prefix of their major, JOU, PRE, RTV or SPE, but one faculty member -- Dr. Gaut Ragsdale -- coordinates all communication internships.

Attention spring 2004 interns
You must attend one of the following mandatory orientation meetings:
Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 12:10 p.m. in LA 107

Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. in LA 400

Thursday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. in LA 108

Where can I do an internship?

What kind of work do I have to do?

What's involved besides the work?

How do I register for an internship?

For more information, contact:
Dr. Gaut Ragsdale
Communication Department chair & internship coordinator
134 Landrum Center
(859) 572-6136
ragsdale@nku.edu

NKU Department of Communication • 134 Landrum Academic Center • Nunn Drive • Highland Heights, KY 41099
phone 859-572-5435 / fax 859-572-6187