Communication

To successfully secure a place in the internship capstone course (COM 4950), students will complete the prerequisite courses listed in SAIL, attend one pre-capstone meeting to learn how to set up an internship, have their resume and cover letter reviewed by a Career Consultant, and secure a pre-approved internship.

If you wish to register for the class, the next pre-capstone meeting dates are:

• Monday, June 12, 6:00 PM
• Wednesday, June 14, 12:00 PM

These meetings will be held online via Google Meet. Contact Communication Internship Advisor, Valerie Palmer-Mehta, to receive a link to attend the meetings. Please note these meetings are open to any Oakland University communication, public relations, or journalism major or minor. You need not be registered for the class to attend. If you have any questions or would like to talk with someone personally about the internship course, contact Dr. Palmer-Mehta.

COM 4950 is a four-credit course, requiring 12 full weeks and 150 hours of pre-approved communication, journalism, or public relations internship work over the course of a 15-week semester. The value of the internship experience increases proportionately to the time students commit; however, only four credit hours may be earned for each internship experience, no matter how long the job lasts. While some employers may want students to work full time (40 hours/week), the department does not recommend this type of commitment unless it is a paid situation. Usually students start an internship at the beginning of a semester. However, they may start an internship at any time during the school year - pending approval from the internship director. Please reach out to the internship director regarding additional requirements and expectations. 

The following steps are helpful for those who would like to enroll in COM 4950, the internship capstone:

(1) Attend a Pre-Capstone Meeting. At the meeting, you will learn about the course options that fulfill the capstone requirement and how to set up an approved internship.

(2) Register for COM 4950.

(3) Make an appointment with OU Career Services on Handshake to have a Career Consultant review your resume and cover letter. Upload your revised documents to Handshake.

(4) Apply to the pre-approved internships on the Communication, Journalism, and PR Internships List. It is recommended that you follow the time frames listed below, but you should check the specific date of each employer in case it is earlier:

• Fall Term: June / Early July
• Winter Term: October
• Summer Terms:  February / Early March

(5) Prepare to be interviewed by employers by researching the company and practicing interview questions. Also consider doing a mock interview with Career Services to give yourself a competitive advantage.

(6) Once you secure an approved internship, complete the experience form in Handshake no later than the first day of classes.  

Students may apply to internships beyond those available on the pre-approved Communication, Journalism, and PR Internship List. Generally, in order to be approved, the internship must offer a meaningful opportunity for the intern to gain professional experience in a career area focused on communication, journalism or public relations. Additionally, the employer should provide the intern with 150 hours of work and mentorship over a 12 week period, and complete a midterm and final evaluation form for the intern. Additional information and guidelines can be found on the Off-list Internship Application Form which you can receive from Dr. Palmer-Mehta. Please email Dr. Palmer-Mehta directly to discuss the internship and to receive an electronic copy of the form that you can fill out and submit via email.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that "employment in media and communication occupations is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029" and "will result in about 46,200 new jobs." This demand is propelled by "the need to create, edit, translate, and disseminate information through a variety of different platforms." 

Pathways to Careers in Communication offers additional key observations. Excellent communication skills are incredibly important for both personal and professional success. Communication is the foundation of relational development and maintenance, family cohesion and workplace advancement. The U.S. Department of Labor has declared there are 16 qualities for high job performance. Ten of those qualities are commonly studied in the field of communication: listening, speaking, creative thinking, decision making, problem solving, reasoning, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, diversity and inclusion, and integrity.

All of the pathways normally pursued for obtaining a job should be explored when searching for a position in communication, journalism or public relations. Job searches can include going to Career Services, being active on job search sites like LinkedIn, conducting informational interviews, doing internships, and networking with people who may be aware of job opportunities.

Some career options in communication, journalism, and public relations include:

• Advertising 
• Community Affairs
• Content Creation
• Corporate Communication
• Customer Service
• Editing
• Event Planning
• Film & Video Editing
• Fundraising & Development
• Government Relations
• Grant Writing
• Human Resources / Employment Services
• Journalism
• Non-Profit or Project Management
• Public Relations
• Publishing
• Radio Broadcasting
• Radio Production
• Sales & Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• Technical Writing
• Television Broadcasting
• Television Production

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides additional relevant information on occupations in media and communication. 

Prepare for a career in communication, journalism, or public relations:

• Consider doing an internship or taking on a volunteer position to build networks and gain relevant experience. 
• Do informational interviews with people in your field who hold positions similar to your aspirations.
• Assemble documentation that demonstrates your talents, such as a portfolio of writing samples.
• When asking anyone to write letters of recommendation, provide them with all the documentation they need.
• Visit Career Services for career assistance. This office provides resume and cover letter advice, mock interviews, internship and job fairs, access to jobs and internships via Handshake, and more!