Comm 490 is a 1 to 3 unit course that gives you credit toward a Communication Elective. The course is asynchronous through Canvas, and consists of reflections on your internship in relation to what you are learning in the field of communication. The units are dependent on the number of hours you devote to the internship over the course of the semester or summer session. 1 unit is equal to 45 hours, 2 units is equal to 90 units, and 3 units is equal to 120 hours. Some internships may require more hours, and if they are paid that is up to you. There is a 3 unit maximum towards the elective course.

The goal of any internship experience should be to provide you with new skills you did not possess prior to the experience. The opportunity should expand your knowledge of a particular field and explore potential career options.

Most students secure their own internship. We highly recommend you download the Handshake App through Career Services https://sacd.sdsu.edu/career/students/job-search-resources/handshake. Additionally, you can often find internship opportunities through Career Services at https://sacd.sdsu.edu/career/internship-central/internship-resources. Finally, we do occasionally receive opportunities from a variety of companies and organizations which are posted through the School of Communication Canvas homepage as Announcements.

Communication is a broad field, so there are multiple possibilities for acceptable internships. In general, the opportunity should have something to do with communication, and be in a job field where you hope to work someday. Contact Dr. Goehring to discuss possibilities.

Credit for Com 490 can be attained with either a paid or unpaid internship opportunity. However, all unpaid internships must, by law, be accompanied by the course. Paid opportunities may also be used for course credit. The School of Communication strongly encourages paid internships, but there are some industries/organizations that are more likely to be unpaid (i.e., nonprofit, etc.).

NO. An internship should further your knowledge and training beyond what a regular paying college job would. The internship should be an additional, mentored experience in a job field where you hope to work in the future.

Contact Dr. Chuck Goehring at [email protected] to start the internship process. All internships must be approved, and a Service Learning Agreement with the organization is necessary. You will not be given permission to add the course until all paperwork is complete, and your acceptance in the internship is confirmed. We do offer Comm 490 in each semester, and as a summer program. We recommend beginning the process of finding an opportunity a few months before each session to

Retroactive credit cannot be given. All credit for Comm 490 must be completed during the session you are engaged in the internship opportunity.