California State University San Marcos Communication Department
communication degree

Getting an Internship

Verification of COMM 350E/495 Internship Placement

COMM 350E/495 Registration

Internship Opportunities

  1. Attached to this packet there are three forms you will need:
    1. Steps for Getting an Internship.
    2. Verification of COMM 350E/495 Internship Placement
    3. COMM 350E/495 Registration
  2. Secure an internship placement. Follow the Steps for Getting an Internship.
  3. Have your supervisor at the internship placement fill out and sign the Verification of Internship Placement Form.
  4. Complete the Student Registration Form.
  5. Return both Verification and Registration forms to the Administrative Coordinator for the Communication department, in Craven Hall 6135, phone (760)750-8048. A second copy of the documents must be scanned and saved as a PDF file, email to Catherine Armas-Matsumoto, cmatsumo@csusm.edu. Timesheets will be scanned and submitted via WebCT at the end of the semester internship.
  6. You will receive the CRN to enroll in COMM 350E / COMM 495.
  7. Add the course via Smart Web or...
  8. Print the email containing the "permission to enroll" and the CRN and take form to Enrollment Services at 5115.
  9. Begin your internship.
  10. On the first day of classes, log on to WebCT. In the CSUSM homepage, click on "Library." On the upper right corner, click on "Courses/Web CT" then click on "Log into my WebCT." To login, you use your CSUSM username and password.
  11. Maintain your time log sheet with site supervisor's signature. Return to internship coordinator/ course instructor by the last day of classes.
  12. Keep a weekly log of activities and participate in discussion sessions. You will do this online via WebCT.
  13. Build a portfolio of your work.
  14. Complete a 2,500-3,000 word reflective essay. It is due to the Internship Coordinator's office by noon on the last day of classes. The internship paper is an essay where you summarize your work, make observations and speculate on what you are learning. Use your weekly log of activities to keep track of interesting ideas that you will develop further in your reflective essay. Topics to include:
    • Mission/purpose of the organization
    • Who the organization serves/benefits.
    • Your roles/responsibilities for your internship.
    • Your opinion on the overall communication effectiveness of the organization
    • What your internship taught you about the academic discipline of Communication.
    • What you learned in your internship that a traditional classroom experience would not have taught you.
    • What theories or concepts from your Communication courses "came alive" for you during the internship.