Qualifications

• Must have Junior / Senior standing (at least 60 hours)
• Must have 2.5 overall grade point average
• Must have permission of Internship Coordinator
• Must have appropriate pre-requisites for your major:
  • Video and Film Production
    • VFP 2130
  • Media Management:
    • EMC 4430
    • and one of:
      • EMC 3030
      • EMC 3110
      • EMC 4010
      • EMC 4140
  • Photography
    • PHOT 3040
    • PHOT 2050
    • PHOT 3110
  • Animation
    • ANIM 3040
    • ANIM 3310
    • VFP 1060
  • Interactive Media
    • IAM 2500
    • IAM 3060
    • IAM 3065
      

An internship is not REQUIRED for graduation in most programs, but it is strongly recommended.

• Interactive Media DOES require an internship.
• Media Management requires either an internship or capstone course.

Type of Internship

There are two types of internships – those developed by the student and those maintained by the department. Student attained internships require departmental approval for academic credit PRIOR to your accepting the internship. Departmental approval will be based on the proposed internship plan, the student’s academic qualifications and the potential employer’s ability to provide a quality experience for the student.

For internships maintained by the department, qualified candidates will be notified of their status by the employer and instructed to contact a specific on-site supervisor for an interview. Students are selected by the employer based on their own merits.

Internship experiences fall into one of two categories. Interns can either be assigned to a specific department for the length of the internship, or they can be rotated through several positions. It will be determined by the employer and the student which internship experience will be provided during the semester.

Work Schedule / Credits

Individual work schedules for interns are normally a matter for the on-site supervisor and the intern to
work out each semester. A copy of the proposed work schedule is then to be provided to the faculty
internship coordinator within the first two weeks of the internship.

NOTE: Although six hours of internship are possible, only three hours may be worked during any
single semester.

You must be enrolled in the class BEFORE you begin working for the employer. For interns who want
to begin work before the formal beginning of the semester, please see the faculty coordinator for possible
options.

Minimum requirements

• Interns must be treated in the manner required by State, Federal, and local law, including wage payment laws. Employers should consult with their private legal counsel in this regard.
• Employers wishing to provide unpaid internships should discuss the proposed internship with their private legal counsel to determine whether payment is required under U.S. Department of Labor criteria.
• Practicum or internship students must complete a minimum number of experiential hours to receive credit. Here are the minimum requirements:
  • 1 credit hour = 75 work hours within the semester
  • 2 credit hours = 150 work hours within the semester
  • 3 credit hours = 225 work hours within the semester

Supervisors, mentors or others evaluating the student may not be family or friends of the student. 

Evaluation / Grading

Internship sponsors will be asked to email the Internship Coordinator an evaluation for the intern at the
end of the internship experience. The sponsors are not required to discuss their evaluations with the
student, but they are encouraged to meet with you to provide feedback.

Interns are required to file both a diary of one week of their experience and a final evaluation of the
internship at the end of the semester. Failure to submit these reports will result in an F for the class. If you
receive an Incomplete at the end of the semester it is because I did not receive the evaluation from your
sponsor.

This course is a P/F class. An F will be given to an intern only at the request of the supervisor for failure
to complete the internship successfully, or because the student failed to submit the reports by the deadline.

• Attend Internship meeting semester prior to registering
• Review Internship database for position leads
• Contact advisor and internship coordinator for leads

Dr. Roger Heinrich
roger.heinrich@mtsu.edu
615-904-8565

1. Submit an Internship application. Remember: Application will NOT be approved until complete
2. If approved, a permit will be issued for student to register for the class.
3. Attach a current resume and transcript to the application.
4. Also attach a cover letter containing a statement of personal goals. You can either attach a copy of
   your cover letter written to the employer, or write one specifically to attach to your application.
5. Submit completed application with the internship coordinator prior to the start of the semester you
   plan to intern.
6. Once the internship is finalized and you have registered for the class, file your Confirmation of
   Employment form within the first two weeks of class. Without this form, we must notify your
   employer and you will be dropped from the internship. You will also need to file your work
   schedule within two weeks of the start of the semester.
7. Interns are required to keep a one week diary during the course of the internship.
8. At the end of the semester you will provide an evaluation of your experience and summary of your
   preparedness for this internship.

• Submit Internship confirmation signed by employer
• Submit work schedule
• Be sure to pick up syllabus with deadline dates for current semester

• Select one week to keep diary
• Submit diary PRIOR TO last three weeks of Internship

• Submit final report (2 page summary of experience)
• Report and diary due by last Friday of classes during semester
• Make sure supervisor has received and returned student evaluation