Internships
The Communication Department encourages majors to pursue internships during their time at Boston College. Internships provide students with the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom in a real world setting. They also help students define their interests, acquire practical experience, and begin building their own network.
Any senior major who has completed the requisite courses is eligible for Senior Internship Seminar, a graded three-credit course that counts as a communication elective. These internships serve as capstone experiences and help majors begin the transition away from college into a communication-related profession.
The Communication Internship Program is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore different career opportunities. The program aids students in acquiring valuable skills and knowledge and in using laboratory equipment not ordinarily available on campus. The program also allows students to integrate academic theory with practical experience. Above all, the internship program attempts to expand a student's understanding of the dynamics of mass communications.
The program is open to majors in communication who have senior standing. In addition, potential interns must have completed a minimum of seven courses in communications at Boston College prior to the beginning of the final year. These seven courses are to include the five basic required courses - The Rhetorical Tradition, Survey of Mass Communication, Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, and Communication Methods.
Eligible students are invited to apply to Christine Caswell, Director of the Senior Internship Seminar. Applicants for the fall semester will be approved during the weeks prior to pre-registration in the spring; applicants for the spring semester will be approved during the weeks prior to pre-registration in the fall. Applicants may also enroll with Prof. Caswell through the drop/add period. Forms are available in St. Mary's Hall South, 4th Floor and on the Communication department's web site
Those students accepted for the program are responsible for securing an appropriate field placement subject to the approval of the Director of the Senior Internship Seminar. Internship credit can only be awarded for a placement that has a professional level of supervision, requires skills consistent with the academic experiences of the intern, and meets the test for an appropriate placement established by the internship program. Communication Internship opportunities will be announced in Department Digest and may also be found on the Boston College Career Center web site and in the Department Library (St. Mary's Hall South).
Students may enroll in the internship program for one semester (3 total credits) during their senior year. In order to receive a grade for the course, students must:
- Work 15 hours per week at their placement
- Meet all deadlines and complete all paperwork for the course
Interns must write a field research paper. Grading in the internship program is based upon rigorous standards, and superior grades will be awarded only where there is demonstrable proof of superior work.
The Department works with majors to find appropriate placements. The best internships offer the student a range of experiences, provide the opportunity to work on a meaningful project, and involve regular contact with a supervisor who is interested in the student's learning. Over the years the Department has developed an extensive network of outstanding internship opportunities. Recent internship placements include:
Advertising
Arnold Worldwide, Hill Holiday, Mullen
Print Journalism
Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Boston Magazine, Boston Metro, Boston Phoenix, Body & Soul, GQ, Sports Illustrated, Tennis World, Travel & Leisure, Vogue
Public Relations
Blitz, Callanan & Klein Communications, Citizens Financial Group Public Affairs Dept., Cone Communications, Gucci Marketing Department, Kraft Sports Production, O'Neill and Associates, PUMA, Reebok, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Radio
Clear Channel Radio, Entercom Radio Boston, ESPN Radio, Kiss 108 FM, Magic 106.7, Mix 98.5, SONY, WAAF and MIKE FM, WEEI Sports Radio, WROR 105.7
Television
CBS College Sports, CBS Network News, Comcast Sports Network, ESPN, ESPNU Campus Connection, FOX Sports, Late Show with David Letterman, MSNBC, MTV Networks, NBC News Dateline, NBC/Universal, NESN, New England Cable News, Telemundo, The Tennis Channel, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, VH1, WBZ TV (Channel 4), CBS TV, WCVB TV (Channel 5), WFXT Boston (Fox 25), WGBH TV PBS (Channel 2), WHDH TV (Channel 7)
Health Communication
American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Dana Farber Cancer Institute Media Relations, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
Fashion/Event Planning Media Relations
Abercrombie & Fitch, Anthem Group, Anthropologie, Calvin Klein, Chanel USA, Conde Nast, Donna Karan, GQ, InStyle, L'Oreal, Polina Fashion, Vera Wang, Vogue
Sports/Media Relations
Boston Bruins, Boston Cannons, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Cape Cod Baseball League, Lowell Spinners, New England Patriots, New England Revolution, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Lightning
Non-profit
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, Mustard Seed, American Cancer Society, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish