Many businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government institutions know that Ball State interns are a dynamic and effective resource. In fact, many employers have found them to be so successful that they have built internships into their long-term operations and staffing plans, using our interns as a recruiting pipeline for full-time hiring.

Ideally, a successful internship program should meet the organization’s needs while providing a student with relevant career experiences.

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Expectations

Students

Interns in the Department of Communication Studies apply basic interpersonal, group, organizational, research, and public communication skills and principles to reduce communication error, meet employer goals, and provide creative solutions to the challenges businesses face.

Our students commonly engage in many of the following activities during their internships:

  • coordinating and facilitating special events, workshops, and training sessions
  • conducting training needs analyses
  • revising policy manuals
  • gathering and analyzing information
  • preparing and delivering research reports and/or multimedia presentations
  • researching and designing marketing materials
  • facilitating a variety of interviews and meetings, engaging in problem-solving, conflict management, and decision-making strategies

Communication Studies interns are placed in a variety of organizations, working in areas such as:

  • administration
  • counseling services
  • customer service
  • employee relations
  • human resources
  • marketing
  • public relations
  • training

Applicants must be a departmental major or minor in good academic standing. It is recommended that they have completed a minimum of 18 credits in the department prior to the internship.

Graduate programs in Ball State’s Department of Communication Studies focus on educating and training graduates in applied communication. Each student is required to have a successful internship, an integral part of this intense graduate program.

Upon completion of the degree, our students can:

  • assess, diagnose, resolve, and manage communication-related problems
  • create and implement programs to develop communication skills
  • think and act effectively in corporate settings
  • communicate effectively and ethically

Communication Studies graduate interns are placed in a variety of organizations, working in areas such as:

  • administration
  • counseling services
  • customer service
  • employee relations
  • human relations
  • marketing
  • public relations
  • training

Graduate interns can expect to:

  • create skill-development programs designed for specific organizational needs on subjects such as active listening, conflict management, effective communication, and presentation skills
  • help assess communication-related problems (such as absenteeism, low morale, low productivity, tardiness, turnover, etc.)
  • help design a communication system to resolve communication-related problems
  • help manage specific communication-related projects within the organization

Departmental Internship Process

  1. Complete an interview with the employer and receive an internship offer.
  2. Contact the department's internship coordinator to review requirements to earn credit.
  3. Fill out an internship application the semester prior to your internship.
  4. Submit a job description and signed internship contract to the department's internship coordinator.
  5. Once approved by the department's internship coordinator, register for credit.

Hiring organizations have a responsibility to help make an intern’s experience valuable for all involved. Communication Studies interns should perform meaningful work and be treated as an integral part of an organization.

Time Requirements

Undergraduate interns provide anywhere from 50 to 300 hours of work during a semester, earning credits based on the number of hours worked (one credit for every 50 hours of work).

Generally, students will register for six credits (300 hours of work) only during the Summer semester.

Most academic year internships are three credits.

The student and site supervisor will agree upon the student’s work schedule.

Graduate interns are required to provide a minimum of 150 hours of work beginning the first week of the semester.

The student and site supervisor will agree on the student’s specific work schedule.

Payment

  • undergraduate interns – Ideally, they are paid at least minimum wage; however, students can receive credit with or without payment.
  • graduate interns – Ideally, they are paid at least $10 per hour; however, students can receive credit with or without payment. 

The student and site supervisor will negotiate the salary.

Questions?

If you are interested in learning more about internship opportunities—or if you have one already lined up that you want to earn credit for— connect with the department’s director of internships, Dr. James Rediger.

Contact Internship Coordinator