For UNDERGRADUATE Students

• You must be a CST major or minor, junior or senior.
• You must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in the major.
• You must complete an application process to gain Instructor Permission prior to registration.

Step 1: Find an internship site.

To be approved, your internship must prepare you for a career in the field of communication studies, so keep this in mind while searching.

You cannot use your job as an internship.

Unless you have received special permission in writing by the Internship Coordinator Ms. Southard, all internships must be completed face-to-face.

Many internship sites have an application process similar to being hired for a full-time job. Begin your search early the semester before you plan to complete an internship (March for Fall and October for Spring) to ensure your best chance of obtaining the internship you want.

While summer internships are an excellent opportunity and we encourage you to pursue these experiences, UNCG CST does not offer credit for summer internships due to low student demand.

Once you have determined your site, you will need to identify a site supervisor who is willing to complete the site supervisor responsibilities. Share this list with your potential site supervisor and make sure they are ok with it prior to applying for the class.

Site supervisor responsibilities include:

• signing the work agreement/job description, SLOs, and other necessary paperwork,
• monitoring and signing hours forms regularly,
• ensuring students are oriented to the organization, staff, policies, etc.
• helping student meet student learning objectives by
• providing student with work that prepares them for a career in the field of communication studies,
• providing student with training, resources, etc. to complete assigned tasks,
• acting as a mentor and providing student with routine feedback on performance and expectations,
• completing two formal evaluations of student performance at the midpoint and end of the semester.

Step 2: Prepare for your course approval application.

If you meet the above criteria and are interested in pursuing an internship opportunity:

1. Write a Letter of Interest in business letter format addressed to Ms. Southard, Internship Coordinator. There are many resources available online and also at UNCG’s Career Services Center to help you format your professional letter. Your letter must include:

• A self-introduction,
• the site at which you plan to be an intern, who your site supervisor will be, and how many hours you have committed to complete (90 or 180),
• if you have already completed a CST internship please mention that and then tell if this is a new site or a continuation.
• an explanation of what CST courses you have taken and any other experiences you have that prepared you for this internship, and
• justification for how this site and internship experiences prepare you for a future position as a communication studies professional.

2. Craft a professional email to a member of UNCG’s CST Faculty who you have had at least one course with. Ideally, you should have a good working relationship with them.

• Indicate your interest in completing an internship and ask if they would be willing to fill out a short recommendation survey.
• Include the link to the Internship Recommendation Survey and your completed letter of interest in the email to the faculty member.
• Include Ms. Southard in the email.
• Make sure your resume is up-to-date.

Step 3: Complete the course application for acceptance to the course.

Click on this CST Internship Application link and complete the Google form provided. You will need to upload the items discussed above (letter and resume).

The final due date for completing your application is the Monday of the week before classes begin however waiting until the last minute will limit your choices of internship sites and reduce the likelihood of your obtaining a seat in the course.

Step 4: Application Approval

Once your application has been reviewed and approved and the recommendation survey has been completed by your faculty representative, you will receive an email notifying you of your ability to register for CST 412-01. You cannot register until the application process is complete.

If you plan to complete an internship for credit and do not complete the application process prior to your registration window, you can:

• sign up for a backup class which you can drop after you have completed the process and enrolled in 412 or
• leave an empty spot in your schedule until you are approved to register for 412.

The course is limited to 25 students and will not be over-enrolled, so the earlier you get things done, the more likely you are to obtain a seat in the course.

Step 5: Registering for the course.

Once you have been notified via email you may register for the course, log into your UNCGenie and register for the course.

• If you are registering for 3 credit hours, your registration is complete.
• If you are registering for 6 credit hours you will need to email Ms. Southard for instructions.

STEP 6: Enjoy your internship experience! 

You will complete an online CST 412 course while working at your internship site.

For further information, email Internship Coordinator Ms. Jenny Southard at jskelly@uncg.edu.

What should I expect from my advisor relationship, advising sessions, and when should we meet?
Your advisor is here to help you make decisions about courses that best meet your needs, including what order you should take classes in, and so on. You are responsible for the decisions you do make. Prior to your appointment you should review the schedule of classes for the upcoming semester and have some tentative choices and alternatives ready for you and your advisor to review. To assist you in making the best choices, it is a good idea to have an audit done periodically. Bring any audits with you to your advising appointment with any questions you have about courses, career objectives, and other university-related programs. At the conclusion of your advising session (15-30 min’s) your advisor will give you your PIN code enabling you to register online. You must get your “code” to register for classes from your advisor. Some courses (333, 412) must be added manually after you have gained faculty permission to register for them. Prior to registering for courses, check with you advisor on the times they will be holding advising appointments. They normally post these times on a sign-up sheet on their doors shortly before registration begins.

Can I change my advisor?
Yes, if there is a serious problem with your advising relationship. You do this through student academic services.

How do I find out which advisor I am assigned to?
You can schedule an appointment with either advisor you wish–once you are a CST major, their schedues show up in Starfish and you can select your own appointment dates/times.

How do I declare a “minor”?
Minors are declared in the department that is offering the minor. Follow the requirements as outlined in the bulletin.

Do we have to do an internship?
No, CST 412 is not required. Some students do not need an internship and so we do not require it.

What kinds of internships are available if I do want to do one and how do I sign up for one?
Talk to a faculty member with whom you might be interested in completing an internship. Check also the internship notice board in the department for leads. Each faculty member has specific types of internships that they supervise. You must set up the internship and register for it through a faculty member who has agreed to supervise you, and you must complete their contract form.

In what order should I take classes in the department?
You should follow the departmental check sheet for moving up through the levels of classes (100, 200, 300’s, etc), and you should pay particular attention to the prerequisites listed for upper level courses and plan with your advisor accordingly.

Why are some courses writing intensive, speaking intensive, or service-learning based?
The classes with SI and WI markers provide students with opportunities to practice speeches or writing through rehearsals at the Speaking Center or through draft and writing workshops. Speaking and Writing are emphasized as ways of learning effectively. As for SVL, the marker is there because the material is better, if not best, learned through hands-on experience of working with people in the community.

Which classes will prepare me for law school; sales or marketing; graduate school?
Your advisor will have materials on how our courses group together according to your current and future interests. Consult with them about these groupings, and the courses that will prepare you best for specific future interests, including graduate school.

Can I double major in communication and something else?
Yes, some students like to combine their interests and preparation for future plans by double majoring. See the undergraduate bulletin for guidelines and requirements.

What do I need to do to declare a major in Communication Studies?
If you have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above, you can declare your major in Communication Studies through the University Registrar Office.