Agricultural Communications and Journalism

(AGCJ 494) Internship Requirements

Key milestones:

Talk with your academic advisor about your internship plans.

Identify and arrange an internship suitable to your course of study.

Return the “Enrollment Request Form” and the “Learning Reflection Paper” by the end

of the semester before you plan to intern.

Complete your internship.

Turn in your internship report by the end of the semester or summer session, or one week

before graduating senior grades are due if you are graduating.

Prerequisites

Have completed AGCJ 105 or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

Have identified and confirmed an internship or a position that will provide experience

related to the communication field.

Sign-up

Complete the “Agricultural Communication and Journalism Internship Enrollment

Request Form.”

o List your TAMU contact information.

o The firm name and location where you will intern.

o The dates of your internship.

o Your preliminary goals for the internship (what you hope to learn).

Pre-internship “Learning Reflection Paper” (one-page, single-spaced).

o Describe specific communication and journalism principles you have learned in

the past year that you expect to experience through the internship.

o Describe specific skills and abilities you have learned that you expect to enhance

through the internship.

Return the Enrollment Request Form and your Learning Reflection Paper to your advisor

or the Undergraduate Advising Office (117 Scoates) prior to the end of the semester

before your internship.

Your advisor will enroll you in the AGED 494 Internship class.

Credit Requirements

200 clock hours of work equals three hours of internship credit, up to six hours of credit

per semester or summer session may be earned and applied toward graduation.

Internships of fewer than three hours can be arranged.

Internships may be paid or unpaid, although we recommend arranging payment with your

employer.

Employer requirements

Employers are asked to provide a letter stating their participation in the internship

program.

o The letter should state that the employer has talked with the student and has

agreed to the internship terms and conditions.

o The employer must agree to complete and return two brief (1-page each)

evaluation forms during the internship. One form will be sent or faxed at the

internship mid-point and one at the end of the internship.

Course Requirements

Complete the agreed upon number of clock hours for the credit hours earned.

Write a journal of experiences during the internship (at least one, one-page entry per

week). Journal entries provide an opportunity for reflection. Suggested focal points

include describing:

o New skills learned.

o Communication theories in action.

o Thoughts on the communication profession.

o New human relations’ skills learned in a professional setting.

o Concepts or skills that you will learn more about in coming semesters.

Submit clippings, samples or other electronic memory device of your work (as

appropriate to your internship) as part of the final internship report.

Write a final paper about your experience, focusing on knowledge, skills, and/or abilities

gained from the internship.

o Compare your weekly experiences with your stated learning goals for the

internship.

Is your experience congruent with your goals?

Why or why not?

o Three- to five-page double spaced.

o Use sub-headings where appropriate.

o Cite references (if used) appropriately.

o Attach clippings, publications and other products from the internship to your

report.

o Paper and work samples are due by the last day of classes for the semester or

term, or one week before senior grades are due if you are graduating.

Agricultural Communications and Journalism

Internship Enrollment Request Form Today’s Date:

Name: ID#:

TAMU Mailing Address:

Local Phone: Local Email:

Classification: Current GPR:

Internship Organization:

Organization Address:

Internship Semester/Year: Internship Dates:

Projected Total Internship Work Hours: Credit Hours (1 To 6):

Preliminary Learning Goals:

LIABILITY STATEMENT:

Because the internship is NOT a requirement to complete the AGCJ degree, students voluntarily elect to

participate in this experience. Therefore, the student assumes all liability for the activities which occur during

the internship.

STEPS FOR ENROLLMENT & PAYMENT:

1. Submit this form to the ALEC Undergraduate Advising Office at least two weeks before the beginning of

the semester or summer term: 276 AGLS building.

2. Upon approval of this request, interns are registered for AGED 494 Internship (1-6 credit hours as

approved by the department; see approval below).

3. Check the registration materials for section number.

4. Pay your tuition and fees. If you do not pay tuition and fees prior to the semester, you will be dropped

by the university and will be unable to re-enroll in AGCJ 494.

I have read and understand the above steps and I assume liability for activities during the internship:

Signature: Date:

For Department Use Only

Approved by: , AGCJ Advising Team Representative

50+miles Student taking other courses at TAMU?

AGED 494 CR HRS Approved: ______ Section #: _______ Date: