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Overview
Fairfield University is committed to developing the creative and intellectual potential of our communication and public relations majors. Part of this is combining rigorous academic study with practical experience. Through internships, students are able to test and apply theories learned in the classroom. Internships also make it possible for Fairfield students to investigate career opportunities while adding a distinctive learning experience to their resumes.
Located just a train ride away from New York City - the country's capital of communication and PR - and an even shorter commute to numerous prestigious companies within Southwest Connecticut, Fairfield University offers students the unique ability to take communication theory learned in the classroom and apply it in the real world laboratory of a workplace setting. Through an internship experience, students can acquire first hand knowledge about an area of work and experience new professional activities and relationships. Many students find jobs through their internships and many more find out something far more valuable - that a particular area of the communication field is simply not for them.
This real-world work experience is combined with a series of workshops and academic assignments back on campus that are designed to help students get the most from their internships.
Internship Requirements
Internships are available during the fall and spring semesters as well as during the summer term. Through special arrangement with the internship coordinator, you can also complete an internship during the January intersession. The requirements for pursuing a Communication internship are as follows:
- Junior or senior standing (minors are not eligible)
- Minimum 2.8 GPA requirement for fall/spring semesters
- No GPA requirement for summer/winter intersessions (students must register and pay for additional class)
- 12-15 hours/week or 120-150 hours a semester
- Up to six (6) credits can be earned from internships. Three (3) of the six (6) credits can count towards communication electives
Our majors regularly say that their internships were some of their best experiences at Fairfield. We couldn't agree more, and we hope that you'll take the time to explore these pages, learn more about how to find an internship, and how to make the most out of your internship experience.
To learn more about communication and public relations opportunities at Fairfield, be sure and read through our internship handout (PDF). To register for an internship, simply download an online internship agreement form (PDF) and return it to the Internship Coordinator.
If you're an employer looking to recruit Fairfield University Communication or PR majors, please complete an internship description through our Stags4Hire career site. You will find log-in instructions in the middle of the right hand column on the homepage.
If you're a student looking to browse through the database of internships, please log into Stags4Hire. This database represents only a small fraction of the internships available in the Fairfield County area and New York City throughout the year. Students should also search the web sites of companies they are specifically interested in as many organizations post internships directly on their web sites.
For any and all questions relating to the internship program, please contact the Internship Coordinator.
Semester Internships
Fall & Spring Internships
Fairfield's proximity to New York City, as well as the availability of transportation alternatives to get there, such as the Metro-North Commuter train, make it possible for our internship program to offer a wide variety of options and experiences for students.
Information about the communication and PR internship program s available on this Internship Handout (PDF) that can be downloaded and printed for your reference. If you have questions about what kind of internship you would like to do, or how you go about finding an internship, check out the Tips for Finding an Internship in Communication (PDF) or PR document.
Students are also encouraged to browse through the Stags4Hire internship database. This database represents only a small fraction of the internships available in the Fairfield County area and New York City throughout the year. Students should also search the web sites of companies they are specifically interested in as many organizations post internships directly on their web sites.
This database should be the start of your search, but not the only place you search. Please contact the Department Internship Coordinator or Fairfield University's Career Center for more assistance. Once you have located an internship, please download and complete the Internship Agreement Form (PDF). Once you return this completed form to the Internship Coordinator, you will be automatically enrolled in the class.
You do not register for fall or spring internship when you sign up for the rest of your classes. Registration for Fall Internships generally happens in late September and for Spring internships in mid-February. Information about the Internship class will be provided by the Internship Coordinator at the start of the semester. During Fall and Spring the Internship class on campus meets periodically and students can expect to have a variety of essays, portfolios and journals required as part of the academic component of their internship experience.
For further information, please contact the Internship Coordinator.
Summer Internships
Communication and Public Relations interns find experiences in a wide variety of sites: from not-for-profit work to some of the biggest media and communication companies in the world.
Information about the Comm and PR summer internship program is available on this Summer Internship Handout (PDF) that can be downloaded and printed for your reference. If you have questions about what kind of internship you would like to do, or how you go about finding an internship, check out the Tips for Finding an Internship in Communication (PDF) document. Students are encouraged to browse through the Stags4Hire internship database for current positions available. This database represents only a small fraction of the internships available in the Fairfield County area and New York City throughout the year. Students should also search the web sites of companies they are specifically interested in as many organizations post internships directly on their web sites. Please contact the Department Internship Coordinator, or Fairfield University's Career Services center for more assistance.
Once you have located an internship, please download and complete the Internship Agreement Form (PDF). After you return this completed form to the Internship Coordinator, you will be supplied with paperwork to take to the Office of the Registrar where you must sign up for the Summer internship class and pay for credits. Only after paying for these credits will you be enrolled in the class. Note that during Summer students may elect to sign up for one or three credits for an internship experience.
Please note it is not necessary to register for credits to do a summer internship. This option is available primarily for those students who:
- (A) Want/need internship credits to meet graduation requirements
- (B) Have secured an internship experience that requires students to be registered for credit in order to be eligible.
Exactly what assignments you will need to complete during the Summer internship depends on how many credits you've registered for. Specific assignments related to the internship class MAY include journals, portfolios and essays. The Summer Internship class is an online course, meaning you can intern anywhere and still take the class portion online.
For further information, please contact the Internship Coordinator.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Communication Department sponsors interns studying in BOTH the communication major and the public relations major.
During fall and spring terms, you must carry a 2.8 GPA and be a communication or PR major in your junior or senior year. During the summer, you can register for an internship as long as you are a rising junior or senior (there is no GPA requirement). Of course, you must also find and have your internship approved by the internship coordinator.
Internships do count for credit, but only three credits of internship experience can count toward the communication or PR electives. No internship credits in the Department of Communication count toward the University core. If you complete more than three credits of internship experience, all additional credits beyond the initial three credits will count toward graduation only and not any specific required courses. During the fall and spring, all internships are three credits, and during the summer, internships can be worth one to three credits, at your discretion.
Given the current job market, we recommend that majors finish two internships before leaving Fairfield. Given Fairfield's proximity to the communications and PR capital of the world, you should have no trouble gaining the experience you need to compete for the best jobs after graduation.
The coordinator of the Department of Communication's Internship Program can provide this letter. Please note that this letter can only be supplied once you're registered for credits. Many employers will accept an emailed statement from the internship program coordinator, so please supply an email address (this is easier and quicker). If a letter needs to be faxed, you will need to handle that. The department does not send or receive faxes on behalf of students.
If you're looking for an internship, check out the Stags4Hire internship database for available positions. The database represents only a small fraction of the internships available in the Fairfield County area and New York City throughout the year. Students should also search the websites of companies they are specifically interested in as many organizations post internships directly on their websites.
Yes, you can receive a stipend or travel reimbursement, but note that most internships will not be paid, and students shouldn't expect to find an internship that pays.
During the fall and spring semesters, an internship counts toward normal course load. During the summer, you must pay for one-three credits through the Office of the Registrar. If you complete a summer internship, we cannot award credits during the fall or spring semesters.
Yes, if you are interested in completing an internship over the January intersession, you should contact the internship program coordinator.
For three credits, you must complete 120-150 hours per semester (12-15 hours per week).
An internship works as a graded course and does count toward your overall GPA. Read the details about how internship course works (PDF).
Sorry, no. You should contact your department chair to learn how to complete an internship through your major.
Generally, companies will require you to work two full days a week. Sometimes there is flexibility, but it helps to have two free days a week.
They sure do, and most students love the excitement that comes from working and learning in one of the greatest cities in the world. The train is quick and easy, and the opportunity to intern at a major media firm is a resource available to relatively few other college students.
e strongly recommend that you do two different internships in two different types of companies. If you are working at a large company and move between separate departments or divisions, it may be possible to work for two semesters at the same company, but generally we suggest finding a completely different internship site.