• People inside of a recording studio with multiple screens.
  • A "recording" sign with a microphone icon.
  • U-N-L-V letter sign outside of the plaza.

Professional Internship

All Journalism & Media Studies majors must complete one 3-credit internship class prior to graduation.

Internship Process

  • Complete the JOUR 499 .
  • Students will receive a letter of eligibility after the internship coordinator has checked the prerequisites have been made
  • Copies of for-credit eligibility can be made to give to potential employers

  • Sign up for a free Handshake Account via the UNLV Career Services Website.
  • Contact some companies you would like to work for and ask if internships are available, or search their website for job opportunities.
  • Refer to past JMS Internship Partners.
  • Utilize professional social media sites like LinkedIn.
  • Attend an information session held in the months prior to the semester you wish to enroll in JOUR 499 for additional internship opportunities available to JMS Students.

You will need:

  • Individualized resumes for each company
    • Career Services offers sample resumes and cover letters and will help edit your materials to fit specific job postings
    • It is important to tailor your resume to the position you are applying for
  • Have an updated LinkedIn account
  • During interviews always dress professionally, unless otherwise told
  • Prepare 2-3 questions to ask employers at the end of your interview (example questions below)
    • What is the hiring process timeline and desired start date?
    • What is a normal working day look like?
    • What is the culture of the office?
    • What have you learned most in your current role?
    • How would you describe your ideal candidate?
  • Provide materials for each interviewer: resume, cover letter, references, and samples
  • Send thank you emails post-interview thanking the employer for their time

  • Once you have accepted an internship, have your internship supervisor complete the Internship Verification Form (provided to you after your application has been approved).
  • Have the Internship Verification Form signed by your employer (a digital signature is acceptable) and send it to the Internship Coordinator
  • Permission to enroll in JOUR 499 will NOT be granted unless the Internship Coordinator has received both the internship application and the Internship Verification Form

  • You will receive an email from the Internship Coordinator notifying you when you can register into JOUR 499 via MyUNLV

Enrollment Information & Deadlines

  • Friday, November 8, 2024 at 11 a.m.
  • Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 12 p.m.

RSVP with your desired date to dave.nourse@unlv.edu.

Students must submit all documentation for the internship program the Friday before the term begins.

  • Fall 2024: Friday, Aug. 23, 2024
  • Spring 2025: Friday, Jan. 17, 2025

Per the 2018-2019 catalog JOUR 499 requires junior or senior standing (at least 60 completed credits) and the permission of the Internship Coordinator. All students must have a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) at UNLV.

Students must complete the JOUR 499 application, the Internship Verification Form and the JMS Waiver Form (provided by the Internship Coordinator once the Verification Form has been accepted).

To complete the internship class, a student is required to:

  • Work 150 hours during the academic term
  • Complete online course work
  • Provide weekly reports
  • Receive a satisfactory evaluation from employer
  • Complete a final portfolio and oral report

Forms

Contact

Dave Nourse
Internship Coordinator
Email: dave.nourse@unlv.edu

Employer Seeking Intern

Internships give university students a valuable opportunity to expand on knowledge acquired in the classroom and employers a chance to identify and groom future employees. A little planning and a good bit of supervision can result in a profitable experience for both the employer and the student.

Interns must work in professional settings under the direction of industry professionals. One of the purposes of an internship is to give a student experience in a professional work environment, however the COVID-19 emergency has made it difficult for internship supervisors to give students in-person training and work opportunities. While Nevada works to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, remote-based internships are acceptable.

How to Set Up an Internship

  • Internships should provide valuable work experience for students.
  • The work should go beyond minor clerical work or errand running.
  • The idea is to prepare students for their first jobs in the field.

  • There are far more requests for interns than qualified students to fill them.
  • Offering an hourly wage will make your position more competitive

  • The student needs a mentor to teach how to perform the required work and supervise the performance.
  • This person also will oversee record keeping of hours worked and evaluate the student’s performance.

  • You and the journalism school representative will discuss criteria for the internship, what the requirements will be, and how the students will be evaluated.

  • Provide the Greenspun School internship coordinator with a brief (fewer than 200 words) description of the internship being offered.
  • This description will be posted on the school’s social media outlets.
  • You may also want to register and list your position on the UNLV Career Services website.

Plan on attending the JMS Internship and Career Fair, held annually each spring.

  • The interview is an important part of the learning process.
  • Make sure the student you hire has the personal and professional qualifications needed for the position.
  • Please do not assume that any UNLV student who applies is qualified. We do not recruit or prescreen students for your position.

  • At the end of the semester, you will receive an evaluation form.
  • Please provide an honest and complete evaluation of your intern’s work performance. It is the most important part of the process. A verbal evaluation with the student would also be valuable.

  • The student will be required to make a presentation before faculty and fellow students on the internship.
  • We would be honored to have someone from your organization attend that presentation.

Employers: Things to Know

  • Interns are required to work 150 hours during a semester or over the summer.
  • Fall semester runs from the end of August to the first week of December.
  • Spring semester runs from the end of January to the first week of May.
  • Summer sessions run from mid-May to mid-August.
  • Interns receive three credit hours for internships and pay full tuition for those credits.
  • Internship credits are pass/fail. No letter grade is awarded.
  • Interns have regular contact with the journalism school internship coordinator.
    • Feel free to notify the coordinator of any special instruction or tutoring your intern might need.
  • Contact the internship coordinator immediately in the case of any unprofessional or disruptive behavior.
  • Require the student to maintain the same standards you do any employee, including regular attendance, promptness, professional appearance, and respectful and courteous behavior.
  • Pay for internships is not required.
  • However, to avoid legal complications and wage and hour law violations, many companies are paying students minimum wage or more.
  • For more information, read the following information.