CMST 492: Internship
Fall 2015
Instructors: Dr. John Haas
Office/Mailbox: 293 Communications Bldg
Email:
Phone: (865) 974-2090
Course Objective
The School of Communication Studies views internships as a valuable supplement to our students' academic experiences and encourages its students to pursue internships. Internship experiences provide students with opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge to real world situations. The best internships offer the student a range of experiences, provide the opportunity to work on a meaningful project, and involve regular contact with a supervisor who is interested in the student's learning. We expect that students will be able to observe and participate in activities that provide a perspective on organizations and industries in which they may choose to work after graduation.
Course Description
Supervised career-related experiences using communication studies theories and techniques in government and for profit or nonprofit organizations, culminating in written reports along with other various assignments.
Texts
There are NO required text books for this class.
Attendance
Attendance is described below in terms of timeliness. There are several deadlines that you must meet. No late assignments will be accepted. If you foresee something impeding your ability to turn in an assignment, please contact me at least 24 hours before the assignment is due.
Academic Dishonesty
All students enrolled in CMST 492 are required to adhere to the University’s regulations regarding academic integrity. To review these requirements, please consult the Hilltopics Student Handbook (http://dos.utk.edu/hilltopics/) or email me with specific questions. Plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty will result in failure of the course and administrative involvement.
Respect and Professionalism
As this course is geared to fostering your professional demeanor and to enhance your internship experience, respect and professionalism are absolute characteristics of this class. If you have any issues (i.e. grading, problem with internship, frustration over an assignment, request for assistance, etc.), you are required to act in a professional and respectful manner when dealing with those issues.
Evaluation
Communication Studies 492 is graded on a satisfactory/no credit scale. This means that the standard gradation of A-F will not be utilized in this class. The grading system for this class is on a point scale. To receive the credit, you will need to reach 70 percent of the available points at the end of the semester. Additionally, if you do not turn in your final paper, you will not receive credit for the internship.
Requirements:
o Internship Learning Contract (Posted to Blackboard). Please complete the learning contract with input from your immediate supervisor.
o Supervisor Evaluation (Posted to Blackboard). To be completed by your supervisor and returned to Dr. Haas.
o Final Paper and Portfolio. The final paper/portfolio assignment is posted to Blackboard.
Assignment Submission:
Please submit all assignments to my mailbox in 293 Communications Building. No assignment should be submitted via email.
Schedule:
September 11th Learning Contract Due
December 1 Supervisor Evaluation Due
December 7 Final Paper and Portfolio Due