Internships

Undergraduate students who wish to earn academic credit for an internship must apply for permission from their academic department to register for an internship class. The classes are each overseen by an instructor in the department who may require students to attend class meetings, provide examples of completed work, keep an internship journal, etc.

Your specific major or minor may require a particular internship course. Please use this internship course selection tool to determine which course you should take.

If you are wondering if your internship is appropriate for academic credit, how your internship will be graded, class assignments, etc., please ask the course instructor. The acceptability of your internship will be evaluated using the position description provided as part of your internship application.

Receiving Course Credit

Moody College internship courses are only offered on a pass/fail basis; this will not count against the total pass/fail courses (5) that students are allowed overall. Each course has its own unique prerequisites.

The Moody College of Communication allows a maximum of 6 internship credit hours to count toward your degree (only 4 hours are allowed for students under catalogs prior to 2018-2020).

You must take the internship class during the same semester or summer session that you complete the internship. Retroactive credit for internships will not be granted under any circumstances.

Internships by Extension, Summers only

Internship classes taken through University Extension (UEX) will be the same as in-residence ones (taken in a long semester) in terms of requirements, supervision, student deliverables, and evaluation. They are supervised by Moody faculty members and count towards the student’s degree plan the same way.

The eligibility criteria, prerequisites, and guidelines for the UEX internships are the same as those for the long-semester internships. All students must submit an application for summer internships taken through UEX.

Please use the internship course selection tool to determine which class you should take. If you meet the prerequisites and restrictions, you will be directed to the UEX link to register for the class.

It will take one or two days after a student has registered and paid for the internship class before they will be authorized for the application.

Please contact comm-studentservices@austin.utexas.edu if you have any questions about the summer internship process.

Work Hours

Each course requires a certain number of work hours. These hours should begin around the first class day of the semester or summer session and must be completed by the last class day of the semester or summer session. Internships lasting less than 9 weeks in a long semester, or less than 6 weeks in the summer, may require additional approval from Moody College.

Acceptable Types of Internships

Remote or Virtual Internships

• The Intern is provided access to the workplace using non-UT licensed remote technology such as Zoom, WebEx, Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting, or other collaborative technology in place at the employer.
• Reimbursement is available to the intern for purchase of hardware or software needed to perform work in a remote status.
• Employer provides the intern with training and onboarding for work in a remote or virtual workplace situation. 
• Structured and weekly defined project activities are predetermined for the intern throughout the semester duration.
• Consistent and regular face-to-face supervision of the intern is in place using collaborative remote technology to provide frequent feedback and mentoring.
• Supervisor makes a good faith effort to integrate the remote intern into the organization’s work culture - such as participation in team meetings, use of resources, and access to other staff members. 
• The intern must be engaged in some kind of meaningful activities related to the field they're receiving credit in. 
• The position has a specific beginning and end date consistent with the summer or fall semester.
• Direct supervision provided by a working professional currently active in, and with considerable experience directly related to, the work to be performed by the intern.
• The intern receives substantive experience in the field, which can be documented in student’s internship report, work samples, or a portfolio.
• The employer must provide all resources and tools for the student-intern to complete assigned internship tasks/projects.
• The employer must be bonded and/or hold sufficient business and liability insurance to cover students completing their internship tasks on and off their business premises.

On-Site Internships

• Specific beginning and end dates consistent with fall, spring, or summer semester.

• Direct, on-site supervision by a working professional currently active in, and with considerable experience directly related to, the work to be performed by the intern.
• The intern must be engaged in some kind of meaningful activities related to the field they're receiving credit in.
• Internships must be at an established place of business and not a home office.
• The intern receives substantive experience in the field, which can be documented in student’s internship report, including work samples.
• The employer must provide all resources, workspace, and tools for the student-intern to complete assigned internship tasks/projects.
• The employer must be bonded and/or hold sufficient business and liability insurance to cover students completing their internship tasks on and off their business premises.

Questions about specific internship opportunities should be directed to the faculty member who oversees each internship course.

Click here to review the internship requirements and guidelines from your department.

Course Deliverables

Generally, interns must provide materials for review at the mid-point and end of the semester. Usually, these deliverables are internship journal entries and job summaries, however interns may be required to include more detailed items such as work samples. Specific details will be included in the course syllabus. Interns must also complete an end-of-semester evaluation of their internship experience.

Employers are also asked to provide mid-semester and final evaluations of the interns. The course instructor will contact employers at the appropriate time to collect these evaluations.

International Internships

Any student traveling internationally for a university-related purpose, regardless of credit or funding, must obtain authorization prior to departure. This includes self-sourced internships.  Students who do not comply with the international travel policy can face disciplinary sanctions (see official policy here.)

If you plan on traveling abroad for academic purposes, please follow the steps below.  Students are required to complete all steps prior to departure.

1. Apply for Travel Approval
   • For Restricted Regions: Submit a Restricted Regions Travel Request to the International Oversight Committee (IOC) at IOC@austin.utexas.edu.  Submission deadlines are based on the departure date.
   • All other locations: Submit an International Travel Request Authorization Form to travelabroad@austin.utexas.edu.
2.  Register the Travel
   • Register travel in the International Travel Registry.  This will also enroll students in mandatory UT Overseas Insurance at $19 per week. 

Continue to the application