Sonoma State University
Grounds

COMS 499 Internship

The COMS 499 internship is a communications-related activity that is required to finish your degree in communications studies. The majority of our students say that their internships have led them to jobs or to the next step in their career path, and it may just be one of the most important classes you take while at Sonoma State.

Internship Procedures 

  1. Secure an internship
  2. Complete the Internship Learning Contract and Waiver (detailed instructions are provided on our Internship Instructions page)

Internship Criteria

In order to qualify as an internship, your work needs to not just be supervised but you need to experience supervised intellectual and skills growth. 

To ensure that an internship is educational, and thus eligible to be considered a legitimate internship, Sonoma State University's Internship program follows the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) criteria for a quality internship:

  • The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform. (This means work that is clerical in nature or involves routine maintenance or service responsibilities does not qualify for academic work).  
  • The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
  • The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
  • There are clearly defined learning objectives and goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework. In other words, the student will experience significant intellectual and skills growth as a result of the internship.
  • There is supervision by a professional with expertise and an educational or professional background in the field of the experience.
  • There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
  • There are resources, equipment and facilities provided by the host employer that support the learning objectives and goals.

In addition, internships cannot be:

  • Located in someone’s residence (home office or on someone’s home property). However, you might be able to work remotely with someone working in a professional capacity from their home residence due to COVID-19. However, students are never to visit the residence of their internship supervisor or other employees.
  • In a family-owned business or in an organization where a family member is supervising you or is in a position of authority over you.
  • In an organization where you have previously volunteered, interned, or worked (although exceptions can be made).
  • Service sector positions don’t qualify as an internship. However, if you are working in management for the service sector, event planning or communications then, yes, you may potentially use the experience as an internship.

If you have further questions, contact Hillary Homzie, the internship coordinator in the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts.