Internships are opportunities for students to work in communication-related positions in the community and receive academic credit for that work.They provide a way for students to maximize their communication background and their understanding of concepts, theories, models and frameworks within the communication discipline.
The Communication Department strongly recommends that communication majors complete an internship. Generally, students complete internships throughout the greater Denver area, but internship opportunities are also available across the United States. Our students have completed internships in Los Angeles (Transworld Media, Cartoon Network), Chicago (Jam Productions), and New York (CBS News, Prada).
Examples of local businesses and organizations where students have completed internships include television stations such as KCNC, KMGH, KWGN, and Fox 31, as well as radio industry internships with Infinity Broadcasting and Clear Channel Entertainment. For those interested in the sports industry, Kroenke Sports Enterprises has provided numerous opportunities in positions ranging from promotions to event production. We also have relationships with numerous public relations and advertising firms throughout the Denver area such as Watermark Advertising, Turner Public Relations and Juice Communications, to name just a few.
For those interested in the nonprofit arena, positions are available with organizations such as The Denver Zoo, The Rape Awareness and Assistance Program and The Make-A-Wish Foundation. Opportunities also exist in the political arena, and several of our students have worked at the State House communications office and for state senators and representatives.
Applying, Accepting, & Enrolling
Qualified students can locate internships through our database of record, Handshake, or find any organization or employer that will be willing to mentor you in a supervisory position. If you already have an employer in mind, or have already secured an internship, reach out to the ELC COMM internship advisor to strart the registration process. If you plan to apply to an internship, please review the steps below:
- Make sure you have completed the Internship Workshop at the Experiential Learning Center (ELC)
- Set an appointment with the ELC's, COMM internship advisor, Nathan Zackroff to help search for internship opportunities and prepare your materials for applying to several internships
- Decide how many hours you can work the internship experience. A traditional Fall/Spring semester for 3 credits has roughly 135 internship hours total. Each credit hour that students enroll in counts as 45 hours working at the internship. Students may enroll in 1-6 credits each semester, but only 3 maximum in the summer. The online course is additional work outside of these hours.
- After securing/accepting the internship with an employer supervisor, begin the internship registration process through Handshake. You will complete a Learning Agreement that requires your supervisor's name, email, and contact information.
- After your Learning Agreement is approved, you will receive an email from your internship advisor with instructions on how to enroll in the online for-credit course, COMM 3939, prior to census date
Need additional Help?
Additional Information
For more information, contact the Internship Director for the Communication Department, Lacy Lowrey.
Lacy Lowrey, COMM Internship Director and Instructor
Department of Communication
Student Commons Building
1201 Larimer Street, Room 3013
Lacy.Lowrey@ucdenver.edu