Communication

Fairfield's proximity to New York City, as well as the availability of transportation alternatives to get there, such as the Metro-North Commuter train, make it possible for our internship program to offer a wide variety of options and experiences for students.

Information about the communication and PR internship program is available on this Internship Handout (PDF) that can be downloaded and printed for your reference. If you have questions about what kind of internship you would like to do, or how you go about finding an internship, check out the Tips for Finding an Internship in Communication (PDF) or PR document.

Students are also encouraged to browse through the Stags4Hire internship database. This database represents only a small fraction of the internships available in the Fairfield County area and New York City throughout the year. Students should also search the web sites of companies they are specifically interested in as many organizations post internships directly on their web sites.

This database should be the start of your search, but not the only place you search. Please contact the Department Internship Coordinator or Fairfield University's Career Center for more assistance. Once you have located an internship, please download and complete the Internship Agreement Form (PDF). Once you return this completed form to the Internship Coordinator, you will be automatically enrolled in the class.

You do not register for fall or spring internship when you sign up for the rest of your classes. Registration for Fall Internships generally happens in late September and for Spring internships in mid-February. Information about the Internship class will be provided by the Internship Coordinator at the start of the semester. During Fall and Spring the Internship class on campus meets periodically and students can expect to have a variety of essays, portfolios and journals required as part of the academic component of their internship experience.

For further information, please contact the Internship Coordinator.

Information about the Comm and PR summer internship program is available on this Summer Internship Handout (PDF) that can be downloaded and printed for your reference. If you have questions about what kind of internship you would like to do, or how you go about finding an internship, check out the Tips for Finding an Internship in Communication (PDF) document. Students are encouraged to browse through the Stags4Hire internship database for current positions available. This database represents only a small fraction of the internships available in the Fairfield County area and New York City throughout the year. Students should also search the web sites of companies they are specifically interested in as many organizations post internships directly on their web sites. Please contact the Department Internship Coordinator, or Fairfield University's Career Services center for more assistance.

Once you have located an internship, please download and complete the Internship Agreement Form (PDF). After you return this completed form to the Internship Coordinator, you will be supplied with paperwork to take to the Office of the Registrar where you must sign up for the Summer internship class and pay for credits. Only after paying for these credits will you be enrolled in the class. Note that during Summer students may elect to sign up for one or three credits for an internship experience.
Please note it is not necessary to register for credits to do a summer internship. This option is available primarily for those students who:

• (A) Want/need internship credits to meet graduation requirements

• (B) Have secured an internship experience that requires students to be registered for credit in order to be eligible.

Exactly what assignments you will need to complete during the Summer internship depends on how many credits you've registered for. Specific assignments related to the internship class MAY include journals, portfolios and essays. The Summer Internship class is an online course, meaning you can intern anywhere and still take the class portion online.

For further information, please contact the Internship Coordinator.

Comm.Unity is a student organization that serves to orient interested students to career opportunities in the Communication field. The club sponsors guest lectures from alumni and other professionals, as well as field trips, socials, and colloquia. Recent field trips have included visits to ESPN and other national television networks, and attendance at tapings of television talk shows. Club officers and members engage in fundraising activities, organize activity fairs, schedule meetings, and run yearly elections. Students elect club officers every spring, who set the agenda for the following year.

Active participation in Comm.Unity gives students the opportunity to get to know departmental faculty members outside of the classroom environment, develop a sense of community with other communication majors, and learn more about careers and internship opportunities. For information about Comm.Unity, contact Professor Colleen Arendt at carendt@fairfield.edu.

Lambda Pi Eta is the internationally recognized honor society for students and scholars in the fields of communication studies, rhetoric, and speech. Students who maintain a high grade point average, overall and in their major, will be invited by the department faculty to be inducted into Lambda Pi Eta during their senior year. Involvement in this honor society increases opportunities for individual potential and advancement, for example, through developing leadership skills, networking with international members, and contact with professional organizations. Membership in Lambda Pi Eta is also impressive on graduate school applications.

Active participation in Lambda Pi Eta gives students the opportunity to work more closely with department faculty members outside of the classroom setting. Students plan events, sponsor guest speakers, organize field trips, and other activities. Students may also choose to participate in national or regional communication conferences through the presentation of research and attendance at panel discussions. For information about Lambda Pi Eta, contact Professor Sallyanne Ryan at sryan@fairfield.edu.