University of Wisconsin–Madison
School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Internship Credit

There are a number of courses a student can take to receive academic credit while participating in an internship.

J697: Internship credit (1 credit)

Deadline for Spring 2019 is Friday, February 8, 2019. 

Declared journalism undergraduate majors may earn credit if their internship meets credit guidelines and they are interning at least 10 hours per week. This course can be taken a maximum of three times, in different semesters; however, the internship and/or responsibilities must be different.

Internship credit guidelines

For an internship to be considered eligible for credit, it must meet the following criteria:

  • A minimum confirmed 10 hours per week (or 150 hours per semester).
  • An assigned supervisor who will be accessible to the intern when he/she is working and is responsible for his/her work during the course of the semester. The supervisor cannot be another student.
  • A job description documenting that at least 60 percent of the intern’s duties are related to the field of communications. We understand that interns are used for a variety of support services, and that can include such things as running errands, clerical work, etc. However, in the spirit of the learning experience the internship is meant to be, we ask that more than half of what he/she is responsible for be media/communications-related.
  • The credit you receive will be based on an academic component of your internship, most often completing a paper, for your faculty sponsor.

Instructions for completing J697 Internship Registration

  • The student will first complete the J697 application form and then have their internship supervisor sign form.
  • Submit the form to Pam Garcia-Rivera for approval by making an appointment through WisCal or stopping by drop-in hours.
  • Email or visit the faculty member to schedule an appointment and have them complete the academic plan for you on the registration form.
  • Return the completed application to 5115 Vilas Hall.
  • SJMC will notify you by email when everything has been approved and you have been given permission to enroll in the class.
  • During the semester, meet with Pam Garcia-Rivera to check in regarding the internship.

L&S Internship for Credit Course

This online course, funded by the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates, combines your internship with a credit-bearing UW course. The internships are offered during fall, spring and summer with limited enrollment.

Worldwide Internship Program

Students doing an internship abroad can get credit through the Worldwide Internship Program course. This online course includes internship reflection as well as academic consideration of cross-cultural relations in the global workforce.

Two sections are offered of International Studies 320 (fall, spring summer for 3 credits) and IB-365 (summer only for 1 or 3 credits).

For more information, contact the International Internship Program at internships@international.wisc.edu.