Internships

The Media and Communication Studies Department is dedicated to preparing students for the communities and workpaces of the 21st century.  We help them to develop communication skills, a critical understanding of the media, and how to use relevant new technologies. One of the highlights is the internship requirement, which helps expose the students to possible careers after they graduate. For their internship requirements, students must commit 120 hours to their placement and complete the requirements for MCS 404, a three-credit course that helps students develop a professional portfolio and formal presentation skills. Students can complete MCS 404 twice, as long as they secure two independent internship experiences during their undergraduate career.

If you are a student currently seeking an internship, The Career Center on campus is a great place to start your search.

If you are a student who has secured an internship that needs to be validated for enrollment in MCS 404, please request permission for the course via our google form: form for 404.

After submitting the MCS 404 permission request, your next step is to request enrollment for the Career Center’s zero-credit, pass/fail, free-of-cost Intern Success Practicum (PRAC). The PRAC should be taken during the SAME SEMESTER as your internship experience, even if you are taking MCS 404 later. The PRAC is an online, asynchronous course with just four requirements that support your learning and professional development during your internship experience. You receive weekly tips to implement at your internship, a career coach who supports you through any challenges that arise, performance evaluations to enhance your growth, and a transcript notation recognizing your work.
Note: During summer semester, all requirements can be completed online.
To register for the Practicum:
1- Log into Handshake
2- Under Career Center, click Experiences
3- Select “Request an Experience”
Complete all required fields and submit. Please upload an email or letter from your employer verifying that you were offered this internship. Once your experience is approved in Handshake, your information will be sent to the registrar to enroll you in the PRAC.  If you have questions, please email internships@umbc.edu.
Organizations seeking Media and Communication Interns can contact the MCS internship instructor, Marykate Conroy at conroym@umbc.edu and/or post the information directly on Handshake.

Past internships have included placements at many very successful businesses and non-profits in the Metro Baltimore D.C. region, including:

Northrop Grumman

The Baltimore Sun

The Maryland Lottery

WYPR

US Department of Homeland Security

Broadway Across America/the Hippodrome

Clear Channel Communications

Discovery Communications

Retirement Living TV