JMC Student Handbook 2009-2010.pub - Columbian College of Arts ...

Internships
Considerable importance is attached to internship activities in the
Political Communication major both because of the ready access to
opportunities in the Washington area, and because the basic
philosophy of the major emphasizes the interaction of theory and
practice.
Students find their own internships, but SMPA is determined to
make every one a worthwhile preview of the professional work life
to come. And sometimes, internships turn into full-time jobs at
places like the NBC Today Show, the prominent political consulting
firm GMMB, Fenn Communications, Edelman, National Geographic or the Washington Post.
SMPA internships are open to juniors and seniors majoring in political communication. A weekly
newsletter emailed to every SMPA student contains postings about dozens of internships available
year round. In addition, faculty members may be able to assist in arranging internships through
their many professional contacts in the Washington area.
Students majoring in Political Communication can be approved for internships in news
organizations, advocacy groups, legislative offices, the White House and executive branch, campaign
organizations, or public relations firms. The internship must be for three credit hours, and be 15
hours of work per week. The recommended weekly maximum work hours for a PCM internship is 15
hours. For further requirements and information, see the SMPA website:
http://smpa.gwu.edu/academics/internships/
Special honors in the major
Students with a 3.7 GPA in all courses completed at GW and in all courses required for the major
may declare for Special Honors in political communication at the beginning of the senior year.
Students take SMPA 199 (Senior Seminar) in the first semester of the senior year and SMPA 198
(Honors Research Seminar) in the second semester. To achieve Special Honors, the student must
maintain the required GPA and present a successful oral defense of a research paper prepared for
the Honors Research Seminar before a committee that
includes the seminar instructor and two other faculty
members nominated by the student and approved by the
seminar instructor.