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Dean's Internships

SOC recognizes students' excellent performance in prestigious internships from across media industries.

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Meaningful Real-World Experience

Our Dean's Internship program offers exceptional School of Communication students the significant opportunity to earn bylines, production credits, and professional recognition for their work. Opportunities are available for our best and brightest students to connect with meaningful real-world assignments that provide recognition and future pathways to jobs.

Dean's Internships are generally open to undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students, and recent alumni with a School of Communication major who have an overall GPA of at least 3.25. Positions and criteria vary from semester to semester as we forge new alliances with emerging industries, institutions, and associations. 

As a Dean's Intern, you become an "external ambassador" who represents the School of Communication, helping to build stronger ties with our host partners. After working part-time during the academic year, Dean's Interns are often invited back by their organizations to work full-time for the summer or after graduation.

Spring Applications Open Now!

The School of Communication is excited to announce a streamlined SOC Dean’s Internship program for AY 23-24! SOC students will have access to apply for a wide variety of communication and media internships via Handshake or via direct application with employers/partners. Recognizing that you are juggling many things in and outside of the classroom, we’ve done away with the multipart internal application and placement process, simplifying the steps.

Once students have secured and gotten started on their internship, we encourage you to submit the simple application for consideration for one of the Dean’s Internship spots. The applications will be adjudicated by a small committee and the Dean. SOC and Interim Dean Jayaswal want to recognize the incredible work and contributions of our top students.

For Spring Semester, students must submit an application and supporting documentation for consideration no later than Monday, March 4 at 11:59 PM. All applicants will be notified of the Dean's Internship status by 10:00 PM March 28 and those chosen as Dean's Interns will be recognized via profiles posted in SOC and on the web. The selected Dean's Interns and their supervisors will be invited to a special Medallion Ceremony and Networking Reception at 3:00 PM on Friday, April 26, McKinley 3rd Floor Terrace.  The Dean's Interns are awarded a medallion by the Dean that they wear during their commencement exercises. 

*Supporting Materials: Send the following items to deansinternships@american.edu by Monday, March 4 at 11:59 PM.  1. Your most recent resume.  2. Professional headshot and, if possible, a photo of you at your internship in the action.  3. An email testimony (1 short paragraph) from your internship supervisor that acknowledges the quality of work that you have completed.  4. A short presentation or proof/samples of the work you've completed (if available)

Application includes: 

• Student Name 
• Student Email Address 
• Student Phone Number 
• Current student classification (Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate Student) 
• SOC Major 
• Estimated GPA 
• Current Cumulative GPA 
• Where are you working (the name of your internship site/organization) 
• Where is your internship located 
• Internship supervisor’s name, phone number, and email address 
• How many hours have you completed per week during your internship 
• A short professional bio about yourself 
• Describe the personal and professional growth that you have experienced thus far in your internship experience 

Reminder: The remaining items of this application must be completed via email. Please ensure that you send the following items to deansinternships@american.edu no later than the posted deadline of Monday, March 4 at 11:59 PM.

For any questions, please feel free to reach out to Senior Director of Experiential Learning & Asst. Professor, Sarah Menke-Fish at 202-885-2026 or texting her at 301-537-5060. Calling or texting Prof. Menke-Fish is the fastest way to effectively communicate. 

Questions?

DeansInternships@american.edu

Dean's Internship Blogs

Read first-hand accounts of what students learned during their Dean's Internships

Meet the Fall 2023 Dean's Interns

Get to know the students who were selected as Dean's Interns for Fall 2023.

Bringing Community Stories to Life

Ellana Sloan, SOC/BA '17

Communication Studies

Every person you meet has a unique and powerful story.

The first time Ellana Sloan worked at an off-location shoot was one of the most exciting days of her Dean's Internship at NBC4-Washington. She acted as the main assistant to NBC4's creative services producer, helping to finalize the shooting agenda, set up the scene, and time dialogue. Even minor tasks such as checking white balance or holding reflectors took on extra meaning because they were all part of bringing the story to life. For Ellana, it was exciting to capture people's emotions on camera.

Frequently Asked Questions

All internships offer students the benefits of experiential learning, but Dean's internships are distinguished in the following ways:

  • You apply on your own for internships through an organization's website. If you are hired by a host party and distinguish yourself through your work, you may be invited to join the Dean's Intern program retroactively.
  • Host partners strive to provide Dean's Interns with substantive responsibilities so that they may earn bylines and production credits. Dean's Interns can point to a compelling online portfolio of real-world experience through blogs and feature stories about their work.
  • Dean's Interns are periodically invited to participate in School of Communication VIP receptions, Dean's Advisory Board meetings, and other highly-recognized events.
  • The prestigious achievement of being named a Dean's Intern burnishes a student's reputation, builds a strong personal network of industry contacts, and demonstrates proven professional experience in today's competitive job market.

Each semester, internship positions are posted in the Career Center Handshake website. Employers will make final selections on top candidates that meet the criteria of the host party. After completing the majority of the internship, interns are encouraged to apply separately to the Dean's Internship program. 

Once you have submitted your applications online, you should receive an email confirmation.

Dean's Internships are open to undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students, and recent alumni (within one year of graduating) with a School of Communication major or minor who have an overall GPA of at least 3.25. If you are not yet a junior, but will be one when the internship starts, or if you are at least a junior according to credit count, you may apply. We occasionally have opportunities for students who have recently graduated to work in full-time Dean's "externships" for the fall or spring following their graduation. You can also apply from abroad if you're away for the semester for the upcoming round.

Yes. The Dean’s Intern positions offered may change. We generally offer 12 to 15 opportunities however, the number of available internships may fluctuate from one semester to another.

It depends! Usually, internships are posted mid-way through the term prior to the internship (October to November for spring internships, for example). 

No. As with any internship, you need to register for academic credit if your schedule permits it. Some Dean's Internships require academic credit; others do not. If you are interested in a Dean's Internship, you may discuss your credit options with your academic advisor. 

We strongly encourage partnering organizations to pay their interns. Most provide hourly, weekly, or monthly stipends to students, and of course, all offer valuable on-the- job training. We ask that Dean’s Intern employers comply with relevant laws and Department of Labor regulations as outlined through AU’s Career Center.