GRTC 4396: Internship

All internships are custom-designed by the individual student in consultation with a professor who teaches graphic communications technology. Students must ask themselves “what do I need to learn more about to enhance my future career?” For example, if a student is interested in becoming a production manager for an advertising agency, an internship in an agency with a professional production manager would be invaluable. Similarly, an internship with an estimator in a printing firm would be advantageous to such a student.

Before beginning an internship experience, a student must meet with a professor who teaches graphic communications technology to discuss the student's educational needs and objectives. This meeting should be scheduled at least two months prior to the semester in which the student will enroll in an internship. Based upon the meeting, the student will compose a draft objective statement. The objectives of each internship are flexible and will vary according to the knowledge-acquisition needs and career goals of each individual student. The draft objective statement, along with the student's detailed resumé, must be presented to the student's professor for tentative approval no later than six weeks prior to the beginning of the internship semester.

General Information

  • Students completing a Graphic Communications Technology degree plan are required to serve an internship. The internship must relate to graphic communications technology.
  • Prior to enrolling in an Internship, students must complete a minimum of the following courses: GRTC?3350, 3351, 3352, and 3353.
  • Internship section numbers are not published in the Schedule of Classes and can only be obtained by contacting the Graphic Communications Technology coordinator.
  • A three-semester-hour internship requires a minimum of 135 hours of experience. Students must keep track of their time through the use of a time card or other record. These hours may be completed by averaging nine hours per week during a 15 week semester, or may be condensed into a summer session by averaging more hours per week.
  • Internships are generally unpaid. Unpaid internships are preferred because they allow cooperating employers to stress the student's education rather than productivity.

Obtaining an Internship Position

  • Students must prepare a detailed resume before seeking an internship.
  • Students may be placed through the Internship and Employment Subcommittee of the Texas Printing Education Foundation (TPEF), or they may obtain their own internships.
  • All internship positions must be approved by the Graphic Communications Technology coordinator.

Internship Objective Statement

  • The objectives of each internship will vary according to the knowledge-acquisition needs and career goals of each individual student.
  • Internship objectives and sites are flexible so long as they are related to graphic communications technology.
  • Each student will compose a list of specific objectives to be met through the internship. Each student's list must be compiled in conjunction with the Graphic Communications Technology coordinator.
  • Each student's list of objectives must be approved and signed by the student, the cooperating employer and the Graphic Communications Technology coordinator.

Receiving Academic Credit for Internships

  • An acceptable objective statement must be composed by the student and approved by the Graphic Communications Technology coordinator and the cooperating employer.
  • The student must keep a time record to document a minimum of 135 hours of experience.
  • The student must write an acceptable term paper (see guidelines below).
  • The cooperating employer will evaluate the student's performance. The student will be responsible for obtaining an evaluation form from the Graphic Communications Technology coordinator and presenting it to the cooperating employer. The cooperating employer will be responsible for completing the form and mailing it, in a company envelope, to the Graphic Communications Technology coordinator. The evaluation must be received by the coordinator during the exam week of the semester in which the internship is completed.

Term Paper Guidelines

  • The Term Paper should be an example of the student's absolute best written work. It can be considered a “mini-thesis.”
  • The paper should be approximately five–seven (5–7) 8 1/2 X 11” pages of 12 point Times or Times New Roman type leaded three points with one inch (1”) margins.
  • Two copies of the paper are to be submitted – one to be graded and returned to the student, the other for the College archives.
  • The paper is to be submitted in a professional manner properly bound for archival.
  • Follow the APA guidelines for manuscript preparation, except use Times or Times New Roman Type. Follow all other guidelines.
  • The paper must be submitted during the exam week of whatever semester the internship is completed.
  • The contents of the paper will be as follows:
    • Introduction: State the name of the cooperating employer, its address, the dates of the internship and an overview of the student's role during the internship.
    • Body: The body is to be organized around the student's statement of objectives. Each objective is to be a subtitle. Under each objective, a narrative is to be written that describes what was learned about the objective. A comparison of what was expected compared to what was learned should be given.
    • Conclusion: The conclusion should explain how the internship has impacted the student's education and career plans.
    • Appendix: Includes the original signed statement of objectives, a revised resume that highlights the just-completed internship, and the student's time record. A bibliography and samples of the student's work (if appropriate) may also be included in the appendix.

Grading

A letter grade will be assigned for each internship. Grades will be calculated as follows:

  • Objective statement 10%
  • Attendance 10%
  • Term paper 50% (The paper will be graded on content, adherence to the APA style, and presentation.)
  • Employer evaluation 30%

A partial list of Participating Employers

  • UH Printing Department
  • Wetmore Printing
  • Houston Chronicle
  • Southwest Precision Printers
  • Reflection Printing
  • Print Mailers, Inc.
  • FasClampitt