Practicum

A practicum takes place under the supervision of a faculty or staff member on campus or an experienced worker locally. A student who is exploring possible careers may find a practicum useful, generally in the first two years of study.

Practicum Application
Workplace Supervisor Practicum Agreement
Practicum Supervisor Evaluation

Qualifications:
Must have a cumulative and major GPA of at least 2.75. If you do not have the required GPA, consult with the internship/practicum coordinator about preparing an appeal to the Communication Internship/Practicum Board.

Application Deadlines:
  • Fall – first Wednesday of the fall semester.
  • Spring – first Wednesday of the spring semester.
  • Summer – May 1
Early applications are encouraged. Practicum credit must be approved before the start date for the practicum.  Plan ahead.

Application packets must include:
  • A cover letter addressed to the Internship/Practicum Board,
    stating how this practicum opportunity fits with your academic
    program and with your career plans.
  • A résumé of work experience and education. The names and
    telephone numbers of at least two references should be
    included on the résumé.
  • A completed communication practicum application form.
  • A completed workplace supervisor agreement form.
Résumé and cover letter preparation assistance is available at the Career Center. The application packet is submitted to the practicum coordinator.

Review Process:
The Internship/Practicum board will review your application. The Board consists of three or four communication faculty members who are chosen annually. Approved applications will be forwarded to the practicum coordinator, who will prepare the packet for submission to the Academic Dean for review. If the Academic Dean approves the application, the practicum coordinator will notify you that you may enroll for credit. If the application is not approved, the practicum coordinator will request a meeting with you to discuss your practicum plans.

Academic Credit:
• You will enroll in COMM 351 Practicum for two hours of pass/fail
  credit.
• You must work 60 hours for each credit hour, a total of 120
  hours. For example, you might plan to work 10 hours a week
  for 12 weeks, 15 hours a week for 8 weeks, etc.
• You may earn a total of four hours of credit in COMM 351
  during your University career. You may not, however, have more
  than 12 pass/fail hours on your overall academic record in order
  to graduate. COMM 351 credit hours will count toward that
  overall total.
• A negative evaluation from your workplace supervisor or a
  failing grade from the academic supervisor can result in a
  failing grade in the course.
• Payment for practicum credit hours will be at regular tuition
  rates, due at the time of registration.

Practicum Requirements
1. Complete responsibilities and hours as contracted with the
    workplace.
2. Keep a detailed journal explaining work duties and projects.
    The journal must be submitted to the practicum coordinator
    midway through the internship/practicum and at its conclusion.
    Submission can be electronic. Maintain other contact with the
    practicum coordinator during the internship/practicum as the
    need arises.
3. Receive a satisfactory evaluation from the workplace
    supervisor. Evaluation forms are included in the
    internship/practicum application materials. A completed,
    signed and dated Supervisor Evaluation form must be
    submitted by the workplace supervisor directly to the academic
    supervisor at the conclusion of the practicum.
4. Complete a portfolio, clip book, résumé tape, air-check tape
    or other similar collection of your completed projects as
    agreed, in advance, with the academic internship/practicum
    supervisor.
5. Each student will complete a typed evaluation paper analyzing
    the practicum experience. The paper will be submitted to the
    practicum coordinator. A sample outline follows:

I. Preparation
  A. Briefly outline the process used to secure your practicum.
  B. Discuss the areas in which your education did, and did not,
      prepare you.
II. On-the-job Experience
  A. Summarize a “typical” working day.
  B. Summarize one or two of your major accomplishments at this
      job. Summarize one task or project with which you were
      involved that went less well than you had hoped; how would
      you do it differently next time?
  C. Briefly describe the work habits and job-performance
      expectations of workplace supervisors and co-workers closest
      to you on this job. How did they affect your performance?
  D. Based on this practicum experience, describe one or two
      strengths of your own personality and work habits. Briefly
      describe one aspect of your personality and work habits that
      you would like to work to improve.

Finding a Practicum
It is the student’s responsibility to find an appropriate practicum opportunity. Possible ideas:
  • Contact possible places of employment.
  • Some practicum notices are posted on the Internship board
    outside the Index office and in the University Career Center.
  • The Career Center’s Web site at http://career.truman.edu
  • Your adviser may be aware of opportunities.
 

Internship page