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

• The School of Communication Strategic Partnerships Office works with nationally-recognized partners to recruit top students for substantive positions through an internal competitive process.
• Faculty and staff review each Dean's Intern application and recommend a pool of candidates who are best suited for available positions.
• Our host partners appreciate and respect that Dean's Interns have been reviewed and vetted by faculty. They evaluate the pool of recommended candidates and make their final selections based on the needs of the position.
• You may also 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, Dean's Intern positions are posted on the School of Communication's website. Students fill out the applications posted there and send them to deansinternships@american.edu. Completed applications, which may include your resume, work samples, faculty referrals, and the application form itself, are evaluated by a faculty and staff committee. A select group of top candidates who most closely meet the criteria set forth by the partner organizations is sent to the host employer for further appraisal. The employer may contact and interview Dean's Intern candidates by phone or in person. The final selection is made by the employer. 

Once you have submitted your applications online, you should receive an email confirmation from Lydia Schindler, Dean's Intern Coordinator. You may feel free to follow up by email or phone, 202-885-2220, or simply drop by and introduce yourself in McKinley Room 215 (across from the Dean's office) to check on the progress of your application. Some employers contact students promptly, while others may take several weeks to follow up. We can often nudge them on your behalf. 

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 3.5. 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 based on the partner’s request or the organization’s needs. We generally offer 12 to 15 opportunities with approximately ten partner institutions, however, the number of available internships may fluctuate from one semester to another.

It depends on when the partnering organizations finalize their Dean’s Intern offerings. Usually, internships are posted mid-way through the term prior to the internship (October to November for spring internships, for example). It’s also possible that a partner will identify a need off-cycle. In that case, we will post that position at the beginning of the semester or whenever the request is finalized.

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.