Internships
An internship isn't just a graduation requirement at UM Journalism — it's where your education becomes a career. Our alumni consistently point to their internship as the experience that made them competitive, confident, and ready to do the job from day one.
Students in the School of Journalism are required to complete one faculty-approved internship before graduation, but many students use theirs to open a door that stays open long after they walk through it.
Where can you intern?
Almost anywhere. Students have interned in news, documentary film, broadcast, politics, advocacy, advertising, public relations, wildlife film, digital media, and more. If it's supervised professional work in a relevant field, it likely qualifies. Not sure? Email your adviser.
Requirements at a glance
- 160 hours minimum, completed in your internship role
- Faculty-approved before you begin — your adviser signs off
- Supervised by a working professional in the same field as your internship work
- Graded credit/no credit (not a letter grade) — 3 credits for JRNL 498
- Can be taken any semester, including summer
How to get it set up: step by step
1. Find an internship. It's your responsibility to land the opportunity, but we'll help. The school runs workshops each semester, your adviser holds regular meetings, and current listings are posted to the Montana J-School Internships, Jobs & Scholarships Facebook group.
2. Get adviser approval. Before anything else, email your adviser or meet with them in person. They'll confirm the internship qualifies and walk you through next steps.
3. Complete a learning agreement through the ELCS office. Go to the Experiential Learning & Career Success office and fill out a learning agreement — there's a link in the middle of the page. You'll list your adviser as your academic supervisor, your internship supervisor's contact information, and your learning objectives for the experience.
4. Register for JRNL 498. Once your adviser approves the learning agreement, they'll send you an override to enroll. Sign up for JRNL 498 Supervised Internship (3 credits, C/NC grading). To find the CRN for your semester, search for JRNL 498 in the UM Course Search and select the section that matches your term.
5. Complete your 160 hours. Work with your supervisor to track your hours. You and your employer can agree to extend beyond 160 if you both choose to.
6. Wrap up with evaluations. At the end of your internship term, both you and your supervisor will complete an evaluation. Your supervisor's evaluation is how the school determines your credit/no credit grade. These are sent automatically on the end date you listed in the learning agreement.
A note on additional internship credits
You may take a second internship for one additional credit, but the total internship credits that can count toward your degree is two. Each internship requires its own learning agreement and adviser approval.
Questions?
Talk to your adviser — that's what we're here for. You can also reach the main office at journalism@umontana.edu or (406) 243-4001.