Externships

There are two Common Core electives available to students: Business of Media and Externship.

For information about the Business of Media course, please see the Course Catalog.

Externship FAQ

What is the externship course?
The purpose of an externship is to give you hands-on experience in the work world as it relates to your studies. To assure that this occurs there is also an academic portion to your externship. Check out the course description below:

CC432 Externship
Externship Hours (90) Semester Credit Units (2)
Prerequisites: The externship elective must be initiated at the beginning of a student’s first or second semester of his or her senior year. A student must have a 3.0 GPA* or higher to apply and must not be on conduct probation or academic probation. This is a Pass/Fail course.

*In extenuating circumstances the 3.0 GPA requirement may be waived by the Program Director.

The goals of an externship are to:

  • Provide students with opportunities to understand the skills needed to work in the industry for which they are being trained
  • Apply acquired knowledge and skills
  • Improve their abilities to perform these skills
  • Develop productive working relationships and a work ethic
  • Reflect on their experience through weekly meetings with a faculty advisor.

The externship is conducted in a professional job-related setting.

Students will work with their faculty advisor to create learning objectives, goals, and evaluation methods. Students must be prepared to meet regularly with the faculty advisor. Externships require a written contract between the student and the faculty advisor, which specifies the goals and the means by which it will be evaluated, and must be approved by the Program Director.

Students will be required to secure an externship site and apply for the externship elective. Students may work with Industry and Career Services for help obtaining an externship, but externships are not guaranteed.

Who can take the externship?
Students must have the following:

  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher at the time the student applies for the externship*
  • Must be starting the first or second semester of the student’s senior year
  • Must be enrolled in another class at Ex’pression either on campus or, in the case of GE, online
  • Must not be on conduct or academic probation
  • Must have secured an externship site
  • Must have received Program Director approval to participate

*The 3.0 GPA requirement may be waived with Program Director approval.

When can I take the externship?
The externship is for seniors only and must be taken at the beginning of either your first or second semester of your senior year. If a student does not pass or complete the externship, he or she will be re-scheduled for Business of Media. Please see “Externship Policies” in the Externship Guide (below).

Who finds the externship?
It is the student’s responsibility to find an externship that meets the requirements of the course (90 hours and related to the student’s program of study).

What’s the process?
Step 1: Apply
Step 2: Find an Externship
Step 3: Develop a Learning Contract
Step 4: Begin the Externship

Questions regarding the Externship program may be submitted to your Program Director.

Scott Hess, MGD Program Director
Email: shess@expression.edu

Brian Andrews, AVE/DF Program Director
Email: bandrews@expression.edu

John Scanlon, Sound Arts/Interactive Audio Program Director
Email: johns@expression.edu

Ty Carriere, GAD Program Director
Email: ty@expression.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Office Hours are subject to change. Hours are also posted on the Program Director’s door.

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Externship Documents

Please read through materials carefully. All documents are PDF files. PDF Forms are best viewed and filled out in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Get Acrobat Reader here. Forms filled out and saved in Preview on a Mac may not appear correctly on a Windows machine.

Please download and review the Student Externship Handbook and Externship Guide before submitting an application.

Student Externship Flow Chart

Student Externship Handbook
The Student Externship Handbook outlines your tasks and include some helpful tips for the externship process.

Externship Guide
The Externship Guide includes an explanation of your role and responsibilities, as well as those of the Program Director, faculty advisor, site supervisor, and ICS advisor. The Guide also outlines the policies for the externship, including attendance, withdrawal, and termination of the externship.

Externship Application (PDF Form)
Complete and submit the Application to your Program Director for approval. Contact information for Program Directors can be found above.

Externship Learning Contract (PDF Form)
To be developed with your faculty advisor.

Externship Time Sheet
To be completed each week and submitted to your Registrar to record your externship hours as attendance. Requires the signatures of your Site Supervisor and Program Director.

Student Self-Evaluation Form
To be completed at the end of your externship.

Student Site Evaluation Form
To be completed at the end of your externship.

Site Supervisor Mid-Term Evaluation of Student Form
To be completed by the Site Supervisor at mid-term to evaluate the student.

Site Supervisor Final Evaluation of Student Form
To be completed by the Site Supervisor at end of the term to evaluate the student.