Practicum
Graduate-Level Internship Experience
Practicum is an attractive offering of the program and an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in a real-world application. This elective course combined with an internship, was designed for students preparing for and experiencing a communications-related job in the U.S. or internationally. It builds on the previous core curriculum courses that students have completed and focuses on supporting students in integrating their academic and professional experiences. To be eligible for this elective, students secure an internship offer that is then approved by the program. Students work in a communication function at a firm to gain valuable, relevant job experience as a fully functioning member of a team. The Practicum can be an important part of students' post-graduation job hunt, providing demonstrable, resume-expanding experiences as well as a valuable network of contacts in the field.
Listed below are the organizations where students in the Strategic Communication program have completed a Practicum. This list, which includes employers that have hired multiple students each year as well as organizations that reflect the unique interests of individuals in the cohort, is representative of the varied career interests of our students. (Practicums are based on the individual needs of the firms and, therefore not guaranteed.)
The Practicum is completed during the Summer.
Sample Practicum Organizations
The Practicum course was tremendously useful in helping me secure a full-time position with the organization that I interned for. I learned practical skills and frameworks which helped me build connections within the workplace. I also found the faculty and alumni advice particularly helpful as they had ample experience dealing with challenging situations. I was able to take their feedback and directly apply it in my daily interactions at work."
The Practicum course provides much needed support during your internships over the summer term. Not only can you get direct feedback and guidance from faculty, but they give you the tools to grow within the organization beyond your role as an intern. It's an engaging way to bring the theory of the larger Strategic Communication program into practice."
I was nervous to begin the summer internship since it was the first time I had re-immersed in an office environment since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, doing the internship alongside the Practicum course equipped me with much-needed practical knowledge, helped me strengthen my work ethic, and helped me navigate the new work environment. In addition, the immense learning, support, and motivation from the faculty, guest speakers, and colleagues gave me the confidence to benefit and enjoy the internship experience."
The practicum course is extremely valuable in helping to prepare you to leave Columbia with the tools, theories and soft skills necessary to succeed in your professional career. The class is a great setting to reflect on your internship experience and receive direct and insightful feedback and suggestions from both faculty and your peers. I also found it really helpful to hear from guest speakers who shared their career journeys, words of advice, and even fun stories, and being able to interact and meet those speakers is also a great way to build your network, meet new people, and hear about different industries and projects people work on. Practicum helped set me up to succeed in my internship, which eventually morphed into my full-time job, and I know it will do the same for others."
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