MART 499: Media Arts Internship
First things first. Download and read a copy of the MART Internship forms here. You should have attended the all-majors meeting that happens every semester, internships are covered there in detail. In addition, you should have discussed you internship plans with your faculty advisor. Nearly all questions that come up will be addressed by questions can be answered by doing these things.

All resources for finding and setting up your internship are at the Media Arts Undergraduate Forum on Blackboard. If you are a major, you should already be enrolled in this group. A direct link to the internships section is here. There are many local and national leads for finding an internship, so you should start there.

The professor overseeing MART 499 Internships for the 2009-2010 academic year is Professor Walt Hanclosky. You will need his signature and should contact him for more precise questions.
  • How do I get a Media Arts internship?
    You must find an internship. Consider what you want to do, and where you would like to do it. Then, use the resources above to find options.
    You must fill out the internship forms, and they must be signed by the internship instructor, your advisor, the Chair of the Art Department, and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (yes, that is a lot of hoop-jumping). Once you have done that, you will be cleared to register for the appropriate section of MART 499 through VIP.
  • Can I have an internship at a place not listed in the materials?
    Definitely. The internships listed are ones that have been used in the past, but you are not limited to them. Particularly in media arts, internship opportunities can appear unexpectedly.
    However, you should consult with your faculty advisor as you make your arrangements. If there are concerns about the legitimacy of your internship, it can delay or stall the process.
  • OK, I do some work and get course credit, right?
    Not quite. Of course, you'll be doing professional work and making contacts, but this is still an academic course. You will be keeping a regular journal reflecting critically and thoughtfully on your experience, and you will write a final paper as well. Consult the syllabus that is given to you in the semester you take your internship.
  • So, I put in my 144 hours, my boss likes me, and that's an A, right?
    Not at all. Your professional supervisor will be evaluating you (the page is in your MART 499 contract package), but remember that your grade is determined by your professor. Factors will include the thoughtfulness of your journal entries and the quality of your final paper, as well as other materials that may be outlined in the syllabus of the semester you take your internship. Your professor will be in contact with you during the term of your internship, be sure to keep in touch.
  • When should I take my internship?
    You should take your internship in your junior or senior year. You can take your internship in the Fall, Spring or Summer.
  • I want to take my internship in the summer, but can I register for the credits in the Fall semester?
    No. You must register for the credits when you take the internship.
  • The schedule says that the internship class meets at [insert days and times here]. Is that true?
    Probably not, but check with the professor. The scheduling system is quite limited at USC, and sometimes courses have to be listed strangely. Your internship course may meet regularly, semi-regularly, online, or by appointment only.
  • The specific work times of my internship do not line up with the calendar dates of the semester. Am I going to fail?
    Internships are about getting a "real world"experience, and that does not always coincide with an academic calendar. Nevertheless, your professor is required to turn in a grade at the specified date. You should check with your professor to find out what will happen if the required materials are not complete by then. Very often, this will result in an incomplete grade which will be changed once the materials are turned in.
  • B-b-b-but have to have [insert your issue] done by [insert date] or [insert calamity]!
    If you have set up a schedule that requires tight coordination of dates, but depends on many other people, you should consider taking your internship at a different time.