The department capitalizes on the vast opportunities available by virtue of its location in New York City. Our students have established an outstanding reputation within the various communication industries located in the metropolitan area. We have built strong ties with companies ranging in size from leading corporate affiliates to small entrepreneurial entities to non-profit organizations. The internship program promotes the integration of academic theory with practical experience.  Above all, the internship program expands student understanding of the dynamics of the ever-changing field of communication. Often, students will use their internship to either validate career aspirations or develop a new direction.

The graduate Media, Culture, and Communication Internship course is optional, not required. Pay attention to enrollment deadlines listed on the MCC Internship Website which differ from university deadlines. 

If you choose to complete an internship for credit, the credit will count in the Elective category of your degree requirements. The maximum number of internship credit that will count toward your degree is 4 credits. 

• The internship credit is offered in variable amounts: 

• Students registering for 1 or 2 credits of internship, 90 hours of internship work is required

• Students registering for 3 or 4 credits of internship, 180 hours of internship work is required. 

MCC’s internship coordinator will be in touch with registered internship participants and the beginning of each semester to review required assignments. 

To be eligible for the Media, Culture, and Communication internship a graduate student must:

1. Be in good academic standing with the university

2. Have a minimum GPA of 3.0

Students can intern part-time during the regular academic semesters fall and spring (no more than 20 hours a week), while interning full time is permitted during the summer months. 

Students have interned in diverse areas such as Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, Film, Music, Publishing, and Fashion, both for non-profits and for conglomerates such as the United Nations, Chanel, Time Warner, the Media Education Foundation, NBC, and CBS. It is important that students remember we do not find internships for them but rather help them throughout the process and with the academic portion. 

If you wish to register for internship credit, refer to the MCC Internship Website for instructions and evaluation standards. 

Resources and links to find an internship, including the MCC Internship Database can be founds here.

International Students 

When international students register for internship credit, students will also need to be approved for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) before they can begin the internship. CPT allows F-1 students to accept off-campus employment as part of the curriculum of your degree program. CPT employment MUST be directly related to your major area of study in MCC, and will need to be approved by OGS before your I-20 is updated with work authorization. 

Important information you should know: 

• All international students must be approved to work anywhere off campus - whether paid or unpaid. Students may be approved by either CPT or OPT (which does not require academic credit). However, on campus work - whether career-related or not - does not require CPT or OPT. This is a Federal Policy, and not just an NYU guideline. 

• CPT allows part-time work (up to 20 hrs/wk) during school year and on a full-time basis during vacation periods.  

• Please list your primary advisor as your advisor on your CPT form through OGS 

• You must have been a full-time student in the US for at least one academic year before you can apply for CPT. This means that students in the MA program can begin interning for credit starting the summer after their first year. 

• It takes up to two weeks for OGS to process your CPT request. This means that you should apply online for CPT well ahead of your anticipated internship start time. If you do not have CPT approved by the time you start your internship, you will NOT have authorization to work in the United States. 

• You must present your CPT authorized I-20 to your internship Human Resources within the first three days of your internship start date. 

Please learn more about the CPT process through OGS, including all the information you need to submit an online request.