NMA Internship

An Introduction and Course Overview

Internships are invaluable. Students get real world experience and exposure to the local industry and local companies get to work closely with NMA students and consider them as potential future hires. Ideal internships consist of a professional environment with creative projects with guided mentorship. Students are expected to be mature, reliabile, strong communicators, and good team players. Several NMA internships have turned into full-time job offers.

The course consists of only two face-to-face meetings with the instructor: once in the beginning of the semester and once at the end. The first is an overview of the class and all deliverables. Students then work independently to find and secure their own internships. Students first put together a resume, cover letter, and a simple portfolio or demo reel of work that they will then use to apply for internships. Students then search for, apply, interview, and follow-up (accept/decline/thank) with each internship location that they contact. Once an internship is secured, they must complete 165 total hours of field experience (55 hours per credit).

Most of this course takes place off-site at the internship location. All students are responsible for logging their hours and completing all required forms and paperwork. Forms include: a Student Internship Study Plan and Contract, a Risk and Release of Liability form, three Progress Reports, and a final Evaluation form. Additional coursework includes reading assignments and a final written/designed Internship Brief (a reflective and summation of the internship experience) which is presented at the final face-to-face class meeting at the end of the semester.

Course Structure

Real World Job Search & Work Experience

The structure of the course is determined by the process of finding a job and going to work. There are two primary phases: The Search (Weeks 1-4) and The Internship (Weeks 5-15). The final class meeting takes place during the last week of instruction (Week 17), where students reflect upon their internship and share their experiences via a final presentation/critique.

• PHASE 1:
  The SearchFinding & Securing An Internship

  PHASE 2:
  The InternshipWorking and Logging Hours at Your Secured Internship Location

  Final
  Pres.Critique

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

165 Total Hours

Students must complete 165 Total Internship Hours (55 per credit)

• 3 Cr
  The Search~25 Hours

  The Internship~140 Hours

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
  165 Hrs

500 Point Grading System

Your course grade is based upon a total of 500 Points.

There are ten deliverables for this course: a resume (25 points), cover letter (25 points), PDF portfolio or demo reel (50 points), signed internship plan and contract (40 points), signed risk and release of liability form (30 points), three progress reports (30 points each), a final evaluation form (40 points), and a final presentation in the form of a written/designed internship brief (100 points).

Class participation (100 points) is graded based upon how much you participate a) during the final presentation and b) online via Laulima. There is only one critique: the final critique (Week 16).

• PHASE 1: THE SEARCH - (100 Points) Finding the Internship, Applying, Interviewing, Securing, and Following-up by accepting/declining:
  20%
  Resume, Letter, & Portfolio/Reel 100 Pts

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
  100 Pts
• PHASE 2: THE INTERNSHIP - (200 Points) Working and Logging Hours at Your Secured Internship Location:
  40%
  Contract & Liability70 Pts

  Progress
  Report #130 Pts

  Progress
  Report #230 Pts

  Progress
  Report #330 Pts

  Final Eval40 Pts

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
  200 Pts
• FINAL PRESENTATION - (100 Points) Final Reflection & Presentation:
  20%
  Final100 Pts

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
  100 Pts
• CLASS PARTICIPATION - (100 Points) Online Discussions via Laulima & In-class Final Critique:
  20%
  LaulimaVariable Points

  Crit100 pts

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
  100 Pts

Required Forms & Assignments

A list of all mandatory deliverables for this course.

• Resume - [25 points]
• Cover Letter - [25 points]
• PDF Portfolio (or Online Demo Reel) - [50 points] - Student Example
• Study Plan & Contract - [40 points]
• Risk & Release of Liability - [30 points]
• Progress Report #1 - [30 points]
• Progress Report #2 - [30 points]
• Progress Report #3 - [30 points]
• Final Evaluation - [40 points]
• Final Presention/Brief - [100 points] - Student Example

Calendar

A monthly overview of the semester

Resources & Reading Material

A list of a related resources and helpful readings for this course.

• Step-by-Step Instructions - [from previous instructor]
• List of Pre-approved NMA Internship Locations - [from previous instructor]
• List of Local Companies - [from previous instructor]
• Creating a Graphic Design PDF Portfolio
• Graphic Design Interviews
• 30 Artistic and Creative Resumes
• How To Create A Great Web Design CV and Resume?
• 36 Beautiful Resume Ideas That Work
• AIGA Common Resume Mistakes
• AIGA Resume-Writing
• AIGA A Guide to Internship
• AIGA Portfolio Presenting