Theatre Arts Internships

Why are internships required?

The Department of Film, Theatre, and Dance requires students to complete an internship course in order to obtain important job-seeking support, gain valuable industry knowledge, network, and develop skills that will help them achieve their post-graduation goals. Our internship classe, TA 198 for Theatre Arts majors, offer students the opportunity to gain valuable "real world" experience while receiving academic credit by enrolling in one of the aforementioned internship classes. As you navigate through your academic career, start thinking about places where you would like to intern so you can be prepared for your TA 198 course requirement.

Interested in becoming an internship site?

Course Offerings and Objectives

For Theatre Arts, internships are offered every Fall and Spring. Our internship courses are designed to help students make practical application of what they have learned in their classes. Most of the coursework is done at the placement site, but research, analysis, and written work also are required to ensure that students make analytical connections between classroom/textbook abstractions and its real-life counterparts. Most importantly, internship students will develop a career portfolio that will provide them with the knowledge and organization needed to be prepared for their industry's job market.

Intership FAQs

• When are internships offered?

  • For Theatre Arts, internships are only offered in fall and spring. 

• Who is allowed to participate in the internship program?

  • To enroll in TA 198, students must have upper-division standing (60 or more units completed). In other words, only students that are officially classified as juniors and seniors are allowed to register for an internship course.

• What are the prerequisites for the course?

  • Prerequisites include appropriate performance, production and writing courses. Qualification is subject to the internship director's approval.

• When should students begin their internship process?

  • Students interested in participating in the internship program are urged to consult with the internship director at least one semester in advance so there will be ample time to secure a good assignment. Students may be allowed to add the course when the semester begins (even without prior consultation) but only by the approval of the instructor. Finding an internship sometimes can take several weeks. Thus, students are strongly encouraged to begin searching for a placement the semester prior to the planned internship.

• How is the internship assignment determined?

  • In most instances, the department does not place a particular student in a specific internship. Instead, students are encouraged to make their own arrangements with participating organizations. This provides the student with valuable job-seeking experience. The department does try, however, to “connect” students to specific internships that meet their skill levels and interests. Students also may come into the program with an internship in mind; this is acceptable, but it is important that the organization understands the rules and purpose of our internship. The internship is not cheap labor for private companies. The experience must be well rounded and replete with evaluations.

• What is required of the participating organization?

  • San José State University requires all internship sites to complete an internship contract. The department contract (one page) is to establish the student assignment with the site. This agreement stipulates that all internship sites are required to provide proof of liability insurance before any student may begin working. In addition, students must sign a Release of Liability statement.

    After the site-university relationship is legally established (paperwork is completed), the site is responsible for three tasks: provide relevant work experience for the students, supervise their work at the internship site,
 and evaluate the students upon completion of the internship. This can be done by letter or by a form provided by the department.

• Are interns paid for their work?

  • The Department of Film, Theatre, and Dance encourages, but does not require, businesses to compensate interns for their services (in addition to the academic credit received). Thus, some internships are paid; others are not. This is a matter to be worked out between the individuals involved. We have increasing numbers of students advancing to the internship stage and, therefore, many more sites are needed. The competition creates an additional incentive for organizations to provide compensation (or an educational stipend) because paid internships are snapped up the quickest.

• What is required of the students?

  • Visit the About the course page for a detailed list of what is expected of student interns.

• How is the student’s work schedule determined? How many hours of work does the program require?

  • The program requires each student to complete a minimum of 100 hours of supervised work for the participating organization. Students who wish to do so may make arrangements with their sites to continue their internships beyond the 100-hour minimum requirement. Scheduling of the 100 hours is left to the student and the participating organization. Most students are enrolled in classes while interning, and individual schedules vary considerably. Spread over an entire semester, the 100 hours breaks down to about 8 to 10 hours per week.

• How is the grade determined?

  • Grades are awarded for completion of 100 hours with the site along with other requirements for the course including attendance at consultations, résumé, background research on the placement, contract, research design, weekly journal entries, consultations with the director, final paper, placement's evaluation, and thank-you letter from the student to the placement. No late reports will be accepted without prior arrangement.

• Can a student do an internship without taking the TA 198 course?

  • Students cannot participate in the internship program unless they are enrolled in their respective internship course and have set up the appropriate contracts. University, department, corporate, and most labor union policies require that students be enrolled in a valid internship course to complete an internship with an organization. Any company work done by a student without being enrolled in an internship course will be considered unauthorized and no retroactive credit will be given. Without exception, students must be enrolled in internship course TA 198 while they are doing the internship.

• Can internships be repeated for credit?

  • The internship course may be repeated for credit, but (typically) not at the same location and only by instructor/department approval.