ART 4523 Graphic Design Internship
FAQ
WHAT ARE THE BASIC INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS?
For an internship to qualify for ART 4523 credit, students must work with an expert (a professional creative mentor who will supervise the student), doing creative/design work for at least 135 hrs.
I HAVE AN INTERNSHIP LINED UP. CAN I GET CREDIT FOR IT?
Maybe! It has to be verified and approved first.
I ALREADY COMPLETED AN INTERNSHIP. CAN I GET CREDIT FOR IT?
No. You cannot retroactively receive credit. You must register for the course before the internship begins. To register, you must submit the required contract and obtain permission to register. The only slight exception to this rule is summer internships. See the next question.
I LANDED A SUMMER INTERNSHIP. DO I HAVE TO REGISTER FOR ART 4523 IN THE SUMMER SEMESTER (AND PAY SUMMER TUITION AND FEES)?
No. If you secure a summer internship, promptly submit the required contract to the coordinator for review. If your internship fulfills the requirements, you will receive approval to register for ART 4523 in the Fall. Essentially, you will complete your internship in the Summer, and complete the class requirements (see page 2 of the syllabus) in the Fall.
Example: Tom Haverford landed an exciting summer internship. Tom sends the completed contract to the coordinator in April. The coordinator verifies and approves his internship, so Tom registers for ART 4523 in the Fall Semester. He will complete the internship during summer break, and then complete the class requirements for evaluation/grading in the Fall.
Example: In early June, during summer break, Leslie Knope interviews for and nabs a summer internship. They want her to report for work immediately! In this case, Leslie should submit the required contract ASAP — within 10 days at the very latest. Although the coordinator monitors their email less regularly during the summer break, they will review the contract and coordinate with the student at their earliest convenience.
CAN I INTERN AT MY FAMILY MEMBER'S COMPANY FOR CREDIT?
No. If you feel your internship opportunity may be an exception, offer a detailed explanation for the coordinator's consideration.
MY INTERNSHIP SCHEDULE IS NONTRADITIONAL. IS THAT OKAY?
The timeline and weekly hours may vary as long as the minimum requirement of 135 hours is met. Internships do not necessarily have to be F2F; remote internships are also acceptable.
IS THERE A PREREQUISITE?
Yes. ART 4523 is a Graphic Design Concentration Elective. Students must successfully complete ART 3313 Graphic Design I (GD1) and be of "senior standing." To clarify, senior standing refers to the students' status in the Graphic Design curriculum, not their cumulative credit hours. Students are considered seniors in the program after they complete their first year in the program — beginning with GD1/Type1 and ending with GD2/Interactive Design 1. Therefore, we encourage students to pursue internships for credit after they successfully complete ART 3323 Graphic Design II (GD2).
ARE INTERNSHIPS REQUIRED FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN MAJORS?
No. Internships can be valuable learning experiences, but they are not required for graduation. Additionally, students do not have to pursue ART 4523 credit for internships. For example: ART 4523 Graphic Design Internship is a Graphic Design Concentration Elective (GDCE). Some students use their internship experience to earn 3 hours of GDCE credit; others choose not to receive credit so that they may take advantage of other GDCEs.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Students should note that ART 4523 is not a traditional course. There are zero contact hours, and the class will not meet individually or as a group. Students will work directly with their supervisor — not the professor/coordinator — to complete course objectives.
Final grades are assigned based on the completion of course requirements. The course requirements are outlined in the syllabus and posted on Canvas. Grades will be calculated and posted during final exams.
ART 4523 SYLLABUS/CONTRACT
The coordinator must approve the internship before the student (1) begins the internship and (2) registers for the course. Email the signed contract to the coordinator for verification and approval. This process typically takes 2–10 business days; plan accordingly.
1. Download the ART 4523 Graphic Design Internship Syllabus/Contract (PDF) and open it in the latest version of Acrobat or Preview.
2. Carefully read the syllabus. Ensure both you and your supervisor understand the course policies, requirements, and commitments.
3. Work with your supervisor to complete the required contract (pages 4–5 of the syllabus).
4. Save the signed, completed contract (pages 4–5 only) as a PDF and name the file like so: first_last_semYEAR_art4523_internship_CONTRACT.pdf
5. Email the paperwork as an attachment to the coordinator (chester@caad.msstate.edu). Type the following into the subject line: First + Last Name / ART 4523 Internship / CONTRACT
6. The coordinator will review the contract and contact you with further instructions.
page updated by CH (03/11/25) | syllabus/contract updated by CH (03/11/25)