Internships
Turn real projects into real experience
Internships let you apply what you learn in Media Study to real-world settings. Through the Media Arts Internship, you can earn academic credit while building skills, portfolios and professional connections in media, arts, production and related fields.
Students should apply for internships at least six weeks prior to the start of the semester.
The Department of Media Study continues to build partnerships with media studios, galleries, arts organizations and broadcasting stations. Internship opportunities are shared through the department student listserv, and students are also encouraged to take initiative by contacting organizations directly.
These may include production studios, local TV stations and media access centers.
Internships help you:
- Build real-world, career-ready skills
- Strengthen your resume and portfolio
- Practice professional workflows and deadlines
- Expand your network with working professionals
- Explore what kind of work you want to do next
Students should apply for internships at least five weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Internships for credit are:
- Available for academic credit only
- Unpaid
- Open to Media Study undergraduate majors and MFA and MAH students
- Supervised by a professional at the host organization
- Approved by a Media Study faculty sponsor
Internships must support your academic and professional goals and comply with all university policies.
Examples from past years
Here are examples of organizations where our students have held internships:
- Albright-Knox Art Gallery
- Buffalo Bisons
- Buffalo International Film Festival
- Buffalo/Toronto Public Media
- CEPA Gallery
- Full Circle Studios
- Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center
- M-1 Studios
- Spectrum Cable
- Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center
- Street Synergy Community Association
- Thumbs Up Video
- UB Athletics
- UB Football
- WBBZ-TV
- WBFO NPR
- WBLK
- WGRZ-TV
- WIVB-TV
- WKBW-TV
- WNED-TV
- Yamu Media
Earning internship credit in the Department of Media Study happens in four steps.
Step 1: Find an internship
Look for media study-related opportunity that matches your interests and goals. Many students begin with Bullseye powered by Handshake, UB’s platform for internships and jobs. You may also respond to opportunities shared through the department listserv or reach out directly to media-related organizations.
International students must contact International Student Services before submitting any internship materials to confirm eligibility to work in the United States.
Step 2: Get approval
After an organization agrees to host you, complete the Media Arts Internship Application.
You will:
- Complete all required sections of the form
- Identify a Media Study faculty sponsor within the Department of Media Study
- Ask your faculty sponsor to approve the internship by signing and dating the application form
Graduate students must also obtain approval from the Director of Graduate Studies before submission.
Step 3: Submit and enroll
After your internship is approved, email or bring the application to the Internship Coordinator. The department will then force-register you for DMS 496 (for undergraduates) or DMS 690 (for graduates). This course allows you to earn academic credit while completing your internship and documenting your learning during the semester.
You must be registered by the internship start date or the last day of drop/add, whichever comes first. Submit materials a few days early to avoid delays.
Step 4: Earn credit
Work alongside media professionals in real-world settings while applying skills from your coursework. Through hands-on experience, reflection and feedback from your faculty sponsor, you will connect creative practice to professional expectations, collaboration and career planning.
Before the internship begins:
- You and your supervisor must provide:
- A description of duties with expected total hours
- Start and end dates
At the end of the internship:
- You must submit a one-page summary or critique of your experience
- Your internship supervisor must submit a written evaluation
- Your faculty sponsor assigns your final grade based on both reports
If problems arise or you leave the internship early, you must notify:
- Your internship supervisor
- Your faculty sponsor
- The Internship Coordinator
The Department of Media Study values long-term partnerships with organizations that provide meaningful internship experiences.
Employers hosting interns are expected to:
- Provide interns with meaningful career-related work within a safe working environment
- Assign a mentor or supervisor
- Submit a performance evaluation at the end of the internship
Recent Testimonials about our student interns
"Thank you very much for referring your students over the last few years. All were excellent interns that positively represented your university and fulfilled their duties dilligently."
-David Ford, Thumbs Up Video
The internship coordinator and your faculty sponsor will work with you to determine the number of credits for your internship. Credits are generally based on total hours worked with the host organization:
- 50 hours in a semester = 1 credit hour
- 100 hours in a semester = 2 credit hours
- 150 hours in a semester = 3 credit hours
- 200 hours in a semester = 4 credit hours (maximum)
Hours above 200 count as experience only.
For summer internships or graduate capstone projects, consult the Internship Coordinator.
Most students start with Bullseye powered by Handshake. You can also contact organizations or professionals directly. The department also shares internship requests through the student listserv.
Students cannot register themselves. Registration is handled by the department once the application form is signed and completed.
Yes, but you must contact International Student Services for authorization before you start any work in the United States.
Grades are assigned by your faculty sponsor based on required student and supervisor reports.
If you want hands-on experience in media, arts and production, an internship can help you get there. Start exploring opportunities early so you have time to apply, confirm your schedule and complete the approval steps for DMS 496.
