Mentoring Program
SOC’s unique mentoring program is bridging the gap between the classroom and the professional world as students prepare for future careers in communication. In 2008, 84 upper-level and graduate students were paired for career advice with 84 SOC alumni who are thriving in their fields. Whether it is counseling mentees on their future career goals, sharing tips to improve resumes and portfolios or helping students land internships and job opportunities, professional mentors are an invaluable source of knowledge and experience for students. Read more.
American University chapter of PRSSA
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is the only student organization at AU devoted to the understanding and practice of public relations. As a member, you can get involved in the Society's numerous national programs, gain exposure to professional development, leadership development, educational and networking opportunities.
The AU PRSSA hosts school-wide events to give its members a foothold into the professional world in the DC area as well as multiple regional conferences, such as “The PR Spin Cycle” in February 2008, that brought together PRSSA members from surrounding universities to network with PR professionals and learn about the latest trends in the industry. Find the AU PRSSA chapter on Facebook.
Internships
Internships are a way of life at SOC. The School of Communication offers undergrad and graduate students the opportunity to get course credit for one internship but most students have two or three, thanks to faculty and alumni who share their professional contacts.
Here are just some of the opportunities students have had.
In Their Own Words
Internships are a way of life at SOC. Check out where these students worked.
- Lindsay Webster had internships at NBC’s Dateline and ABC’s Good Morning America.
- Mary Specht interned at washingtonpost.com, the U.S. State Department, and USA Today.
- Caroline Herter won an internship in corporate communications at National Public Radio.
- April Astor started her own magazine, Catalyst.
- Ed O'Keefe interned at the washingtonpost.com.
- Holly Teresi worked with the Youth Vote Coalition.
- Beth Gosselin worked with the Air Force at the Pentagon.
- Leslie Gant and Cleopatra Andreadis interned at Good Morning America in New York.
Here are some of the companies where SOC students have interned:
- ABC News
- CBS News
- Chicago Tribune
- Christian Science Monitor
- Clear Channel
- CN8 - The Comcast Network
- CNN
- CNN en Español
- Comcast SportsNet
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- DC 101
- Discovery Communications
- Everfine Records
- Fleishman Hillard
- Fox 5 News
- Fox News
- Gannett News Service
- Henninger Productions
- iCaramba U. Magazine
- Ketchum PR Worldwide
- Mhz Networks
- National Endowment for the Arts
- National Geographic Channel
- National Geographic Society
- NBC 4
- Omnicom Group (Public Relations Firm)
- Radical Axis (Animation Production)
- USA Today
- VideoTakes, Inc
- The Washington Capitals
- Washingtonian Magazine
