Internships

Internships are a key feature of the Professional Master's Program at Rice.  Rice's close ties with local and national organizations will provide avenues to engage the larger business community in the Professional Master's Program.  These ties, in addition to Rice's connection with the successful managers and entrepreneurs on the Board of Affiliates, will help facilitate key contacts for establishing internships.

Students are encouraged to find a position suited to their interests in an industry directly related to their area of study.  All internships require the approval of the track director.  Companies at which previous students have completed internships include  NASA, Total E&P USA, GSI Environmental, Inc., Argent Consulting, CDM Consulting, Municipal Water Utilities Orange County, Houston Wilderness, Lynn Inc., Marathon Oil, Trinity Consultants, Inc., Baker Hughes,  Quantum Logic Devices, Schlumberger, Hilcorp, ConocoPhillips, ERM and many more.

Read what our students have to say about their internship experiences.

Rice's Center for Student Professional Development is available to provide help in identifying potential internships. (Please check out their recently updated web site and find detailed career information for PSM students under "Graduate Students". )  The internship should last approximately three to six months and will normally take place beginning in the summer session after the first year of coursework. The university will maintain communication with both students and employers during the internship.     

Part-time students may fulfill the internship requirement by working on a special project with their current employer.  The project must be appropriate for the pursued degree and approved by the individual track program director.  The duration will be dependent upon the needs of the project and students may continue to take courses while working on their projects.

In their final semester, students will be required to prepare both written and oral reports on their experiences and accomplishments achieved during the internship .  Assistance for this part of the cohort experience is available from Rice communication faculty.

Internship progess and quality will be monitored through a series of forms to be completed by the student and the host organization. The student is responsible for insuring that all required documents are submitted in a timely manner.

Last updated  10/16/2008  by Dagmar Beck