Internship Program
The purpose of CCA's Graphic Design internship program is to provide level 4 (or higher) students with a grounded, real-world experience in a professional design environment under the supervision of an experienced designer.
While the role of an intern is humble in nature, each student is exposed to the daily processes involved in running a design firm:
- Project management
- Client relations
- Research
- Collaboration with photographers, illustrators, and writers
- Design presentations
- Production of print, motions, and/or web-based graphics
- Vendor selection and coordination
What are the requirements?
CCA’s Graphic Design internship program is only open to students currently enrolled at California College of the Arts. To be eligible, students must have successfully completed all required Level 3 courses at CCA. (Students from other institutions are not eligible.)
If a student interns at an approved site before that student completes his or her required Level 3 courses, he or she may not use the experience for credit.
After securing an intern position at an approved internship site, students must log a minimum of 225 hours at the site. We suggest that our students be paid at least $10 per hour unless the site is an approved non-profit or arts organization. Accepting a position with a site that is either unwilling or unable to provide monetary compensation for the work performed is not recommended.
At the conclusion of the internship, the employer is required to review the intern’s performance by completing an evaluation form. That form, along with the student’s evaluation of the internship site and a signed copy of the hours log, must be submitted to the graphic design program manager. The student will not receive a passing grade (and credit) for their internship until all forms have been submitted.
Students will be periodically contacted to provide them with information regarding the internship program and updates on employment opportunities. The internship coordinator is also available for in-person consultation by appointment.
How do I register?
To register for a CCA internship, you must complete the internship registration form available in the Academic Services office. This form requires the signatures of both your internship site supervisor and the Graphic Design internship coordinator, so be sure to leave yourself enough time to get those signatures before the registration deadline.
You may register for an internship through the last day of the add/drop period each semester. There is a $200 late fee for adding an internship after that date.
If you have not completed your internship by the end of the semester in which you are registered, you will be given an incomplete, an E. If you have not filed the necessary paperwork for the internship by the end of the following semester and have not been granted an extension, your grade will be recorded as an F.
Contact
Betty Lin
blin@cca.edu
Fax: 415.703.9524
Forms
Student evaluation form
Employer evaluation form
Student hours log