Incorporating an internship into your studies
The internship is a half course (CCT410, WRI410) that requires you to complete 100 hours of unpaid and/or paid work. This can be achieved by working one full-day or two half-days per week during regular business hours. You are also responsible for attending class seminars, which occur approximately twice a month, completing course assignments (such as writing reflection reports), and giving an oral presentation.
You must meet the minimum prerequisites. Enrollment into CCT410 & WRI410 requires a minimum 2.5 CGPA and the completion of 13 credits.
Note: The instructor's approval and additional career development evidence are no longer required to enroll in the course. You may need to be interviewed by your placement supervisor.
Finding internship opportunities
After enrollment, students will be invited to access the course Quercus shell a few weeks before the start of the course. Students can find their placement on the course Quercus shell or secure their placement in a way that adheres to the course's parameters (i.e., no more than 100 hours over the semester, working one full day or two half days per week during regular business hours). Self-secured positions require the approval of the course instructor and Experiential Learning Officer.
We recommend the following resources for finding additional opportunities:
- The bulletin board outside CC3028
- The class Quercus site
- Mediacareers
- Talentegg.ca
- UTM Career Centre
- Networking through ICCIT events
- Networking through friends, family, neighbours, teammates, etc.
Before applying for opportunities
Assess what your skills are, where you would like to be placed, and what you would like to learn from a work placement. It is important to clearly convey this information to your prospective internship supervisor so they can understand how you will fit into their organization.
Visit the Career Centre and sign up for a resume critique to aid with this process.
Reaching out to potential internship contacts
- Start your research early. Begin at least 3 months in advance of the placement.
- Do your homework. Find an individual within the company/organization to contact directly by phone or email. For example, you may need to ask to speak to the department director by initially speaking with someone who handles the department’s general inquiries. Make sure you ask the director’s name before you are transferred.
- Do not reach out to Human Resources directly or send a resume without first contacting an individual. The company needs to know who you are and why you are contacting them.
- Create a cold call script. Plot out how you will introduce yourself and tell the person you contact the reasons why you want to complete an internship at their organization. Research their organization thoroughly and provide specific details.
- Practice your business introduction and interviewing skills.
You should start early and confirm your placement at least three weeks prior to the course start date. You will be responsible for some of the paperwork; however, your placement supervisor will also need to sign an agreement with UTM.
Frequently asked questions
Find below everything you need to know about internships at ICCIT. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, and for additional questions, please contact:
- Alina Cheng, Experiential Learning Officer, at alina.cheng@utoronto.ca for our experiential learning opportunities.
- Sarah Cherki El Idrissi, Assistant Professor and DEM program director, at sarah.cherkielidrissi@utoronto.ca for our CCT/WRI410 courses.
- Steve Szigeti, Associate Professor and CCT program director, at steve.szigeti@utoronto.ca for our co-op and internship courses.
- Register for the Course
- Enroll in the course through ACORN.
- Once you’ve met all the eligibility requirements, you’ll automatically gain access to the course shell on Quercus.
- Log In to Quercus
- Go to Quercus and access the course page.
- You’ll find a list of job placement opportunities curated by the Experiential Education Unit (EEU).
- Explore Placement Opportunities
- Browse the available job postings.
- Identify roles that align with your skills, interests, and goals.
- Prepare Your Application
- Update your resume and write a cover letter tailored to each position you want to apply for.
- Apply for a Placement
- Submit your application(s) directly through Quercus or
- Secure your own internship, as long as it meets course requirements.
- Attend Interviews
- If selected, participate in interviews with the employer(s) you applied to.
- Confirm Your Placement
- Once you’ve received an offer, email the course’s Experiential Learning Officer (ELO).
- Ask your placement supervisor to email the ELO confirming that they’ve accepted you as an intern.
Students may source their own internship opportunities for the course. Self-secured positions require the approval of the course instructor and Experiential Learning Officer. The position must follow the placement parameters for the course (i.e., no more than 100 hours over the semester, working one full day or two half days per week during regular business hours).
If you have secured your placement outside the Quercus postings, please send an email a couple of weeks before the start of the course to the ELO with the following information:
- Place of work (name)
- Job title
- Type of internship: Paid/Unpaid
- Hours of work
- Supervisor Name
- Supervisor Contact Email
- List of tasks to complete during the internship
The deadline to confirm a placement is one week before the start of the course. If a recruitment is in progress, we can be flexible for up to the first day of class. We cannot delay it further because assignments will be due soon after classes start. If you do not secure a placement by the deadline, you may not be eligible to continue in the course. Please speak with the instructor and ELO as soon as you feel that you may not meet this deadline.
- How heavy is the workload for this course, and is it manageable for a full-time student?
Yes, it is manageable for a full-time student, as many students who take this course are full-time students completing other program/degree requirements. As a guideline, however, we recommend that you complete 100 hours of internship placement over the entire semester, in addition to coursework. You can access a previous Syllabus as a guideline for the assignments and course timelines through the UTM Timetable Builder.
- Is attendance in class important? I’m already going to the job placement?
Class attendance and participation are essential components for your success in this course. Experiential Learning is defined as “learning by doing” and is crucial to your success in this course and beyond, in your career. This involves learning by doing both within and outside the classroom. It is also worth a significant percentage of your grade.
- How often does the class meet?
The class runs twice a month (dates of meetings will be shared on the course syllabus), allowing you to gain real-world work experience in parallel with your studies.
- What are the assignments for this course?
Assignments in this course are designed to enhance your learning through a combination of reflective essays and in-class activities. These components support your overall educational experience by encouraging you to critically analyze your placement, draw meaningful connections between theory and practice, and navigate your internship with intention and purpose.
- How should I plan my placement hours for CCT410/WRI410?
CCT410/WRI410 requires students to complete 100 hours of placement work over the semester. This means committing to approximately 8-10 hours per week (one full day or two half-days) of placement work. Placement hours should be within regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 9 am – 6 pm).
- Can I complete all my hours early in the course (i.e., finish them as quickly as possible)?
The assignments in this course build on each other, culminating in the Final Presentation and the Self-Evaluation assignment. Each of these assignments relies on your experience with and reflection on your placement, how it starts, how it develops over time, and how you reflect on it over time. At each step, your instructor grades the assignments and provides feedback that you will use for assignments that follow.
- What should I do if there are changes in my schedule or placement duties?
If there are any significant changes in placement duties/tasks or supervision, inform both the course instructor and the ELO.
You can apply to the CCT411/WRI411 Internship II course, which allows you to continue to have another internship experience with the same partner/company or another, should you choose to apply for a different placement.