Date of Award
8-2016
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Communication
First Advisor
Patrice M. Buzzanell
Committee Chair
Patrice M. Buzzanell
Committee Member 1
Josh Boyd
Committee Member 2
Felicia Roberts
Abstract
Internships are an important part of undergraduate education, with more than 61% of students completing an internship, yet there is not much academic literature surrounding this topic (NACE, 2015). Using Weick’s (1995) sensemaking theory, report data was analyzed thematically looking at how interns made sense of their experiences and what they found to be meaningful. This study found four distinct themes that interns used to navigate unique tensions and power dynamics within their organizational setting: “Just an intern,” “It’s up to me,” “For my future,” and “I was allowed.” Future research could explore framing internships more as a career choice rather than a precursor or stepping stone into a future career.
Recommended Citation
Campbell, Kaley, "The Meaningfulness of Internships: A Sensemaking Approach" (2016). Open Access Theses. 927.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_theses/927