Tourism and Events Management

How does a TEM student find a practicum or internship site and enroll in the class?

1. Determine your eligibility.

Prerequisites for the practicum (TOUR 241) are TOUR 200, and be a declared major or minor in Tourism and Events Management.

Prerequisites for the internship (TOUR 490) are 90 hours, TOUR 241, 9 other TOUR credit hours, and be a TEM major in good academic standing. The internship requires senior status, so it is normally completed during the last year before graduation.

2. Determine your interest.

What kind of experience do you need? It could be an experience that foreshadows your intended career, or it could be an experience that is designed to give you a chance to explore some part of the field that is totally new to you. Generally, the internship should prepare you for your first job after graduation, whereas the practicum can be used to introduce you to this new field of interest or develop a new skill area.

3. Analyze your situation.

Look carefully at your commitments and resources. How will the practicum fit in with your class and work schedule? How will the internship responsibilities affect your ability to meet your financial obligations? What will your transportation or lodging needs be? How prepared are you (intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically) to undertake this applied experience?

4. Meet with the TEM practicum supervisor or internship coordinator.

Contact the TEM practicum supervisor, Dr. Maggie Daniels (mdaniels@gmu.edu or 703-993-4279), or the internship coordinator, Dr. Cindy Waddell (cwaddell@gmu.edu or 703-993-4160) to discuss placement possibilities and learn about formal requirements for each course. Obtain a copy of and carefully study the current Internship Manual.

Note: This must be done early in the semester preceding the semester during which you will enroll in TOUR 241 or TOUR 490.

5. Talk to prospective agency supervisors.

Identify agencies and organizations that can provide the type of experience you need for a practicum or internship. Contact the appropriate person in that organization to discuss your interests and their needs with respect to student fieldwork experiences. Secure a tentative job description.

6. Get approval from the appropriate faculty supervisor.

Complete the approval application and submit to Dr. Daniels (TOUR 241) or Dr. Waddell (TOUR 490).

7. Complete paperwork.

Finalize all agreements as required by the University. Register for either TOUR 241 (TEM Practicum [3 credits]) or TOUR 490 (TEM Internship [12 credits])