RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Internships
Internships can be an important and meaningful part of your program of study, especially if you are headed directly toward a career in a Communication-related field. Our Department strongly encourages students to pursue internship opportunities, when relevant to their area of interest—and some of our concentrations require one.
Our students have interned at organizations such as: Meet the Press, CNN, Good Morning America, Philadelphia Magazine and The White House. The Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society sponsors unique internship opportunities at the Vatican or United Nations.
Social Justice Documentary Program
The Social Justice Documentary program is funded by Villanova’s Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society and the Nord Family Foundation. As part of this unique program, students spend the semester learning about film and then creating documentaries that allow them to become advocates for important societal issues—sometimes staying in the Philadelphia area, sometimes journeying as far as Ghana, India, or Costa Rica. Each year, the students create their own production companies and submit their film to festivals around the world—winning local, regional and national awards. In 2019, the Villanova student film, Sankofa, won Gold Medal in the Documentary/Domestic Film Schools Category at the Student Academy Awards.
Global Learning
To plan your study abroad experience, please visit our Major Advising Page (MAP) on the Office of Education Abroad website.
This program allows students to gain important insights into the roots of rhetoric and performance studies, making contemporary applications through hands-on experience in Greece.
Two of our faculty in Rhetorical Studies and/or Performance Studies lead a group of 15-20 undergraduate students, from Villanova and other universities. We travel through the country of Greece, and typically stay in cities such as Athens, Delphi, Olympia, and Tolo—and most years also include trips to the Greek islands of Crete and Santorini. Throughout the trip, we stay in three- and four-star hotels—never dorms or hostels—and travel by air-conditioned motor coach.
Learn more about pricing, details and application information on the Office of Education Abroad's website.
This program is an opportunity for students interested in Communication, Marketing, Global Studies to study modern Italian society and culture through contemporary coursework. The Communication department partners with the University of Urbino in Italy to make this program possible every fall. Communication students can earn credit for two advanced communication electives (six credits).
Learn more about pricing, details and application information on the Office of Education Abroad's website.
Designed specifically for Communication and Spanish double majors, this immersive semester program features Spanish-language instruction, home stays and the opportunity to earn credit for two advanced communication electives (six credits)
Learn more about pricing, details and application information on the Office of Education Abroad's website.
Scholarships
The Department offers several need-based scholarships for students to participate in internship and other experiential learning opportunities.
- The John H. Taylor Endowed Journalism Scholarship
- Al Flora Endowed Scholarship in Journalism
- Fred and Anne Folco Endowed Scholarship for Communication
- Maria DiStefano stipend for first-generation Communication majors
- The Economos Family Endowed Fund for Summer in Greece supports students participating in the "Rhetoric and Performance in Ancient Greece" program.
Student Groups
Villanova University’s Communication Department is proud to offer its students the possibility of membership in Lambda Pi Eta, the national honor society for students studying Communication. There are currently over 400 chapters of this honor society worldwide—and Villanova’s Alpha Rho chapter, the 41st chapter, was founded in 1993.
Lambda Pi Eta is an excellent way for our students to connect to the most prestigious organization for Communication teachers and scholars, the National Communication Association—and inducted members proudly wear the LPH honors cord at Villanova’s graduation ceremony, so that they can be publicly recognized for their academic and personal excellence.
Learn about the induction requirements.
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) educates and informs students preparing to enter the public relations field. PRSSA is a subsidiary of the Public Relations Society of America, a national organization that provides networking opportunities, accreditation examinations and continuing education to public relations professionals.
Villanova’s Chapter of PRSSA arms its members with the tools to succeed in the exciting PR industry. We host speakers from different areas of public relations to provide our members with information about a variety of specialties. Our faculty advisors are both professors in the communication department as well as seasoned PR pros. They are an important resource for the Chapter and are always happy to help. Also, we encourage our members to think about future employment. Internship opportunities, resume reviews and access to professionals provide members with unique opportunities to contemplate their entry into public relations.
Under the guidance of performance studies faculty, the NovaCom Ensemble devises original performances to reach the Villanova and wider community. The Ensemble operates from the belief that performance fosters relationships with audiences that offer new ways of understanding and viewing the world, opportunities for dialogue, and tools for enacting positive social change.
College and University Resources
In addition to resources and opportunities through the Communication Department, Villanova provides support to undergraduate students in all aspects of their collegiate experience and beyond through the centralized services of the Office for Undergraduate Students, Office of Education Abroad and Career Center.
"I had numerous opportunities through the department to practice and hone my communication skills, including several PR internships, a summer studying abroad in Greece, and integrated capstone courses that helped prepare me for my profession.”
– Chelsea Fallon ’13 CLAS
