4301 FM Internship in Fashion Merchandising
Texas State University-San Marcos Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Summer I 2007
Sharon Welkey, Ph. D. 512-245-2444 [e-mail] FCS Fax: [phone] Texas State University-San Marcos San Marcos, TX 78666-4615 Office Hours: By appointment Course Description: Prerequisites: Internship program in Fashion Merchandising-related professions focused on production, distribution, or retailing of fashion goods, or auxiliary services. Consent of instructor based on ability to meet College, Department and Program requirements. Proof of compliance with internship criteria. (Your degree audit report will be most helpful in verifying compliance.) Before enrolling in internship, the student must satisfy the following criteria: 1. Completed a minimum of 66% of semester credit hours in the major (FM). 2. Completed a minimum of 24 resident credit hours from Texas State. 3. Completed a minimum of 75 credit hours. 4. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. 5. Have a minimum cumulative Texas State GPA of 2.00. 6. Have a minimum major (FM) GPA of 2.25. 7. Completed the following: English 1310 & 1320; Communications 1310; Math 1315 or 1319; Political Science 2310 & 2320; and 7 hours in Natural Science. Any student without conclusive proof of meeting the above internship criteria will be expected to drop the course or receive an automatic F. Course Objectives: The student will: 1. Gain knowledge and an understanding of a variety of aspects in the fashion industry. 2. Develop an understanding of practical applications of theories and concepts learned in university courses to analyze the business practices observed in the fashion industry. 3. Demonstrate an attitude and abilities which are appropriate for a prospective employee in the fashion industry as viewed from the perspective of the employer. 4. Demonstrate his/her ability to relate information in an organized and concise manner by writing a professional report that presents all essential information in an appropriate style. 5. Develop an awareness of the scope of jobs available within the field of fashion merchandising and acquire competencies directly related to these jobs.
Internship Criteria:
Course Resources:
Internship in Fashion Merchandising is available on the course web site. The address for the course web site is: http://uweb.txstate.edu/~bw09/fm4301 Students in the internship program are in the field gaining valuable work experience and making a personal and professional impression on the employer. At the same time, the student is representing the Fashion Merchandising Program at Texas State and creating a lasting impression that will influence future interns and alumni for years to come. It is expected that the student will, at all times, look and act in a highly professional manner. Any student whose behavior is deemed as jeopardizing the reputation of the Fashion Merchandising program will be removed from the internship program and will be given an automatic F. All work submitted for credit must be the students original work. Any questionable student work will be investigated and will be subject to the disciplinary actions recommended under Texas State University-San Marcos policies. Documentation of hours, internship site and supervisor, and internship experiences are the responsibility of the student and must be submitted accurately, truthfully, and in a timely manner.
Behavior:
Academic Honesty:
Writing Intensive Policy:
This is a writing intensive course. At least 65% of your assignments must be written. All assignments will be graded for grammar, spelling, and other components of good writing technique, as well as content. All written assignment must be computer generated. This includes weekly reports, the interview, and the final report. Assignments are due by 12 noon on the due date. Do not expect to receive credit for assignments that are received after the deadline. Earlier work will always be acceptable. Late work will be accepted only with a previously agreed upon extension. Failure of computer equipment, fax machines, etc. will not constitute an acceptable excuse for late assignments. Also, note that next day delivery services (i.e., FedEx) are generally not received in the Department until two days later. Plan ahead!
Late Work Policy:
Acceptable Internship Sites:
The success of your experience in the internship class is only as good as the site and supervisor you select. An acceptable internship site for one person may not be a good choice for another student. Students entering the internship program have varying levels of work experience, different career goals, and assorted opportunities. The best internships are the ones that will help the student acquire the learning, skills, and experiences that will build on their previous accomplishments and lead them to their ultimate career goals. The worst internships are ones where the student merely takes on a job of convenience to collect the minimum number of work hours to fulfill the internship requirements. It should also be noted that in most cases the supervisors experience and willingness to work with the student will more valuable the than particular company. Internship sites will be approved based on the criteria outlined on the course website. An Internship Proposal must be submitted prior to working in order to supply the necessary information for the instructor to make a decision on the acceptability of the internship site. No hours will be counted before the Internship Proposal has been received and approved. If the student has questions regarding the acceptability of a particular internship site they should contact the instructor.
Contacting
the Instructor:
Phone numbers and e-mail addresses for your instructor are provided on this syllabus and on the course calendar. It should be noted that the instructor will be out of the office much of the time either in another class or visiting interns. When leaving a message for your instructor, please leave your name, number or address, and a couple of reasonable times to reach you. If you have an emergency, please feel free to call your instructor at home (at reasonable times). Your final grade will be based on points accumulated throughout the session. The following is a list of assignments and their point values. Criteria for each specific assignment is included in on the class website. Assignments Internship Proposal Reports Report 1 Report 2 Report 3 Report 4 Interview Final Report Supervisors Evaluation (Postmarked) Documentation of Hours (required to pass) TOTAL Date Due May 2, 2007 June 11, 2007 June 18, 2007 June 25,2007 July 2, 2007 June 25, 2007 July 2, 2007 July 3, 2007 July 3, 2007 100(72) Points (WI) 5 (2) 5(5) 5(5) 5(5) 5(5) 10(10) 45(40) 20(0) Points Earned
Evaluation:
Course Requirements:
The student must meet the following requirements of internship before a passing grade will be awarded: 1. Acceptable documentation showing a minimum of 150 hours of work experience during the allowable time frame. Pay stubs will be used as documentation of work hours. Therefore, the student must keep track of their pay stubs. Absolutely no incomplete grades will be given for failure to complete and provide proper evidence of hours in the designated time frame. You will receive a failing grade. 2. A favorable evaluation from the employer. (Note: being fired from an internship position will result in a failing grade) 3. Completion of all assignments and meeting of all established deadlines. If the student has met the course requirements, the students points will be totaled and a grade will be assigned as follows:
A = 90 - 100 points; B = 80 - 89 points; C = 70 - 79 points; D = 60 - 69 points and F = 0 - 59 points
Grading:
Internship Proposal:
Specific instructions for the internship proposal may be found on the course web-site. However, there are several details that you should particularly note: The form for the proposal is in a Word Document on the website. The form must be completed by the due date for the internship option youve selected. The form requires several attachments which should be gathered well in advance of the due date and while you are on campus. The form requires detailed information about your internship work site and...