Practicum and Internship Experiences

Tourism and Events Management students are encouraged to seek volunteer or paid experiences in the broad field of tourism, events, and hospitality management during their academic years.

In addition, the Tourism and Events Management curriculum includes two faculty-supervised practical experiences – practicum (TOUR 241) and internship (TOUR 490).

TOUR 241 – Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management Practicum

The Tourism and Events Management practicum provides practical experience in an approved, student-selected volunteer or paid setting. This 3-credit course includes 120 hours of supervised practical experience and is conducted according to the terms of a three-way partnership agreement among the participating agency, George Mason University, and the student. This course should be taken early in the academic program. Inquiries about the Tourism and Events Management practicum should be directed to the Fieldwork Coordinator at temfield@gmu.edu. See a list of previous practicum sites as a starting place.

For a full catalog description and past syllabi click here.

All students must complete the mandatory pre-experience online orientation session by the deadline here. The sessions are provided through the Tourism and Events Management Blackboard Organization.  Save your notice of completion.

This requirement is different from (and in addition to) the requirement to attend the informational meetings scheduled by their Faculty Supervisor (the instructor-of-record for their section), which are also mandatory. For more details click here.

Note: Failure to complete the mandatory orientation session (i.e. the one provided by the Fieldwork Coordinator), and the informational meeting organized by the Faculty Supervisor (if applicable)  will result in you being declared ineligible to complete your practicum during the corresponding semester. The sessions are announced through the Tourism and Events Management listserv. Any student not receiving the listserv emails must contact us at ewhisna@gmu.edu.

Complete Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management Practicum Manual.

• Appendix 1 - Practicum Instructions
• Appendix 2 - Practicum Eligibility
• Appendix 3 - Paperwork Checklist Cover Sheet
• Appendix 4 - Site Profile
• Appendix 5 - Consent Agreement
• Appendix 6 - Experiential Learning Agreement
• Appendix 7 - Weekly Report
• Appendix 8 - Midpoint Report 
• Appendix 9 - Portfolio Guidelines
• Appendix 10 - Final Performance Evaluation

TOUR 490 – Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management Internship

The Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management internship gives students an opportunity to have a full-time applied experience at an approved agency for a minimum of 400 hours during the fall, spring, or summer semester. The internship satisfies the Mason Core capstone requirement and is, therefore, completed late in the academic program (after at least 90 credits have been earned, and the practicum has been successfully completed). This 12-credit course is conducted according to the terms of a three-way partnership agreement among the participating agency, George Mason University, and the student. Interns are supervised directly by professionals (site supervisors), who communicate regularly with the student's internship faculty supervisor. See a list of previous internship sites as a starting place.

For a full catalog description and past syllabi click here.

All students must complete the mandatory pre-experience orientation session before registering for TOUR 490. For more details click here.

The Orientation Sessions can be attended either in person (only if enrolled in TOUR 470 the semester before the student’s eligibility as outlined in the deadlines here) OR online through the Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management Blackboard Organization by the deadlines here. Save your notice of completion. For more details click here.

Note: Failure to complete the mandatory pre-experience orientation session will make students ineligible to complete their internship during the applicable semester. Details for the sessions, are announced through the Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management listserv. If you do not receive the listserv emails, contact us at ewhisna@gmu.edu.

Details on the internship are in the complete Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management Internship Manual.

• Appendix 1 - Internship Instructions
• Appendix 2 - Internship Eligibility Form
• Appendix 3 - Paperwork Checklist Cover Sheet
• Appendix 4 - Internship Site Confirmation Form
• Appendix 5 - GMU Consent Agreement
• Appendix 6 - Experiential Learning Agreement
• Appendix 7 - Internship Weekly Progress Report
• Appendix 8 - Special Project Proposal
• Appendix 9 - Performance Evaluations
• Appendix 10 - Final Presentation Guidelines
• Appendix 11 - Student Internship Evaluation Form
• Appendix 12 - Internship Portfolio Guidelines

Inquiries about the internship should be directed to the Fieldwork Coordinator at temfield@gmu.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When must I complete the mandatory orientation for Practicum (TOUR 241) and what must I do to enroll?
2. When must I complete the mandatory orientation for Internship (TOUR 490) and what must I do to enroll?
3. What are previous sites of Practicums and Internships?
4. What makes a successful Practicum or Internship experience?
5. What forms and documents are needed? See Documents and Forms section above.
   • Practicum Manual
   • Internship Manual
6. What must be included in an official job description?
7. What are important dates to take note of for Practicums and Internships?
8. What must I do if I would like to complete my fieldwork using a site at which I have previously worked?
9. What do I need to know about completing TOUR 490 (Internship) in a 'hotel'?

Agencies looking to work with Mason Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management students

When you work with Mason students you can expect to have engaged students who have been well trained with the requisite knowledge to be a worthwhile addition in the Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management Fields. Students would have completed courses in areas such as Events Management, Events Implementation, Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management, Wedding Planning, Program Planning and Design, and many more.

Click here for more information about the type of internship and practicum programs offered by the Tourism, Events, and Hospitality Management program.