Internships in English
Summer and Fall 2008

 

Internships provide both valuable pre-professional experience and substantial enhancement to a resumé . Students who are declared English majors have access to a variety of internship experiences. They can take advantage of the many off-campus opportunities currently available. They can also apply for one of the several on-campus editorial internships (nine different publications produced at IU-Bloomington participate in this program) or can arrange a teaching internship with a member of the English Department faculty.

The Career Development Center , 625 N. Jordan (855-8208), coordinates off-campus internships, and can provide descriptions and contact and scheduling information. These internships can be taken at any time, though since they often involve work away from campus most students pursue them during the summer, and very often in or near their hometowns. Recent internships undertaken by English majors have included work in law offices, advertising agencies, radio and television stations, newspapers, and public-relations firms, among others.

The on-campus editorial internships are awarded competitively for the fall and spring semester and for one or both summer sessions. English majors are notified of specific opportunities in advance of the deadline for each competition, and must submit a letter of application and supporting materials for each internship in which they are interested. The teaching internships, which provide opportunities to participate in planning a course and lecturing or leading classroom discussion, involve approaching a faculty member the student knows and making a proposal, typically – though not necessarily – in a course the student has already taken with that instructor. All of the internships available to English majors are described in the guide "Designing an English Major." Printed copies of the guide are available in the Undergraduate Studies office, Ballantine 442.

 

Course Credit for Internships

Students whose off-campus internship involves skills appropriate to the English major may qualify for academic credit in English Y398: Professional Practice in English. The number of credits (1-6 hours) is dependent on the work requirement of the internship, the course is graded S/F, and it is repeatable once for a total of six hours. These credits do not count toward the requirements of the English major or the distribution requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. To be eligible, the student must have completed 12 credit hours in English at the 200 level or above, including L202, must be in good academic standing, and must have the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies in English. Credit for Y398 is arranged in advance of the internship activity. An application for credit requires a description of the internship activity submitted by the employer and identification of the person responsible for supervising the activity. The grade is awarded only after receipt of an evaluation form completed by the internship supervisor and an internship report prepared by the student.

Students who obtain off-campus internships not related to their English major skills may seek credit in ASCS Q398. Arrangements for this credit must be made with the Career Development Center before the semester begins.

Students awarded on-campus editorial or teaching internships are eligible to enroll for 1-3 hours of credit in English L498: Internship in English. The course is graded S/F, and is repeatable once.

A total of three credit hours may count toward the major; these credits do not count toward distribution requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. The student must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, must have completed 12 credit hours in English at the 200 level or above, including L202, at the time the internship begins, and must have the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies in English. The final grade for L498 is awarded only after the student submits a report to the Director of Undergraduate Studies describing the internship experience. (In the case of students who receive Honors Division internship grants, this report may be a copy of the report required by the Honors Division.)

Honors College Internship Grants

Students awarded IU editorial or teaching internships can compete for teaching and non-teaching internship grants from the Honors College. In the recent past these grants have ranged. Information and application forms are available from the Honors College, 324 N. Jordan ( www.iub.edu/~iubhonor). Recipients of these grants are required to submit a report on the internship experience to the Honors Division at the end of the semester. Students selected for Summer 2008 internships must submit completed applications for Honors grants by Friday, March 7. Students selected for Fall 2008 internships must submit completed applications by Friday, March 21.