Overview

An internship or co-op is an educational plan which integrates classroom experience in industrial, business, government, or community-service work situations. It allows students to translate academic principles to action, to test career interests, and to develop skills and abilities through carefully planned and supervised programs related to the degree they are seeking.

Although an internship is not required by BA English programs, it is a great way to boost your readiness to apply the skills you develop in your major in the working world!

A Few Pertinent Facts

  • You are eligible for an internship if you have completed 57 credits and have a 2.0 GPA.
  • For every three hours of credit you earn, you need to work 120 hours.
  • Three-hour internships are listed as ENGL 493-001; you may register for this class after you have received approval from the department and the dean.
  • Some internships are paid, but most are not.
  • You will pay for internship credits just as you do any other credits.
  • You must submit a form as well as a proposal (Dr. Weinstein will help you with this) for approval.

Application Process

1. Meet With The BA Director

Dr. Daniel Weinstein
Office: HSS 506T
Email: daniel.weinstein@iup.edu

Prior to/while seeking an internship, you should meet with the BA director to discuss your interests and goals for the internship and how it fits into your program.

2. Locate Internship Site

You, the student, are expected to seek your own internship location. There are several sources of information you may refer to in order to identify potential internship sites.

3. Submit Internship Application

After securing an internship site, you must complete and submit an internship form and description to the internship coordinator.

Writing Studies Track Majors Only

Writing track majors can also use English 493: Internship as one of two required Studio/Portfolio/Career Preparation courses.

Deadlines

  • Fall Internship: Second Friday in July
  • Spring Internship: First Monday in November
  • Summer Internship: Last Monday in March

4. Register for Credits

Once your internship application has been approved,the Dean's Office will add ENGL 493: Internship to your schedule.

5. Payment of Fees

Make arrangements to pay all required university fees on a timely basis for the university to appropriately recognize your internship.

6. Title IX Training

All interns will receive an email link to an online training that must be complete before beginning an internship.

7. Internship Work

A three-credit internship is equivalent to 120 hours per semester, or eight hours per week.

As indicated in the Internship Portfolio description, this work should include primarily writing-based activities, activities that will need to be documented in the portfolio via a weekly work log, work samples (artifacts), and an internship reflection essay.

8. English 493: Internship Portfolio

The final product to emerge from your internship experience will be a portfolio, the purpose of which is to help you document and reflect on the work you've done and the knowledge/skills gained through this experience.

The portfolio will also help your IUP intern coordinator assess your learning in this credit-bearing course, and more importantly, help you articulate your experience-based skills and expertise to future employers with specific excerpts and examples of your work.

Portfolio Requirements

  • A one-page introduction to the portfolio in which you describe the work you did for your internship.

  • Internship log, in which you list dates and times worked and tasks completed.

  • At least two "artifacts" or samples of your work with an accompanying summary explaining that work and its relevance to your internship.

  • A four- to six-page essay in which you reflect on the meaning of your internship experience for your intellectual and professional development.

  • A one-page letter from the internship site supervisor verifying that a student has completed the contracted hours and evaluating the student's performance based on specified internship duties and general professionalism (Note: The internship coordinator will also independently verify the student's work with her/his supervisor via email).

  • A separate email honestly evaluating your experience of the internship site and site supervisor; i.e., by answering the following questions: "Would I recommend this internship to another student?" and "Why or why not?"

Forms

Internship application forms are available from the English Department internship coordinator.