Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is qualified for an internship?
Any junior or senior English Major, English Minor, or Technical/Professional Writing Minor with at least a 2.5 GPA, or any graduate student who has completed approximately half the required course work, may elect to pursue an internship opportunity.
Who offers internship positions?
Students intern at such companies as Interactive Knowledge, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Wells Fargo, IBM, WCNC, WBTV, and not-for-profit organizations such as Spirit Square, Opera Carolina, and the Leukemia Society. The Internship Coordinator posts prospective sites each semester.
How do I find an internship?
To begin, you may want to look at the English Department’s website for a list of companies that have agreed to sponsor an intern. The list is updated, as needed, at the beginning of each semester. If you read about a site where you may be interested in working, get the company’s contact information from the Internship Coordinator. It is the responsibility of the intern to arrange interviews and secure the internship. Registration for the internship course is by permit only, and you will not be registered until you have reached an agreement with a site supervisor.
You may also know of a company with which you would like to intern or where you have heard that an opportunity may exist. In this case, discuss it with the Internship Coordinator to ensure that the opportunity is suited to your program and career goals.
What are the intern’s responsibilities?
In addition to the workplace requirements of your site supervisor, you will:
- Reflect weekly on your work and your experiences on the job.
- Write a three to five page assessment of and reflection on your experience as an intern.
- Attend the internship meeting at the beginning of the semester.
- Give a presentation reflecting on your experience during the final exam meeting.
How will an intern receive credit?
Based on the number of hours you work, you will either receive 3 or 6 hours of credit.
How many hours do I have to work?
If you are registered for three internship credit hours, you must work 120 hours per semester. For six internship credit hours, you must work 240 hours per semester.
How do I register for an internship?
You must turn in an internship application and a site application to the Internship Coordinator.
Application materials are usually due by the last day to add a course during a given semester – usually just over a week into the term. Be sure to check the Schedule of Classes and look for deadline information posted in and around the Department of English .
Are internships paid?
Some internships are paid, but many are not. In every case, part of your compensation is the course credit that you receive and valuable work experience you gain. Negotiations about wages are conducted between the students and site supervisors.
Still interested?
Contact Dr. Greg Wickliff by e-mail . If you have an opportunity already arranged, complete the Student Internship Application, and have the supervisor complete the site application form.