Department of English

Internship Opportunities

Internships and externships (like a "mini-internship") are becoming an increasingly important part of an English education. Those graduating with an English degree find themselves in diverse workforce settings, and would benefit from hands-on experience in preparation for their future careers. The English Department is dedicated to providing a wealth of internship opportunities for its majors. Internships are made available through the English 3805 course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for English 3085?

The course is open to English majors or minors who are juniors or seniors with a 3.0 GPA or higher.

What kinds of internships are available?

Interns use the skills fostered by the English major—writing, editing, textual analysis, research, tutoring in literacy or literature—in professional settings, such as publishing, law, government, media, cultural institutions, non-profits, business.  Most internships are unpaid but carry academic credit.  Most are located in center-city Philadelphia or near Temple's campuses.

What are the requirements?

Students in English 3085 are required to:

1. take part in one or more interviews;
2. submit a current resume and cover letter;
3. undergo training and work at a professional site;
4. post weekly journal entries on Blackboard;
5. read the journal entries of other current interns;
6. participate in periodic on-line discussions with the instructor and other interns;
7. submit a 10-page final paper evaluating the internship experience.

How are credits determined?

For three credits, interns work 10 hours a week for 14 weeks or the equivalent (140 hours total).  Additional or fewer credits are pro-rated at 47 hours total per credit.  The course may be taken for 1-12 credits, depending on the number of hours worked.  Only the first three credits count toward the English major or minor (3000 level).   Additional credits count toward graduation, as upper-level CLA electives.

How do students find their internships?

Securing an internship is excellent practice for a job search after graduation. Professor Robison can direct students to potential internship sites and offer help with resumes and coverletters; or students can locate internships on their own.  After an initial interview with Prof. Robison  to assess their interests and options, students apply to appropriate sites, interview with interested employers, and arrange work schedules with the workplace supervisor when an internship is offered.

How are interns registered for the course?

Students cannot register themselves for English 3085.  In order to be registered, a student who has been accepted as an intern should e-mail Professor Robison with the following information:

• internship site;
• brief description of duties;
• beginning and ending dates of the internship;
• number of hours and credits;
• name, phone number, and e-mail address of the workplace supervisor. 

Any student who has secured an appropriate internship will be registered.

If the internship dates do not correspond to Temple's academic semester, students should be registered for the semester in which the internship ends

What kind of training and supervision are provided?

Training and supervision are provided by the workplace supervisor, with frequent communication with the instructor.  The journal, on-line discussions, and final paper are submitted to the instructor.

How are interns graded?

Grades are submitted by the instructor, on the basis of successful completion of the academic requirements (interview, resume, cover letter, journal, on-line discussions, final paper) and the workplace supervisor's recommendation.

---

2008-2010 Internship Placement

Many other internships are available, in these and other fields.

Editing and Publishing

Temple University Press
Running Press
Perseus Books
Philadelphia Magazine
Friends Journal
Esquire Magazine
DC Comics
two.one.five Magazine
Quirk Books
Heartworm Press
MEGAWORDS Magazine
Current Medicine Group
phawker.com
Philadelphia City Paper
Philadelphia Weekly
University City Review
The Spirit Newspaper
Chestnut Hill Local

Radio and Television

MTV
WMMR
CBS-TV

Sports

Philadelphia Flyers
Comcast SportsNet
SuburbanOneSports

Law and Government

Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Congressman Joe Sestak's office
Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz's office
Philadelphia Prison Society
Berks County Courthouse
Philadelphia District Attorney's office

Non-Profit Organizations

American Cancer Society
American Red Cross
National Adoption Center
Philadelphia Youth Network
Intercultural Family Services
Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks

Literacy and Literature Tutoring

Tree House Books
SpiralQ PuppetTheater
Mighty Writers
Greenfield School
Free Library of Philadelphia

Research and Lecturing

Michener Museum