Internship in Technical & Professional Communication
As a graduate student, you select from the following choices based on your work experience in the field of communication. These courses may be completed by both campus and online studetns. Courses may NOT be repeated.
Students with very little or no professional experience . . .
- Engl 6740 (3 s.h.). In this experiential learning experience, you learn about a career in professional communication by working in a professional communication workplace. Based on your professional interests and academic preparation, you complete a communication-related internship (at least 140 hours) at a company, nonprofit organization, or university office approved by the internship director.
- Engl 6741 (3 s.h.). In some cases, you can earn Engl 6741 credit by continuing the Engl 6740 internship at the same site, earning a total of 6 s.h. in the same internship setting (at least 280 hours total). Combined internship credit is appropriate in situations in which you are able to learn new skills or tackle new types of work in the second half of the internship. If you are interested in continuing an internship for Engl 6741 credit, meet with the internship director before the completion of Engl 6740 to discuss your plans for continuing.
You may also earn Engl 6741 credit by completing a second internship at a new internship site.
To learn more, click here .
Students with past or current professional work experience . . .
These experiential research learning experiences presume a knowledge of and experience with tasks completed by technical and professional communicators, persons who have already completed an experiential internship or have work experience in "communication careers."
These learning experiences are especially for, but not limited to, persons working full time; however, you do not receive credit just for work experience. Instead, they are theory- and research-oriented internships that will enable you to deepen your understanding of the relationship of theory and research to application in terms of your work experience in a communication career.
You can complete one (3 s.h.) or two courses (6 s.h.) using this internship model. Normally, you would enroll in only one internship at a time during fall, spring, or summer session. You will work with the internship coordinator to develop an appropriate project.
In addition, if appropriate, you can complete Approach #1 and/or Approach #2 OR you can complete Approach #1 twice (of course, with different projects) or Approach #2 twice (again with different projects).
- Approach #1 ... You, in consultation with the internship director, develop a plan to complete an annotated bibliography and paper based on reading theory and research related to an aspect (or aspects) of your current work. To learn more, contact the internship director, submitting a fairly detailed current job description including overview, qualifications needed, job tasks, and years in position.
- Approach #2 ... You, in consultation with the internship director, develop a plan for you to learn and complete new task(s) relevant to your current work. This plan often involves reading related theory and research. To learn more, contact the internship director, submitting a fairly detailed current job description including overview, qualifications needed, job tasks, and years in position.
As an experienced professional communicator, you may also earn internship credit by completing an internship at a new site in which you develop communication skills and knowledge that differ significantly from those used in past or current work. See the guidelines above for "students with very little or no professional experience." Consult the internship director to determine the suitability of this type of internship for you.
Internship Director:
Dr. Brent Henze (henzeb@ecu.edu)
2130 Bate, East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 328-6699
