The English Internship: English 4910
The English Department at Ohio University offers a senior-level course entitled English 4910: “Internship.” This course provides an opportunity for students who are in their final year of study and approaching graduation to gain skills by working in a business, service or institutional setting.
Purpose: English 4910 is useful for students considering careers in areas usually regarded as non-academic: professional/technical writing, research, editing/publishing, administration, and law. Many English majors have traditionally pursued careers in secondary and college teaching, but alumni inform us that a significant number of our graduates enter alternative professions that utilize their skills in critical thinking, textual analysis, and written communication. Applying these skills in a working environment provided by a host organization will likely enrich students’ professional preparation. Students who have worked as interns in the recent past have enjoyed an informative learning experience, while simultaneously contributing to their host organizations’ needs.
Eligibility: Students must have a 3.2 GPA in the English major, a 3.0 GPA overall, and senior standing.
Requirements: Intern supervisors are asked to evaluate the student's work mid-semester and at the end of the term. At the end of the term, students write a report on their internship experience.
To apply: First, send your DARS to Professor Ayesha Hardison, Internship Coordinator, at , to verify your eligibility. Be sure to identify to which internship you intend to apply. You will then be given further information regarding the application materials (i.e. resume, cover letter, and references) and application process.
Work: Interns work with “mentors,” professionals who can guide them as they acquire skills related to the host organization’s work. English 4910 is “repeatable” and most students work as interns for two two semesters. Most interns commit to work from ten to fifteen hours per week. Some internships offer remuneration as well as academic credit.
Prospective interns may discover a venue for an internship independently, or they may work with the Internship Coordinator who may help them find a position. Several venues for internships are located on campus or in the Athens area, but location is not limited. Internships may also be pursued during the regular academic year, during the summer, or during the winter intercession.
Evaluation and Credit: Academic credit is limited to a maximum of six hours credit per semester, and is awarded based on the number of hours worked. A portfolio describing one’s experience and showing evidence of work performed and accomplished is required. Grades are “credit”/”no credit”—based on the portfolio and an evaluation by one’s mentor.
Current Internships
The English Department is currently offering the following internship opportunities. If you qualify and wish to learn more about internships, contact Professor Ayesha Hardison, Internship Coordinator, at to schedule a meeting.
ACADEMIC RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS
Research Assistant in Jane Austen's fiction, music history, and theories of music and cognition
Expected duties: locating, reading, and taking notes on recently-published Austen scholarship to assist with preparing a manuscript.
Anticipated hours: 10 or less hours per week
Research Assistant in Medieval Studies
Expected duties: editorial work, including proofreading articles in final stages of readiness for a volume, checking bibliographical and footnote entries for both accuracy and style; and perhaps, some manuscript transcription and textual analysis
Anticipated hours: 15-20 hours a week
Research Assistant in African American literature and culture
Expected duties: locating, reading, and taking notes on recently-published scholarship; help with creating an index and bibliography
Anticipated hours: 8-10 hours per week
Research Assistant for the African American Research and Service Institute (AARSI)
Expected Duties: developing an inventory of the institute’s research holdings; creating a finding aid of the institute’s collection of oral history interviews/transcripts; cataloguing archival files using Library Thing or some other software, as well as books in collaboration with Alden Library staff; office operation; and public relations.
Anticipated hours: 8 to 10 hours per week
LIBRARY INTERNSHIPS
Assistant in the Music and Dance Library
Expected duties: help with various jobs and projects within this collection including shelving; research projects and exhibits; public relations; and other administrative duties.
Anticipated hours: Flexible hours, but consistent from week to week on a 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday schedule.
Assistant in the Art and Archives Department
Expected duties: prepare document and reports on Arts and Archives collections, services, and projects through research, analysis, and synthesis of written and statistical information; assist with the preparation of exhibits in the research and writing of labels, publicity, and other information; and other administrative duties as appropriate
Anticipated hours: 8-10 hours per week.
EDITORIAL INTERNSHIPS
Editorial Assistant at Ohio University Press
Expected Duties: assist in editing or “cleaning” manuscripts; organize and file past projects; and attend book launches
Anticipated hours: 8-10 hours per week
Editorial Assistant at New Ohio Review
Expected duties: help document incoming submissions and contest entries; handle correspondence with both authors and editors; take part in organizing and proofreading the material for each issue; maintaining New Ohio Review’s database; planning and promoting literary events; and helping to compose and design publicity efforts such as radio announcements and posters
Qualifications: superior language and organizational skills; experience with desktop publishing software (familiarity with InDesign and/or Photoshop) is desirable, but this is not at all a prerequisite for the job.
Anticipated hours: 6-10 hours per week
Editorial Assistant for University Communications and Marketing
Expected duties: write and edit Ohio University news stories and copy for the Compass online website; may write feature stories between 600-900 words; and flexibility to work on some multimedia pieces that involve video and photos
Anticipated hours: 10 hours a week between 8 am to 5 pm (office hours) Monday thru Friday
Editorial Assistant at Brevity, the magazine of concise creative nonfiction.
http://www.brevitymag.com
Expected duties: reading manuscripts; checking website for errors; and occasional small blog entries
Qualifications: familiarity with Wordpress is a plus
Anticipated hours: 5 to 10 hours per week
COMMUNITY INTERNSHIPS
Internship with Athena Cinema
Expected Duties: design flyers; write and edit promotional material; marketing; and oversee social media outlets
Anticipated hours: 8-10 hours per week
Internship with ARTS/West
http://www.artswest.blogspot.com/
Expected Duties: opportunities in grant writing, grant research, and promotional writing, with particular focus on critical or expository writing about ARTS/West productions and programs
Anticipated hours: 10 hours per week
Internship with Stuart’s Opera House
Expected duties: meet with staff to plan schedule and duties; assistance in grant preparation, research; events planning; and marketing assistance
Anticipated hours: varies, maybe 8-10 hours per week
Assistant at Athens Public Library
For more information about the library see http://www.myacpl.org/
Expected duties: learn about the services and missions of the library system by conducting interviews with staff; plan, recruit, promote, set up and host a public library program/presentation/event; and shelving
Anticipated hours:5-10 hours per week
Internship at Athens Historical Society
http://www.athenshistory.org/
Expected duties: research and transcription; public relations; education and curation
Anticipated hours: 8-10 hours per week
Assistant at the Athens County Visitor’s Bureau
Expected duties: various office duties and help with public relations
Anticipated hours: 8-10 hours per week
LAW INTERNSHIPS
Assistant at Adam Baker and Associates
Expected Duties: gain experience in legal research; legal writing and preparation of documents; client relations; and office management
Anticipated hours: 15 hours per week
Qualifications: Should have an interest in law as a potential career
Intern at The Center for Student Legal Services
Expected duties: gain experience in legal research and legal writing; office management
Anticipated hours: 8-10 hours per week
Qualifications: Should have an interest in law as a potential career
Assistant to City Prosecutor
Expected duties: gain experience in legal research and legal writing; office management; possible opportunity to observe hearings
Anticipated hours: varies
Qualifications: Should have an interest in law as a potential career