The
Program at a Glance
An internship experience
can help you determine your
career path, focus your degree
program, and ease your
transition from the workplace
to the classroom.
The Program at a Glance
The Department of English, in conjunction with NIU's Cooperative Education/Internship Program (Co-op), offers internships for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. We can help you arrange an internship that is suited to your abilities, interests, and goals, and that fits into your academic schedule.
How do I set up an internship?
You can establish an internship on your own, through the English department's internship coordinator, or through NIU's Co-op. You may want to attend a Co-op orientation session and have your résumé reviewed and kept on file so that you can apply for positions in Co-op's listing of vacancies. Regardless of how you obtain an internship, you must register at the Co-op to ensure compliance with university requirements and to receive recognition on your transcript.
When can I serve an internship?
An internship can begin at any time during the semester. You can intern on a part-time or full-time basis during the fall, spring, or summer term, and you can extend an internship over more than one semester. You can even serve more than one internship at the same company or at different ones.
Can I get pay?
Some internships are paid; some are not. Whether you receive pay (and, if so, how much) is strictly a matter of negotiation between you and the internship company or organization.
Can I get credit?
Internships may be taken for credit or no credit. To qualify for credit in English, your internship must involve primarily writing, editing, research and/or training. English 496 and 528 offer variable credit depending on the number of hours worked and the nature of the internship. Minimum requirements include an internship journal, a progress report, an annotated bibliography, and a final report with samples of work produced during your internship.
What do interns do?
Internship projects at Fortune 500 corporations, small companies, government agencies, and university offices have ranged from editing manuscripts for publication, to creating user manuals and on-line documentation for software products and services, to providing tutoring and training workshops.
How do I prepare for an internship?
It's never too early to start planning for an internship. But we suggest the following:
- Enroll in English 308 (Technical Writing)
- Enroll in English 403 (Technical Editing)
- Familiarize yourself with the most current word processing and desktop publishing software programs
- Join NIU's student chapter of the Society for Technical Communication