University of South Florida | Professional and Technical Communication Internship

Department of English | Professional Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology Program

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ENC 4940 – Professional and Technical Communications Internship

Students participating in the internship must enroll in the ENC 4940 Professional and Technical Communications Internship class. While this class requires some assigned readings as well as periodic meetings with your internship faculty supervisor, your primary responsibilities will involve work-related activities at the sponsor’s facilities.

 

Undergraduate Degree Requirement

The internship is a requirement for all undergraduates who enrolled as majors in the Professional Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology program during the Fall 2010 Semester or later.

 

Participating Sponsors

The faculty supervisor for your internship will match your educational background and professional goals to an appropriate for-profit or nonprofit enterprise in the Tampa Bay area. The current list of internship sponsors includes software developers, advertising agencies, government contractors, publishers, internal audit and consulting companies, attorney partnerships, and a variety of non-profit agencies providing educational and social services.

Work Component Requirements

  • Complete all assigned projects and tasks in a manner consistent with professional employment
  • Observe all policies and practices of the sponsoring organization, including those concerned with confidentiality, security, and office conduct and procedure.
  • Submit a Weekly Status Report to your internship faculty supervisor
  • Complete and submit Mid-Semester and End-of-Semester Internship Evaluation Forms to your internship faculty supervisor
  • Demonstrate successful job fulfillment in the completed Sponsor Evaluation Forms

 

Required Student Work Hours

Sixteen-week Fall or Spring Semester:      10 to 12 hours per week

Ten-week Summer C Semester:                  13 to 16 hours per week

Six-week Summer A or B Semester:           30 to 36 hours per week

 

 

Academic Component Requirements

  • Enrollment in ENC 4940 Professional and Technical Communications Internship Class
  • Conferences with your Internship Supervisor during Weeks 4, 8, 12, 15, and 16 (more frequent conferences may be required based upon your specific needs or your supervisor’s discretion)
  • Completion of assigned weekly readings related to internships and the workplace
  • Maintenance of a professional portfolio of documents and media projects completed during your internship
  • Write a final, reflective essay (approximately 2100 words)discussing your internship and address the following points:
    1. What duties/tasks you feel were successful because of your USF technical/professional writing coursework
    2. What duties/tasks you feel our technical/professional program provided inadequate preparation and background
    3. The overall workplace culture of the company sponsoring your internship
    4. Your contribution to the workplace culture
    5. What you gained from this experience

Prerequisites

  • Enrollment in the Department of English Professional and Technical Writing Program
  • At least 12 undergraduate credit hours in upper division Professional and Technical Writing classes completed by the beginning of the internship semester

Enrollment

Enrollment is contingent upon the availability of suitable internship sponsors based upon the student’s academic and career goals. Students are placed according to specific academic and experiential qualifications, including GPA, courses taken, previous employment history, recommendations, and interviews with the Coordinator of Professional and Technical Writing Internship Program and a representative of the prospective internship sponsor.

Opportunities

  • Experience working in a professional office environment
  • Network with potential employers and professional contacts
  • Enhance your professional portfolio with documents and media projects created in a professional work setting
  • Gain valuable insight into possible careers in professional and technical communications

Course Credit

The internship earns 3 semester hours of credit as ENC 4940 and normally may be counted towards your undergraduate degree. See a Department of English advisor to discuss your particular degree requirements and anticipated course credit.

Repeat Opportunity

The internship course may be repeated with approval of the internship coordinator and the department chair.

Non-Majors

Students who ae not declaired majors in the Professional Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology Program may participate in the internship program with the permission of the Faculty Advisor and the Department Chair. Non-majors must demonstrate academic accomplishment in professional and technical communication as well as relevant career goals.