Undergraduate Internships
Internships are one of the most valuable experiential learning opportunities students can take advantage of, but it can sometimes feel a bit intimidating to start searching and applying for internships. We’ve included some frequently asked questions below, along with tips for your internship search. And don’t forget, you can always schedule an appointment with ASC Career Success to discuss internships by going to the Career Success website, or schedule an appointment with English Undergrad Program Manager Elizabeth Falter by emailing english@osu.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s never too early or too late to start thinking about an internship, but we strongly recommend that, if possible, you complete at least one internship by the start of your final year. Having that experience complete before you begin your last year of classes will help you as you start to think about job searching and constructing your resume.
We recommend casting a wide net when searching for internships, because the truth is that almost any internship will be beneficial, even if it’s not what you initially envision as the “perfect” internship. (In fact, there really is no such thing as a perfect internship!) As you’re looking for internships, it’s helpful to ask yourself:
- What skills do I want to build?
- What field do I want to learn more about?
- Do I want to work remotely or in person, or is either okay?
- Do I need a paid internship?
You may be able to earn English 5191 credit for your internship, depending on the nature of the work you do and the number of hours you work. If you’d like to earn credit for your internship, make sure to get it approved before you begin the internship. To find out whether your internship qualifies for academic credit, email Elizabeth Falter (.44). Your email should contain the following information:
- Your Ohio State name.#
- Name of the organization with which you will intern
- Name and email address of the person who will supervise your work
- A brief description, three or four sentences, outlining your internship duties and responsibilities
- Dates of the internship and the number of hours you will work each week
- Term in which you hope to receive credit for the internship
If your internship is approved for academic credit, we will work with you to ensure that you are enrolled in the appropriate number of credit hours of English 5191, the department's internship course. This course is not a traditional, in-person course; however, participating students must meet a few other requirements (reflection exercises, etc.) in order to earn a grade of "Satisfactory" and receive credit for their internships. If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Falter (.44).
Finding an Internship
Here are a few resources you can use as you search for internships:
- The English job board! Check out the tab labeled “Internships.”
- Handshake. This is a great resource, although you do need to be thoughtful in your search terms. You’ll want to make sure to use the Internship filter, and also the paid/unpaid filter if you need a paid internship. You can search for keywords of jobs you’re interested in (for example, “Communications,” “Marketing,” “Technical writing), and/or check out the “Read Me” tab on the English job board for more keyword search tips.
- If you know you’re interested in specific companies or organizations, you can visit their websites and see if they offer an internship program. Even if they don’t have an internship program listed, you can always contact the organization, explain that you’d like to learn more about what it’s like to work in that field, and ask if they’re open to taking on an intern. They may not say yes, but it’s always worth a shot!
- The Minor in Professional Writing offers students placement in credited internships in a variety of organizations and industries in the Columbus area.
Past Places English Students Have Interned
Our English majors intern with a wide variety of community partners. Here’s a list of some of the workplaces where our students have interned in recent years, both in person and remotely: