Internship Guidelines / M.A. in Writing Program

(updated April 2009)

Students in the Writing Program may propose an internship that receives full course credit toward the M.A. in Writing degree. Students may propose to participate in existing internship programs, or they may arrange an individual internship. In most cases, students should have completed four or more courses toward their degree before seeking an internship, and proposals must be submitted to the internship coordinator at least 60 days before the start of the target term. Students should consult their faculty advisor on any internship proposal, and written advisor recommendations on a proposal are encouraged.

Proposals will be evaluated on a competitive basis in the order in which they are received, with the final decisions made by a faculty committee. Because of the program’s emphasis on classroom interaction, only a limited number of internships will be approved for any term, and priority will be given to students who have completed the most degree-level courses and who submit proposals that demonstrate the best internship experience. Internships may be paid or unpaid.

An internship generally should last the same time period as a 12- to 14-week graduate term, and will result in one full-course credit toward a master’s degree. The typical weekly workload for such internships is about 10 hours, although some internships can be part-time or full-time hours.

Because students receive course credit for internships, they pay tuition levels equal to one writing program course. The writing program may pay a faculty member to monitor an internship, or it may arrange to pay an on-site supervisor for the intern or the organization providing the internship, or both.

Internship proposals will be evaluated for academic and professional value. An internship should provide practical or professional experience or other special experience that is relevant to graduate study in writing. An internship focused on secretarial, clerical, or low-level labor would not be evaluated as highly as one that involves writing, research, editing, writing support, or other direct professional or practical work. Students should especially seek internships that provide exposure to the highest levels of professional or practical experience, even if the student is not directly involved. The student’s proposal should address the following issues:

How does the internship present significant learning opportunities for the student? In what ways will the internship be an active work experience?
In what ways is the internship appropriate to the chosen field of study for the student?
What are the specific duties of the intern and who will supervise the intern on-site?
What is the schedule of work or attendance for the intern? How long will the internship last?
Will the organization or supervisor be willing to answer questions before approval? Would the organization or supervisor also submit interim reports on the intern’s performance and a final evaluation of the intern’s performance and experiences?
What is the current standing and record of the student proposing the internship? Factors to be considered include a student’s grades, faculty recommendations, academic performance, including attendance, and overall writing quality and promise. Students should list all courses that they will have completed before the start of the proposed internship.
Does the student meet all requirements for the internship being sought? Has the student already been accepted as an intern, or does the student still need to apply for the internship? (Either situation is acceptable.Proposals must describe the organization providing the internship and the name and all contact information of the direct supervisor for whom the intern will work.

Proposals may be submitted via email; however, the student should follow up with the internships coordinator to make sure the proposal has been received. Proposals rejected for one term are not automatically carried over to the next; students must re-submit written proposals if they want to try again.

Special Note on Course Registration:

Evaluation of internship proposals will not begin until after the 60-day cutoff date, so students submitting a proposal who need course credit for the target term should consider registering for a regular course before that time. If a proposal is approved, the registration can be transferred to the internship. If a proposal is rejected, the student will then not miss out on a course because of filled sections. Proposal decisions may take up to one month.

If Your Internship Is Approved:

You will be notified and given registration and tuition payment instructions. If the sponsoring organization needs any formal letters or other documentation from the university, it is the student’s responsibility to request them and provide appropriate details. Before an internship begins, all students must present a letter from the sponsoring organization documenting approval for the internship. Depending on the situation, a faculty member or other person may be appointed to monitor the internship and to receive a final report from the intern’s supervisor and from the intern.

At the end of the internship, the student must present a detailed report of the experience, especially describing how the internship promoted the student’s development as a writer. This report should be presented on paper, not by email, to the internship coordinator. It is also possible the writing program will require the student to complete additional work as part of the internship. The quality of this final report and any additional work will help determine the grade or other final university evaluation of the internship, as determined by the monitoring faculty member, the internship coordinator, and the program associate chair.

Academic credit for an internship will not be granted without the submission of the sponsoring organization’s evaluation, the student’s final report, and the student’s grade.

For more information, contact Mark Farrington, Internship Coordinator, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20036-2001. Phone 202-452-0782. Email mfarrin1@jhu.edu.

Proposals may be submitted to the internship coordinator by hardcopy or by email. Either way, it is recommended that the student contact the coordinator a few days later to make sure the proposal has been received.