Course Description: Practical experience in appropriate work position at an approved site, correlated with directed study assignments. In the semester prior to enrollment, the student will plan the internship in conjunction with the instructor and with the approval of the department chair. A final analytical paper will be required. May be repeated once in a different setting for elective credit only.

Prerequisites: 16 credits in English, of which at least 8 must be at the 300-400 level, and permission of the instructor and the department chair.

General information:

Internships offer students valuable skills and work experience, and make these skills compatible with the English Department program of study. Most students enjoy and learn from their internship experience; they also find that in this economic market, the experience they gain from interning gives them an edge that can make a difference when they are up against stiff competition for jobs. For more information on the financial benefits of doing an internship, please see Straight Talk on Internships, Financing, and Careers, available in a folder on the door of 511 WH, or in the English Department main office. More copies of this memo are also available in both places.

Most internships are available all four semesters. Students should apply for an internship for any particular semester at least one-to-two months before that semester begins. Students are free to make their own arrangements to intern with an organization or a business not on the list below, but they still must fill out the paperwork in the semester before the anticipated internship in order to receive credit. In addition to filling out the forms, which are also available on the door of 511 WH and in the English Department main office, students must register for the course, either online, or by getting an add slip signed.

List of Internships Set Up by English Department

1. Non-profit Arts

2. Non-profit Literary Journals

3. Publishing

4. Corporations and Businesses

5. Media

6. Education

1. Non-profit Arts

Lake Orion Center for the Arts

The Lake Orion Center for the Arts is an established center that functions as a gallery hosting art shows, while also providing art for sale and classes in art to the community. The intern writes press releases, letters, internal documents; and also helps to advertise the events hosted by the center. Other activities can be developed based on individual interest.

Pontiac Art Experience

The Art Experience is an art center that offers a meeting space for all members of the community to gather and make art, and also offers art therapy to people with developmental disabilities, children at risk, the mental health community, and people in recovery. The intern writes press releases, letters, internal documents, grants; he or she can also be involved in program development and the researching of grants. Funky atmosphere run by very kind people who work very hard and are at times very frazzled.

Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit

The mission of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is to present art at the forefront of contemporary culture. As a non-collecting institution, MOCAD is responsive to the cultural content of our time, fueling crucial dialogue, collaboration, and public engagement. Interns can help to write catalogue, artist biographies, curate exhibitions, and interact with and inform the public about MOCAD’s mission.

Non-profit Literary Journals

Absinthe: New European Writing

This new journal publishes poetry and prose by contemporary European writers. Interns contribute to marketing/publicity efforts online, as well as at local bookstores and coffee houses; they also help publicize fundraising events. Students are also given the opportunity of reading submissions and helping the editor to make selections for inclusion in the magazine. Students who take this position can work off-hours or from home.

thedetroiter.com

This online Detroit-based journal has published such notable Detroit writers as the English Department’s Edward Haworth Hoeppner. Interns read submissions and help with PR. Students who take this position can work off-hours or from home.

Publishing

Wayne State University Press

Wayne State University Press – Founded in 1941, Wayne State University Press is a leading publisher of Great Lakes books, Judaica, and African American studies, as well as a wide range of other scholarly and general interest titles. Wayne State University Press is an established mid-sized university press that publishes approximately forty new books and six journals per year. Interns help with a wide variety of press-related tasks, including writing copy, proofreading, etc., depending on the department the intern elects to work in. The internships are available throughout the year in the following departments: Acquisitions, Editorial and Production, Marketing and Sales.

Marick Press

Marick Press is a not-for-profit literary publisher, founded to preserve the best work by poets of the American Midwest, including many underpublished women writers. The overall responsibilities of interns include answering the telephone and correspondence; taking book orders; communicating with poets, vendors, and other publishing professionals and the general public; and providing a first impression of the press to callers. Additional intern projects include:

Corporations and Businesses

Oakland Business Review

This is a weekly newspaper based in Novi devoted to reporting on and monitoring the businesses and business deals in Oakland County. The intern will work closely with the editor, and will be actively engaged in researching and writing stories, making contacts in the business community, attending conferences, etc. This is a challenging and exciting position for someone with excellent research and writing skills, and would be especially good for someone with a journalism minor, though that is not a prerequisite for the position.

Thomson Gale

Based in Farmington Hills, Thomson Gale is a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. It is best known for its reference works, magazine and newspaper articles, and the 600 databases it maintains online, in print and in microform. Interns help to develop Thomson Gale products, such as text books or on-line resource systems. In some cases, interns take on project leadership responsibility for the development of a new product. (Not available until the 2007 spring/summer semester.

ES3 Advertising: Junior Copywriting position

Student will work collaboratively with ES3’s specialized team of writers, designers, account specialists and professional drivers to develop the most engaging automotive events and resources in the business. Student will work with print, video, and interactive media, as well as live events. Paid position.

Auto PR, a Public Relations Company

Rochester-based public relations firm. This position involves writing press releases, calling journalists and verifying interest and facts, researching potential stories, acting as liaison with clients and reporting back to team.

PR Partners, PR Division

Troy-based public relations firm. This position involves compiling and writing press releases, calling journalists and verifying interest and facts, researching potential stories, acting as liaison with clients and reporting back to team.

SMZ Advertising

Troy-based advertising firm. This position involves developing advertising copy, slogans, and campaigns; it can also include writing press releases, calling journalists and verifying interest and facts, and researching potential stories.

OU Media Relations Department

An interest in a media relations career is a prerequisite for this internship. New media skills are also desirable. The intern will be responsible for attending select events on campus and writing Web stories (to appear on the News at OU Web site), drafting press releases, building the existing list of e-mail addressees for reporters in out-of-state and national markets, filing clips and producing clip reports, enhancing and consistently updating the Reporter Resources Web site, expanding the existing list of faculty experts, and tracking and reporting on public blogs and video sites (like YouTube) to monitor OU’s reputation. Additional duties, time permitting, may include proofreading Web stories and compiling the weekly student and faculty/staff broadcasts. For credit only.

Blue Care Network

Health care communications internship. Students write copy for internal and/or external publications; copy includes newsletter articles, letters, brochures, electronic and print manual pages, Web pages, training presentations, e-mail/fax messages, on hold voice messages. Position requires excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills that translate into clear, accurate, and comprehensive communications, and knowledge of or desire to learn one or more of the following software packages used in communications: Acrobat Professional, InDesign, PageMaker, PowerPoint, Excel, Dream weaver, FrontPage, Visio, and Access.

ACE, Inc.

The intern will be responsible for authoring web content about subjects that span the internet. Writings will focus on current micro-trends in the American and Canadian market place. The intern will have the ability to choose topics and will have the freedom to express their opinions, as long as they are within reason. Proper grammar and factual accuracy are required.

Liebler/MacDonald Communication Strategists

PR company looking for student with excellent communication skills. Part-time paid internship involving some administrative responsibilities; editing; writing and press release development, among other tasks. Students must set this internship up for themselves by contacting Denise McConkey at extension 2101 or mack@oakland.edu.

Media positions (Detroit Metro Area)

Hour Magazine

Two separate positions, one as a PR aide and the other as an editorial intern. For this position, you must contact Hour yourself and follow their intern application procedures. Do mention that you are an OU English student; they know us and are partnering with us – this should get you special attention.

Real Detroit

Students research and write articles, depending on the publication’s need and students’ abilities. For this position, you must contact Real Detroit yourself and follow their intern application procedures. Do mention that you are an OU English student; they know us and are partnering with us – this should get you special attention.

Oakland Press

Writing and researching articles and press clips (students should have had a course in journalism or experience working for a paper such as the Oakland Post). For this position, you must contact Oakland Press yourself and follow their intern application procedures.

OU Media Relations Department

An interest in a media relations career is a prerequisite for this internship. New media skills are also desirable. The intern will be responsible for attending select events on campus and writing Web stories (to appear on the News at OU Web site), drafting press releases, building the existing list of e-mail addressees for reporters in out-of-state and national markets, filing clips and producing clip reports, enhancing and consistently updating the Reporter Resources Web site, expanding the existing list of faculty experts, and tracking and reporting on public blogs and video sites (like YouTube) to monitor OU’s reputation. Additional duties, time permitting, may include proofreading Web stories and compiling the weekly student and faculty/staff broadcasts.

Education

History and Research:

Troy History Museum

Researching and reporting on documentary holdings in archives. Students usually take on a project that they research and write up, under the supervision of the Troy History Museum historians and writers.

Academic Analysis:

Henry Ford Academy

This is a charter high school that operates within the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. There are several kinds of projects available, some requiring that the intern work on-site, some that allow the intern to work long-distance.

Long distance research projects:

• Research strategies that work to increase African-American parent involvement in high schools. This off-site internship allows students to do the work from home. It requires individual motivation and the ability to organize one’s time.

•Evaluate the most recent research on student achievement and the block schedule. This off-site internship allows students to do the work from home. It requires individual motivation and the ability to organize one’s time.

On-site project:

•Re-organize Henry Ford Academy student data in order to provide information about student identity beyond ethnicity and gender. Examples include K-8 schooling (public, private, home school), single parent/two parent homes, Ford employees, siblings, etc.

Oakland University positions:(Note: these positions include PR and educational focuses; see specific listings):

English Department:

Far Field Writers’ Conference: Publications and Marketing – Writing and outreach for Far Field conference (available only for winter semester).

Kresge Library:

Electronic Media – Digital librarianship: student will help with the digitalization of Special Collections holdings.

Electronic Media – Student will help to create library websites and develop new media resources. Training in DreamWeaver is considered part of this internship.

Archives – Updating the Oakland University building history; updating and organizing the newspaper clipping and press release archive; creating a subject index for Oakland Magazine; the student newspaper; and for the Board of Trustees minutes. (Three separate projects.)

Instruction – Assisting in the classroom during library instruction. The intern helps to create instructional materials, drafts documents, edits and revises online materials, and assists in classroom teaching.

School of Nursing:

Health Care Public Relations – This internship focuses on assisting the School of Nursing with press releases that pertain to School of Nursing (SON) events or news; writing stories for the SON website; and writing articles for area hospital newsletters, the alumni newsletter and donor magazine, and local media. There may also be opportunities to write radio copy or ad copy. (Training available; no experience in health care necessary.)

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