Undergraduate Internships

CMU English undergraduate internships provide a breadth of professional experiences, help establish connections outside the University, and deepen students' portfolios of work.

Check out our Internship Insider 2021-2023!

Students in the Department of English have the option of completing communications-related internships for academic credit during their junior or senior year. They are also strongly encouraged to seek professional internships throughout their undergraduate years and during their summers.  Opportunities in public and media relations, editing and publishing, newspaper and magazine writing, healthcare communication, technical writing, public service organizations, and writing for the web and media illustrate both internship possibilities and paths of employment recent students have taken after graduation.

Pursuing Internships for Academic Credit

To be eligible for an internship, students must have a Quality Point Average (QPA) of 3.0 or better and credit for at least one writing course (including Survey of Forms) beyond the First-Year Writing requirement. Internships generally carry 3-12 units of credit. A 9-unit internship is the standard and requires a minimum of 120-140 hours (8-10 hours per week over a 15-week term) of work at the internship site during the term. In addition, interns complete a reflective journal and a series of short research and writing assignments relevant to the specific internship. Students doing an internship for credit must be registered for the internship during the term (i.e. fall, spring, summer) when they are working at the internship site. Majors in the Department may count one 9-12 unit internship for one of their degree requirements, generally as an English elective.

To pursue an internship for credit, please contact Laura Donaldson, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs and Academic Advisor, at ldonalds@andrew.cmu.edu.

Funding an Internship

The Department of English does not offer guaranteed funding for Internships.  However, there are many opportunities to secure funding if needed. 

Students may be eligible to apply for internship funding awards administered by the English Department. Please reach out to the English Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs for additional information. 

Additionally, Dietrich College offers an expansive Pittsburgh Summer Internship program.

The Career and Professional Development Center is an excellent resource to find internship opportunities.

Learn about Professional Writing major Yoori Kim's ('24) Pittsburgh Summer Internship Program experience with NEXTPittsburgh during the summer of 2022.