Undergraduate Program

The Department of English’s internship program helps majors create a fall or spring semester internship with one of nearly three dozen participating Upstate New York companies. It also allows students to create a summer independent study program anywhere in the world.

Internships let majors refine their field of interest, linking academic study and post-University careers for example:

• The University of Rochester Medical Center internships focus on public relations and medical writing
• National Public Radio affiliate WXXI internships focus on programming
• Messenger-Post newspapers internships focus on writing and editing
• Open Letter and University of Rochester Press internships focus on evaluating and acquiring books, reading untranslated books and/or sample translations, and writing for the web
• Internships with online news outlets, as well as influencer and marketing sites focus on reaching audiences with specialized interests
• Internships with non-profit groups, including Writers & Books, focus on promoting and coordinating programs

Interns works 10-15 hours at the participating company, meeting key officials, earning four credit hours, and building skills and professional relationships. Interns are paired with a faculty advisor.

At the end of the semester, students submit a portfolio of their work and a 12-15 page essay describing the internship experience. We also invite students who plan to be on campus the semester following their internship to participate in an informal discussion with undergraduates who are interested in learning more about our internship program.

The summer independent study process is similar but allows majors to create an internship near where they live and work. Recent summer programs include NBC and ESPN Television; TV’s Dr. Phil, Tavis Smiley, and Tyra Banks shows; and major radio stations in New York, Chicago, and Boston.

Approval Process and Deadlines

Students interested in an internship in English, as well as students in the Language, Media, and Communication track who need an internship to complete their requirements should contact Professor Curt Smith 

Students who are interested in internships within the Rare Books Department or any other department of the University library should also contact Professor Curt Smith (curtsmith@netacc.net).

All internships must be approved by your designated faculty advisor or Professor Curt Smith

Students planning a spring semester internship contact Professor Curt Smith (curtsmith@netacc.net) no later than October 15, and that students planning a fall semester internship make contact no later than March 15.

The application process is straightforward, but please be sure to allow yourself enough time to select and interview for an internship, receive department approval, and fill out the necessary paperwork. It is never too early to contact us so that we can help you to sort through your internship and scheduling options.

Students asking for credit retroactively, after they have already begun their internships, risk not getting course credit for their internships.

In 2004 University alumnus John Tanenbaum ’85 endowed a fund to help English majors subsidize their housing, transportation, and other expenses in a summer internship. See the Tanenbaum Scholarship page for more information about funding for summer internships.

A number of internships are available through the UR International Theatre Program. One of the most popular is our semester-long PR internship. PR interns help create all publicity materials for events in Todd Theatre or sponsored by the International Theatre Program, including drafting press releases, planning marketing campaigns, etc. They distribute publicity materials both on and off campus. Finally, PR interns staff the box office during productions, interacting with the public and the theatre personnel.