Master's Internship Option
What Is a graduate internship? An internship is a work experience in the field of technical communication that is sponsored by a company or organization that you are not currently working for, consists of at least 300 hours of work, and consists mostly of work that you are not already proficient at.
An internship gives students who have little or no work experience in the field of technical communication a chance to get valuable work experience in a real company environment while they are still in school. Students who complete an internship receive school credit for it.
Scenario 1: Internship Approved
Barbara, a graduate student in the MSIDC program, wants to complete an internship to graduate. Barbara has never worked in the field of technical communication and wants to get some valuable work experience in the field. After meeting with the internship coordinator to get some ideas, Barbara writes a detailed proposal describing her internship objectives and outlining her program of study. With the help of the internship coordinator, Barbara eventually lands an internship writing a user manual for a software company, a job the company expects to take at least 300 hours. The work that Barbara found qualifies as an internship: It is work in the field of technical communication for a real company. It will take at least 300 hours. Barbara is not currently working for the company. Also, having never written a manual before, Barbara is certainly no expert on manual writing.
Scenario 2: Internship Approved
Sally, another graduate student in the MSIDC program, also wants to do an internship to graduate. Having quit work and returned to school a year ago, Sally already has a fair amount of experience in technical communication. Sally, however, has written mostly printed materials and has little experience with online documentation. Knowing that online documentation is a rapidly growing segment of technical communication and being quite interested in it, Sally decides that she wants to get a head start in that area while she is still in school. Sally discusses her objectives with the internship coordinator and then writes a detailed proposal describing what she wants to do and outlining her experience and program of study. Sally really doesn't need the internship coordinator's help. Having worked in the field for several years, she already has several companies in mind. After interviewing them, Sally decides to intern with the company that hinted the internship might develop into a permanent job. The work that Sally found qualifies as an internship: It is work in the field of technical communication for a real company. It consists of at least 300 hours. Sally is not currently working for the company. And having had little experience designing online documentation, Sally is not proficient at it.
Scenario 3: Internship Not Approved
Debbie, another graduate student in the MSIDC program, also wants to do an internship to graduate. Debbie wrote user manuals for several years before quitting work and returning to school. Now almost finished with the coursework part of the program, Debbie is eager to get out and start working again. She informs the internship coordinator that she would like to do an internship in manual writing to graduate. The internship coordinator balks and explains that what she is proposing goes against the primary intent of the internship option: to give students who have no experience in the field or who have experience but want to move into a new area a head start. He suggests she consider an internship in online documentation instead.
Scenario 4: Internship Not Approved
Dave, another graduate student in the MSIDC program, also wants to do an internship to graduate. Dave, who currently writes manuals and designs online documentation, knows that his company is looking into providing its documentation over the Web. Dave wonders if he could do some of this work on the side and count it as an internship. Dave discusses his idea with the internship coordinator, who promptly informs Dave that his idea does not qualify as an internship because it involves work for a company for which Dave is currently working. He suggests that Dave pursue the "all coursework" option instead.
What's Next?
Now that you have a clear idea of what an internship is, you can decide if you want to do one as part of your MSIDC program. If you decide to do an internship, you need to get it approved before you can begin.
You may also download a guide to the Master's Internship.
