Internships and Teaching Assistantships

Determine whether you qualify 

To qualify for SC 483: Internship, a student must:

• Meet with their advisor to discuss requirements and options
• Identify a site/experience that can be deemed "worthy" of an internship
• Follow the procedures to gain approval

 Identify one or more internship opportunities 

Finding an ideal internship is essentially the same as a job search, and that experience is a valuable one, helping prepare you for "the real deal." Hence, searching for an internship is an important part of the process. You do not have to go it alone. 

• Career Services has resources to assist
• The Career and Internship Fair helps many majors find opportunities
• Handshake is a site that lists internship opportunities at the local, regional, and national levels
• We provided pointers in a recent newsletter to majors 

Take the internship search seriously and explore a variety of opportunities. The effort you put in now will help you identify strong possibilities to discuss with your internship coordinator in the next step of the process.

Schedule an initial meeting with the Internship Coordinator 

When you've found one or more ideal possibilities for an internship, it's time to consult your internship coordinator. You'll need the following: 

• Internship Application- providing specifics on how you qualify and what you'd like to do as an intern (and where and why)
• Whatever information is necessary to "make the case" for a particular internship

Be ready to discuss how the internship is ideal for you in terms of your training, interests, and goals. 
 
Be prepared to discuss any special requirements associated with an internship. For example, hospitals and government agencies may require a background check, personal liability insurance, medical records, health screenings, tests, or proof of immunizations.

• Your updated resume (Career Services can help you review and stregthen it) 
• A good draft of a letter applying for one or more of the internships you seek (Career Services can provide feedback and guidance) 
• A completed liability release form

After assembling these materials, it’s time to make an appointment. Here’s who to contact:

Dr. Abram Book 
Academic Hall, 237F 
(573) 651-2514
abook@semo.edu

Dr. Lesli Pace
Academic Hall 213A
(573) 651-2247
lkpace@semo.edu

Apply for the internship 

This process will vary from place to place, but generally you will indicate your interest (in a letter of application), provide a resume, and request an interview. 

If the organization offers you an internship, they'll need to complete our Internship Agreement Form. This form ensures everyone is on the same page by providing a detailed description of your duties. The onsite supervisor has an obligation to see that you have an adequate opportunity to gain information and skills to enhance your career possibilities and to utilize what you’ve learned in your classes at SEMO. 

Career Services can assist you with your resume and letter of application, and provide pointers for an interview.

Meet with the Internship Coordinator for final approval 

When you've been offered an internship, it's time to meet with the internship coordinator again and make the final sales pitch. 

To do so, bring along the following items: 

• Internship Application (updated as needed following your initial meeting) 
• Internship Agreement Form (signed by on-site supervisor)
• Letter of Application (revised based on feedback from initial meeting) 
• Resume (updated based on feedback from initial meeting) 
• Liability Release 
• Any special forms required by that particular internship (e.g., Liability Release and Limited Power of Attorney)

Enroll in SC 483 

Once the internship coordinator has all your materials and is convinced that the internship is a good experience, they will recommend approval to the department chairperson. After the department chairperson has signed off, you will have permission to enroll in SC 483. (Note: You will actually do the enrolling yourself.) 

As a student in SC 483, you will report regularly to the internship coordinator, who will serve as the instructor for the course. 

Finalize 

We hope the internship has been a great experience for you. Now is the time to wrap up. 

1. The best learning requires reflection. Reflect upon your experience by completing the Self-Evaluation and Site Review. 
2. We want to see what you did. Please provide two representative work samples. 
3. We can also benefit from what your on-site supervisor has to say. Please remind your on-site supervisor to complete the Internship Performance Review and email the review to the internship coordinator. 

Leave a lasting impression 

We appreciate the opportunity the on-site supervisor has provided and we know you appreciate it as well. A thank-you note is certainly in order, isn't it? The SEMO Bookstore likely has the perfect card. 

bulletin Description and Credit Hours of Course: 

Prerequisites: 

• Declared Spanish minor
• Junior standing, with completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours in Spanish 
• Minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and a GPA of 3.0 in Spanish 
• Approval of the Department of English and Communication

Purposes and objectives of the course: 

• To provide exceptional Spanish majors with the opportunity for professional work experience using their Spanish language skills 
• To provide the opportunity to work with professionals in the field 
• To provide students with additional preparation for employment or admission to graduate schools. 

Expectations of students: 

• To complete a minimum of 120 work hours in the business or agency 
• To complete all work agreed upon by the course instructor and the field supervisor 
• To keep a weekly journal with a record of activities 
• To complete the required outside readings, which supplement the work experience 
• To participate in meetings with the course instructor 
• To submit to the instructor a final course project evaluating and integrating all aspects of the experience 

Expectations of the Instructor: 

• To maintain contact with the field supervisor in order to coordinate the work of the intern 
• To coordinate outside readings with the activities of the intern 
• To meet regularly with the intern for progress reports and discussions of readings 
• To review the student's journal on a regular basis, evaluate the course project, and assign a grade. 

Course Content or Outline: 

Textbook: 

Basis for Student Evaluation: 

Application Process: 

Students completing an internship in English can choose from a wide variety of sites and opportunities. It is a good idea to start by having a conversation with your advisor and then begin working with the internship coordinator as early as possible to negotiate and facilitate site selection.

Because they involve a rather heavy time commitment (150 hours of on-site experience), internships are best taken by students having proven certain academic competencies and during a semester when students may be enrolling in a fairly light class load. 

Remember that the student, the internship organization, and the proposed site supervisor are reviewed to ensure that each internship is an appropriate, productive learning experience. 

In general, prerequisites for an internship include: 

• successful completion of at least 75 semester hours in a college/University setting 
• minimum University GPA of 2.75 
• minimum departmental GPA of 3.0 
• completion of at least 9 hours of coursework in any English major option not included in the courses required of all majors 
• if you are taking the internship as part of the minor in writing, completion of the 9 required hours 

You must contact the internship coordinator for an override to enroll in EN 435, a non-graded 3-hour course for which you receive academic credit. Once you are officially enrolled, you are responsible for completing the number of hours specified for the internship and various other coursework responsibilities; this includes a weekly log detailing what you have done on the job and a final report on the internship experience and may also include samples of the writing you have done. 

Whether the internship is paid or unpaid, both the on-site supervisor and the intern should realize that the primary aim is learning. Your on-site supervisor should see that you have an adequate opportunity during the 150 hours on-site to gain information and/or skills to enhance your career opportunities. 

For further information on internships, contact Dr. James Brubaker. 

The Department of English and Communcation invites full-time students in the Master of Arts program in English or TESOL to apply for positions as graduate teaching assistants (TAs) in either their first or second year of the program of study. Though these positions are competitive, we welcome applicants with or without classroom experience.

As a TA in the Department of English and Communcation at Southeast Missouri State University, you: 

• Gain teaching experience as an instructor of record of your composition course in each of the fall and spring semesters for up to two years while in the program (these will be mostly First-Year English Composition courses, but TESOL students may teach in the Intensive English Program)
• Consult with writers in other disciplines in the Writing Lab at SEMO's Center for Writing Excellence
• Gain professional experience working in SEMO's Center for Faulkner Studies (these positions are limited and not guaranteed to all TAs)
• Receive a tuition waiver covering up to 9 credits of graduate-level coursework in both the fall and spring semesters, and up to 6 credits during the summer semester

New TAs are required to enroll in EN 600, a two-week training session in August before their first semester, during which they will prepare their fall course with a cohort of peers. The training session will also include practice and theory new instructors need to confidently lead their classrooms. Additionally, TAs in the Department of English and Communcation at SEMO will work with and have the support of a supervisor and other members of the faculty to help shape their teaching practice and philosophy, making the experience particularly valuable as preparation for future employment or education.  

For the application, you need:

• A cover letter discussing your interest in being a TA, how an assistantship would benefit your career goals and interests in English studies or TESOL and any teaching experience you might have. Please also address your experiences studying, living, and working in different situations and contexts. You are welcome to include details about any teaching-relevant activities or groups you’ve been involved with, as well as your particular strengths concerning academic work, writing, and teaching. Finally, include a discussion of your willingness and abilities to teach using and working with technology. Even if you haven't taught, consider your experiences with technology such as learning management systems like Canvas, or other services such as Google Docs and WhatsApp.
• Up to three writing samples (narrative, expository, research, fiction, poetry, and more) with at least one being academic.
• Contact information for three references who will write and submit letters of recommendation for you. Those letters of recommendation should be sent directly by the writers via email to english@semo.edu.

For full consideration, all application materials should be received by February 13.

Apply Now

For teaching assistant applications, contact: 

Department of English and Communcation
Southeast Missouri State University 
One University Plaza 
English Department MS 2650 
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 
Phone: (573) 651-2156
english@semo.edu