Jobs & Internships
Keeping with the university's mission to connect civic and community partners, ODU uses its local standing to place students in positions that enrich their community. These opportunities offer practical work experience to let students work in a field of their choice, streamlining the job search by honing crucial skills that only come from on-site experience. Whether our English students are editing, following the latest scoop for the Mace and Crown, or designing election materials for Norfolk, professional connections are sure to form.
Careers
Graduates will be immediately marketable in fields such as administration, analytics, bookselling, editing, education, journalism, and information design. Education in the English Department is writing intensive, ensuring that all coursework builds proficiency, not just knowledge. Students can demonstrate their skills to employers even before getting hired. An English graduate's portfolio will span hundreds of pages and represent immediate evidence of thoughtfulness and competence. Students will be able to answer what they'll do in terms of what they have already accomplished. Even the best ideas need good writers to promote them, and the prepared job candidate will have proof of a commitment to best practices.
Career Options by Concentration Area & Employment
Internships
What is an internship?
An internship is an opportunity to gain work experience while receiving college credit for your major. It's typically a student's first big networking opportunity and often a turning point in their lives. Unlike a traditional classroom experience, an internship takes you off campus and places you into a workplace that prepares you for a career after graduation. It is really the best of both worlds: get college credit while preparing yourself for a career after your English degree!
If you are interested in pursuing an internship, contact Lauren Coldiron.
Typically, students work 10 hours a week (paid or unpaid) at a place of employment (could be a business, a non-profit, a government agency, a community organization) over the course of 15 weeks. This 150 hours of work gets translated into 3 credit hours to go towards your degree.
Students will register for a course (ENGL 368, 369, or 468) but are not required to meet regularly with a professor or group of students. Instead, student interns keep track of their own working hours and write brief reflections throughout the semester, linking theories learned in English classes to applied experiences. At the end of the semester, students submit their timesheet and reflections to the internship coordinator and receive either a P or an F (passing or failing grade).
The department has a good number of connections with companies and other organizations based on the past internships or relationships with faculty members. These, along with other current opportunities, are listed under "Internship Opportunities. That said, it is the sole responsibility of the student to secure the internship position. The department can provide leads, but the student must submit their resume and receive an internship offer formally by the organization before moving forward. Career Development Services has amazing resources to help you find and secure an internship that is right for you.
- WHRO
- City of Norfolk Office of Elections
- Climate Central
- Dept. of English, ODU
- iSportsman
- Constant Associates
- CMRubinWorld
- Aerotek Staffing
- DeGood Foundation
- Virginia Sea Grant
- ODU Auxiliary Business Services
- Barry Art Museum Internship Program
- Audubon's Pine Island Reserve
- Huntington Ingalls
- Q10 Government Contracting
- Virginian-Pilot
- WAVY
- WHRO
- Max Media of Hampton Roads
- WTKR
- Warner Media
- NSF Data and Analysis
- The Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- The Muse Writers Center
Resources
English Internship Application
Interested in an English Internship?
Employer Internship Notification
Interested in bringing on an English major for an internship?
Syllabus
ENGL368, ENGL369, ENGL468
Student Internship Reflection
Learn more about the reflective writing component of your internship.
Student Timesheet Template
Submit this form to the Internship Coordinator by the final day of the term.
SEES Experience Guaranteed Grant
Receive up to $2000 | Application Deadline: September 15th
Student Eligibility:
- Undergraduate or graduate degree-seeking student
- Meet work eligibility requirements and or academic internship qualifications
- Good academic and disciplinary standing
Internship Requirements:
- Unpaid internship, but may receive stipend, meals, subway pass, etc.
- At least 10 weeks long with a minimum of 50 hours
- Completed in the Fall, Spring, or Summer semester
- Internship offer must be secured before scholarship applications
- Must have specific duties and a specific supervisor
- Virtual internships are eligible if they meet above requirements
- You may take UNIV 068, a zero-credit internship elective course through CDS