Internship in Writing and Rhetoric

The PWR undergraduate internships program provides opportunities for students to apply the theory and skills they’ve developed in their coursework to real-world professional settings. Research shows that having an internship on your resume can significantly improve your chances of employment after graduation. Further, employers routinely cite strong communication skills and familiarity with emerging technologies as key considerations when making hiring decisions. Taking on a writing internship is a terrific way to learn from industry mentors and gain important, resume-building experience before hitting the job market.

Students interested in a writing-focused internship should reach out to the PWR Internships Coordinator, Dr. Adam Padgett (adam.padgett@colorado.edu), to find an internship that best fits their skills, interests, and career goals.

What Is a Writing Internship?

Writing internships could take several forms, including technical writing (such as manuals, reports, policy documents, or white papers), grant writing, advertising, social media communication, copywriting, copyediting, public relations, designing educational or user documents, advocacy communications, journalistic writing, publishing, and other fields.

Students have the opportunity to apply for a wide variety of internships with companies, non-profits, or government organizations. While students can find their own internships (see resources below), some examples of internships could include:

  • CU Today
  • OUT FRONT Magazine
  • Hindsight Journal
  • Changing Skies: Writing through the Climate Crisis
  • Colorado Department of Health & Environment
  • City and County of Denver
  • Boulder Food Rescue

Registering for an Internship

Registering for an internship is easy! However, students should begin thinking seriously about the kind of internship that interests them during the semester before they enroll in WRTG 2930 or 3930.

Students should reach out to the Internships Coordinator to make a plan for their internship. In that email, please include information about you and your career interests. 

While students are ultimately responsible for finding and applying for internships, the Internships Coordinator will supply you with helpful resources and will answer any questions you may have.

Deadlines for some internships are up to three months before the actual internship begins, so look early and often!

Eligibility

To register for WRTG 3930, students must have already satisfied their upper-division writing requirement and have junior status. Most students will register for WRTG 3930. However, WRTG 2930 is reserved for students with prior professional experience that adequately prepares them to take on an internship, but who may not yet have the credit hours for the upper-division course. Students are approved for WRTG 2930 on a case-by-case basis.

Resources for Students