Technical Communication Certificate: Internship (EPD 398)

This course can be repeated for an additional credit which will count toward elective technical communication courses from EPD. Also, this course can be substituted with a special project completed as an Independent Study course. To enroll, you must be a TCC student.

Contact Information

Director, Technical Communication Internship Program
Paul Ross
1550 Engineering Drive
Engineering Centers Building
Room M1050
Madison, WI 53706
E-mail: pross@engr.wisc.edu

Internship Opportunities

A variety of opportunities exist:

• A part-time volunteer or paid position for one semester on a communication project for a local sponsor.
• An engineering co-op or engineering internship which includes a communication component.
• A full-time or part-time job which includes technical communication as part of the work experience.

For volunteer positions, 80 hours work for the semester is recommended; for paid positions, students and their sponsors negotiate time and pay as in the case of any job. In the past, close to one hundred companies and agencies have hosted internships in the Madison area.

Past Internship Sponsors

Identifying an Internship Position

An appropriate Internship position may be identified in at least two ways:

• The student may suggest a position she or he is interested in.
• The student may consider the range of opportunities available through the Internship Program.

In all cases, students must discuss internship plans with their TCC adviser and with the TCC internship director no later than the semester before the proposed time for the project. All internships must be approved by the internship director.

The student will usually apply and interview for an internship position just as for any job. Considerations include the students career plans, experience and abilities, "fit" with specific job situations, and practical issues such as scheduling and job location. As in any job situation, it is crucial for the internship student to be satisfied with the internship position and for the internship sponsor to be satisfied with the qualifications of the Student to complete the work proposed.

Internship Projects

Projects may include writing, editing, creating electronic media, developing web sites, presentations, or creating educational or training materials. Work may be done for community service; for business and industry; for local, state, and federal government; for research; and for university programs or departments.

TCC internship students must register for the course EPD 398. Students receive one college credit per internship and may repeat the internship program once for a total of two credits. TCC students may decide to take a second internship credit when their project continues longer than one semester, when they have the opportunity to undertake several distinctly different internship projects, or when they wish to document a second work experience in the field of technical communication. For further information on these options, students should confer with their TCC adviser and the internship director.

Purpose of the TCC Internship

Students gain:

• Expertise in results-oriented communication associated with developing, applying, or regulating technology.
• Experience working with professionals solving real technical communication problems.
• Opportunities for observing, analyzing, and commenting on work experience.
• Strategies for understanding their roles as communicators, activities as employees, and responsibilities in a professional community.

Sponsors will gain a capable, and committed assistant who:

• Has a background in engineering, English, or journalism with additional, and often extensive, course work in technical communication.
• Will devote approximately 80 hours during the semester to the designated communication project, and will establish and meet project deadlines.
• Can work independently and can also contribute effectively as a team member.
• Will seek rigorous feedback and strive to produce high-quality results.

Requirements for completing the TCC Internship

TCC internship students must complete two components of the internship:

1. On-the-job professional writing and speaking experience
   • Four to five hours per week or approximately 80 hours of professional activity with a local corporation, industry, government agency, or educational unit.
   • Projects such as the preparation of proposals, progress reports, operator manuals, specifications, documentation, and newsletters as well as at least one oral presentation.
2. In-class discussions - participation in the course EPD 398, Technical Communication Internship
   • Eight scheduled class meetings with the internship director, usually every other week.
   • Discussions and professional development activities regarding the internship experiences and work-related issues.

Partners in the TCC Internship Program

Students are responsible for:

1. Initiating their internship program with the internship director.
2. Staffing a program with the sponsor or field supervisor in cooperation with the internship director.
3. Completing the Learning Agreement signed by the student, sponsor, and internship director.
4. Satisfying all requirements of the two-component course: on-the-job experience and classroom discussion.
5. Completing the designated communication project, one oral presentation, a record of internship activities, and a self-evaluation form.
6. Completing a self-evaluation and an evaluation of the internship experience by means of an oral evaluation at mid-term and a written Evaluation form supplied by the University at the end of the semester.
7. Compiling and submitting an internship portfolio as a formal record of the reaming experience.

Sponsors or field supervisors are responsible for:

1. Submitting a letter of intent to the internship director offering to provide an internship opportunity.
2. Submitting the learning agreement form for an internship provided to a specific student.
3. Helping to plan the student's internship based on mutually agreeable learning objectives and opportunities.
4. Orienting and guiding the student throughout the internship.
5. Providing the student with thorough training in the proper operation and maintenance of any equipment or machinery to be used during the internship.
6. Evaluating the student's performance and the internship experience by means of an oral evaluation at mid-term and a written evaluation form supplied by the university at the end of the semester.
7. Editing, if necessary, the student's record of activities and portfolio to provide confidentiality of proprietary information, materials, and procedures.

The Internship Director is responsible for:

1. Contacting organizations that are appropriate for internship placements.
2. Assisting students with learning objectives, career counseling, and internship plans.
3. Coordinating classroom activities and discussions.
4. Observing the student's progress by making at least one on-site visit as well as additional phone or email contacts.
5. Facilitating communication between the student and the field supervisor; and providing feedback to the student about his or her internship and course performance.
6. Completing and compiling the final evaluations.
7. Submitting the course grade.