Internships

The Professional Writing & Rhetoric major is focused on connecting classroom learning to professional workplace experiences. To that end, one of the required courses in the PWR major is a Writing Internship (PWR 4377). Students typically complete this course during their junior or senior years, after completing other PWR courses. In addition to the internship course, students are encouraged to complete more than one internship to explore potential career avenues, gain marketable skills, and add to their professional portfolios. 

Internships allow students to gain real-world experience in various related fields, including editing, writing for publication, web design, technical writing, marketing, public relations, and research. Students select internships based on their interests. PWR majors have interned at publishing companies, hospitals, regional publications, corporations, nonprofits and state and federal government offices. Both volunteer and paid internships are offered by a variety of organizations on-campus at Baylor and off-campus in Waco and the surrounding areas. Most allow flexible hours to accommodate student schedules. In the summer students can intern beyond Waco at organizations in their hometowns or across the country. 

The primary requirement for the PWR internship course is that the position be focused on writing. Writing, of course, includes a host of other activities, such as editing, revision, research, publishing, web design, graphic design, marketing, social media, and public relations.

“This internship has allowed me to market myself differently. I used to present myself as a student writer. Now I can say I’m a professional writer with a great portfolio.”
Eric Escobar, PWR Major, 2025

The Internship Course

To receive course credit, students will intern in the fall or summer semesters. The internship course is not offered in the spring. Students’ time will primarily be spent at the internship site, but students will also complete course readings, reflections, and compile a portfolio of their work

• In the fall, students are required to complete 120 hours of work and meet in person for class. Internships during the semester take place in Waco and other communities in Central Texas. Students can also complete the internship through the Baylor in Washington Program (https://washington.web.baylor.edu/) or the Baylor in New York Program (Baylor in New York | Film & Digital Media | Baylor University).
• In the summer, students complete 150 hours of work at the internship site and take PWR 4377 online. Students can complete the internship anywhere.

For more information about the course, students should contact the course instructor or PWR program director. Based on previous interns’ experiences, we do not recommend or approve remote internships. All internships must be approved by the course instructor; please do not assume an internship will be approved.

“My confidence both in myself and my writing grew throughout the internship.”
Meredith Wolfe, PWR Major, 2026

Finding an Internship

To gain experience searching for a job and discussing their experience and skills, students are required to find and secure their own internship, but PWR faculty are always happy to offer suggestions and guidance. Students should apply early to explore potential internships and get the type of internship they want. They should have an up-to-date resume and samples of their work. The most successful internships begin by identifying an opportunity that will provide beneficial experience. Suggestions for identifying internships include:

• Attending fall and spring Career Days during your sophomore and junior years. Many of the employers there are looking for interns.
• Following Job and Internship information on the PWR Canvas Page
• Consulting with the Career Center, which can help students identify internships on campus, in Waco, and across the country.
• Accessing the Job and Internship search tool from the Career Center webpage.
• Viewing internships listed on Handshake.
• Attending employer information sessions on campus.
• Viewing jobs on the Student Employment Job Board (studentemployment.web.baylor.edu). Occasionally, students will also find jobs that can also serve as internships posted on this site. Remember the internship needs to be primarily writing or writing related.

The PWR Canvas page has lists of on-campus, off-campus, and sites beyond Waco where PWR majors have interned in the past or that have advertised for interns.

“Through this position, I am asked to research political issues, current events and current legislative precedent and craft letters to constituents and the public explaining the opinions and actions of the Congressman. The skills I have obtained through the PWR program have given me a serious leg up in this internship and have opened lots of opportunities for me since I have been here.” 

Emmeline Beard, PWR Major, 2023
Baylor in Washington Program