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The Professional Writing program at Francis Marion is designed to give our English majors the tools they need to succeed in the competitive world of writing. With the experience this degree offers in its coursework and internship, our students can find jobs in
- Communications
- Advertising
- Technical Writing
- Public Relations
- Information Development
- Publishing
- and many other fields.
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The Professional Writing program can help you
- enchance professional communication skills
- improve writing skills and strategies
- increase job opportunities
- earn promotions.
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The Professional Writing program can either be a major, minor, or a collateral. As a major, the course requirements include
- Business Writing
- Technical Communication
- Foundations for Literary Studies
- Creative Writing
- Advanced Business Communication
- the English Capstone Experience
- the English Internship.
- Other writing and literature courses.
As a minor, the requirements include
- Advanced Composition
- Business Writing
- Technical Communication
- Advanced Business Communication
- Other writing courses.
As a collateral, the requirements include
- Business Writing
- Technical Communication
- Other writing courses.
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However, what if you're not sure what you would like to do? You know you like to write but you don't know how you want to use your talent. That's where the English Internship comes in.
The English Internship
The English Internship is a program coordinated by Dr. Lynn Hanson, who has been a technical writer with such corperations as IBM. As the supervisor and director of the students taking the internship, she offers her experience and training to equip students for the real world of professional writing. The internship allows students to learn their strengths and weaknesses while performing jobs and writing documents that are meant to be used. Dr. Hanson also ensures that the internship matches the student by keeping in mind each one's skills. The internship allows students to earn up to 3 hours of credit towards graduation.
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The requirements of the internship are
- regular working hours with a sponsoring employer
- a regular weekly meeting with Dr. Hanson
- a work log
- the internship portfolio.
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The internship portfolio includes
- a table of contents
- a copy of the internship agreement
- the completed work log
- assignment sheets
- the final drafts of each assignment.
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To qualify for an internship, a student must
- declare Professional Writing as either their major or minor.
- have a 3.0 GPA in required coursework
- have an overall GPA of 2.33
- complete Business Writing and Technical Writing with a B or better
- submit to Dr. Hanson an acceptable resume, application letter, and portfolio of writings to showcase your skills.
A student of higher qualifications can apply for a paid internship as they are available.
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To apply for an internship, it's best if you
- plan ahead, ideally in your sophomore year, so you can complete the needed courses and credits
- tell your advisor and Dr. Lynn Hanson
- save all your papers as potential samples in a writing portfolio.
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Internship opportunities include
- ACS Technologies
- Florence Area Literacy Council
- Florence Chamber of Commerce
- Florence Little Theatre
- FMU Career Services
- FMU Freshman Composition Program
- FMU Institututional Research Management Office
- FMU Office of Communication Services
- FMU Writing Center
- Wilcox, Buyck, and Williams Law Firm
- McLeod Health Marketing and Public Relations
- Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Assault
- Pee Dee Land Trust
- Pee Dee Research and Education Center
- Responsible Economic Development (R.E.D.)
Students are graded on the
- extent and quality of their work
- quality of their preparaton for regular meetings with their employers and internship director
- overall professionalism
- effectiveness in staff meetings
- internship portfolio
- work log
- effectiveness and completeenss of the end-of-year self-evaluation.
From the Mouths of Student Interns
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"The Professional Writing internship gives you a wonderful idea of what your employers will expect of you in the work place. You can finally say, "Hey! I actually know what I want to do when I graduate!" Not only that, you have the experience to do it and your new contacts can get your foot in the door at interviews."
--Suzanna Jackson, Professional Writing Major, November 2006, interning with ACS Technologies. |
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“The courses give you the skills you need. The internship gives you confidence that your skills are applicable in the real world….You never know what you can do until you actually go out there and offer your services in a real situation instead of a fictional situation….After the internship I thought, ‘Now I know why I went to school. Now I know what all those classes are for. This is going to get me somewhere.’”
---Melissa Freeman, Professional Writing Major, May 2001. Interned with the Florence Chamber of Commerce, worked full-time as a technical writier for ACS Technologies and currently works full-time for Verisian in Savannah, GA.
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If you want to be a successful writer in today's business world, then our Professional Writing program is for you. For more information, please contact the Chair of the English Department, Dr. Chris Johnson via email at cjohnson@fmarion.edu or his office phone at (843) 661-1518. You can also contact the program coordinator, Dr. Lynn Hanson, via email at lhanson@fmarion.edu or her office phone at (843) 661-1524.
