Internships in GeographyAs part of your Geography program, you are eligible to participate in an internship program. Usually an internship will be taken off campus. But, you must not only receive faculty authorization before you begin the internship but you will also maintain regular contact with a faculty advisor throughout the course of the internship. Below you will find more information about what an internship is, where you can find internships, how you obtain faculty authorization, and how an internship can be applied to your program. Why Do an Internship? Internships are practical learning opportunities that allow you to gain credit for working (usually unpaid) with the government, private industry or non-governmental organizations. These opportunities should complement your coursework in Geography. Internships allow you to apply what you learn in the classroom to a variety of work environments. Also, in the context of an internship you can learn skills that are difficult to develop inside the classroom, from organizational skills to professional interpersonal communication. Basic Requirements for an Internship
Internships are either initiated by the student or students respond to advertised internships. We disseminate advertised internships through the binder in the entrance to the main office and, when electronic notices are provided, send these announcements to the undergraduate geography email list. However, most students initiate their own internship by contacting agencies or organizations directly, based on their particular interests and expertise. Please see the the list of Internship Granting Agencies as a places to start thinking about what kind of internship you might create. Places that students have worked in the past include the Eugene City Planning Department, the National Forest Service, Lane County Soil Conservation District, Lane Council of Government and Watershed Councils in the region. List of Internship Granting Agencies
Faculty Advisor and Internship Contract Internships require a faculty advisor, which can be any faculty in the Geography Department. To clarify expectations and the number of credits awarded for the internship activities, the student intern must complete a contract to be signed by the faculty advisor at the beginning of the quarter. This contract includes a basic statement of the job description and goals of the internship; the number of credits awarded for the internship; whether the credits require a final paper or project (this is not a universal requirement); and the name and contact information for the on-site supervisor. Usually the contract requires that students keep a work diary or log that is submitted to the advisor for periodic review over the quarter. The contract specifies how many credits a student will receive for an agreed upon internship work schedule. Internships usually involve ten hours of work per week, students can receive up to 6 credits in one term for an internship. Typical internships range from 2-4 credits; 3-4 hours of internship work per week translates into 1 internship credit hour. Internships may be extended to a second term with prior approval.
The on-site work supervisor is the person involved most closely with the student over the course of the internship. Students should clearly articulate the skills they are bringing to the agency, organization or business before the start of the internship, and they should openly discuss their goals for undertaking the internship with the on-site supervisor. An end-of-term communication via email or letter from the on-site supervisor to the faculty advisor confirming successful completion of the terms of the internship is required.
Still have questions? Please see our Frequently Asked Questions Page or contact Professor Nelson (lise@uoregon.edu) or Professor Lobben (lobben@uoregon.edu) for more information.
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