Environmental Science Internship Opportunities

The Environmental Science & Policy program requires all students to complete 4 credits of internship experience before graduation. Students are encouraged to complete additional internships or relevant fieldwork during their time as undergraduates. Students may receive 1-credit of ES 498 (Internship) credit per 30 hours of internship experience. Any internship experience hours beyond 120 hours may be taken for credit OR students may elect to complete additional hours without seeking academic credit. Internships may be paid or unpaid.

Departmental Internship Coordinator: Dr. Karen Mager

Steps for Completing an Environmental Science & Policy Internship:

1. Identify a suitable internship opportunity in consultation with your faculty advisor or departmental internship coordinator.
2. Before registering, you must complete and submit the internship paperwork for approval by your internship supervisor and the departmental internship coordinator. We now do this using SOU Career Launch software rather than paper forms. Follow these instructions:
   1. Log-in to SOU Career Launch. This can be done through the Career Launch app at okta.sou.edu or directly at sou.12twenty.com/login using the SSO button.
   2. Look for Experiential Learning on the menu in the left column.
   3. Click “+ New Experience” to start your form.
   4. Talk with your internship supervisor beforehand so that you can answer the questions on the form in detail. For example:
      • Provide the job description you and your supervisor have agreed upon in the section “Please describe your specific duties, tasks, or responsibilities”. This question seeks to understand what your supervisor expects you to do during the internship.
      • State what you hope to learn in the section “Explain how this internship will help you achieve your academic and professional goals”. This question seeks to understand what you expect and hope for from the internship. Make sure your supervisor is aware of these goals.
   5. Once you’ve completed the form, hit Save, review, and then Submit for Approval.
   6. Your form will automatically send to the practicum and faculty supervisors you have identified for their sign-off.

   Most questions should be answered in this PDF guide or Video walkthrough. If you encounter any difficulties, reach out to careerconnections@sou.edu for assistance.

3. In consultation with your internship supervisor and the departmental internship coordinator, identify at least 10 learning objectives associated with your internship experience.
4. Meet with the departmental internship coordinator after you have completed roughly 60 hours of internship service. This meeting can take place on-campus or via video or teleconference. Your internship coordinator will review your progress as it relates to your learning objectives.
5. Upon completion of your 120 hours of internship work, you will be asked to provide evidence of completion. This evidence could be provided in the form of completed time sheets or a letter from your internship supervisor speaking to your hours of service.
6. Finally, you will submit a 5-page reflection of your internship to the departmental internship coordinator.

In addition, you must Sign up for at least 4-credits of ES 498 (Internship) during any regular academic term. If you choose to sign up for an internship during the summer term, you will need to speak with the departmental internship coordinator in advance of registration. You may sign up for internship credits at any point during your internship. If you do not complete your internship during the term in which you have signed up for internship credits, you will receive an incomplete until the hours are completed, at which point your grade will be changed. If you sign up for internship credits after your internship is completed, you will need only to have your materials reviewed before internship credits are awarded.

Credit for Prior Learning

Students who completed a relevant professional experience prior to enrolling at SOU may be able to obtain Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) rather than taking the ES 498 Internship course for credit. Learn more at the CPL website or contact the internship coordinator.