Initial Publication Date: April 13, 2015

Internships

Internships offer opportunities for students to get a taste of what it's like to work as a geoscientist. They also offer opportunities for departments and employers to forge mutually beneficial relationships. These pages on internship programs were developed as a result of discussions at the 2007 workshop on the Role of Departments in Preparing Future Geoscience Professionals.

Benefits of successful internship programs

Successful internship programs are win-win-win opportunities.

Designing successful internship programs

Designing a successful internship program requires thoughtful planning, just like any other learning exercise. As with other learning situations, internships work best when all parties involved are clear about the goals and expectations, when the work is meaningful and relevant for the student, when the 'instructor' provides sufficient explanations about how to do the work and is available to answer questions, and when the student is motivated. Read more about this.

Examples of internship programs

Ready to create an internship program at your college or university, but looking for examples so you don't have to reinvent the wheel? Here are a few.

Internship opportunities with national organizations

In addition to local and regional employers, you may also want to consider connecting to, or telling your students about, internship opportunities on the national level.