Environmental Studies Department Hero
Environmental Studies

Internships

Students in the Environmental Studies Program have an array of options for both self-directed and group activities that can satisfy the requirement for a practical learning experience. We have a track record of partnership with many organizations and programs that teach students professional skills and expose them to career opportunities.

Environmental Leadership Program

Students interested in team-based service-learning opportunities should explore the Environmental Leadership Program page. ELP matches student teams with non-profit organizations, government agencies, and businesses to address local environmental needs. Students who participate earn academic credit and satisfy the Area 5 "Practical Learning Experience" requirement for majors.

Community partners interested in sponsoring an intern can find more information on sponsorship below.

Internships

We sponsor a robust independent study program through the ENVS 404 Internship course, overseen by a faculty advisor and taught by a graduate student. Students connect their academic studies to practical applications through academic credit for environmentally focused work experience. A well-designed internship allows students to develop professional skills, gain experiential learning experience, evaluate career opportunities, and begin to build a professional network.

Please read the ENVS 404 Internships syllabus. For more more information, contact:

  • ENVS Internship Coordinator and Instructor (Graduate Employee):

Email: envsinternships@uoregon.edu 
Office Hours: By appointment

  • ENVS Internships Faculty Advisor:

Peg Boulay 
Co-Director ENVS Undergraduate Program and Environmental Leadership Program 
Email: boulay@uoregon.edu 
Office Hours: By appointment

What is the internship program?

The ENVS Internship Program is designed to help you connect your academic studies to real world applications by offering academic credit for environmentally focused work experience. Internship possibilities range from public interest non-profits to campus groups, federal and local government agencies (Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Lane Council of Governments, etc.) to private corporations.

The internship program is intended to be flexible, having been designed to meets students' needs and interests while affording opportunities for practical experiential learning experience in a variety of environmental fields. Positions must involve significant work with an environmental focus. Students are expected to be self-motivated and arrange their won positions in areas of particular interest, although if a student has trouble finding an appropriate position program, the Internship Coordinator is willing to help identify possible opportunities.

The program emphasizes that earning academic credit for work experience requires more than just showing up for work and doing a good job. You will be require to complete a series of assignments designed to encourage thoughtful reflection on your internship experience. You are expected to be self-motivated and able to complete these assignments without reminder.

The ENVS Internship satisfies the "Practical Learning Experience" requirement (Area 5) for Environmental Studies and Environmental Science Majors.

How do I find an internship opportunity?

It is up to you to secure your own internship. Look for an internship that fits with your career and academic goals, as well as your schedule. To help you begin your internship research:

How do I register for ENVS 404?

Complete the following materials and email them to the Internship Coordinator via email by the Wednesday of Week 1 of your internship term (during the academic year) or by July 15th (during summer term):

PDFs and/or Word docs are preferred. To be approved to register, you may submit a clear photo of your agreement form, but you will need to submit the original on Canvas. Use your UO email to submit the materials and include your 95# and the number of credits you wish to earn.

Information for Community Partners (Internship Sponsors)

Sponsoring an intern through the Environmental Studies Program allows you to gain assistance, expand your job application pool and train potential future employees. The Environmental Studies Program does not match students to particular internship opportunities nor recruit students for community partners, but we can promote opportunities through our website, listserv, academic advising, and internship bulletin board.

We ask community partners to provide clear duties, supervision, and an evaluation of the student's performance. We ask you to complete an agreement with the student outlining expectations. We also ask you to sign the student's timesheets.

Students can sign up for 1-12 credits. They need to complete 30 hours of work for each one hour of academic credit. Most students sign up for four credits (120 hours of work completed). Internships can occur during any term, including the summer. For academic term, a student would need to work ~12 hours a week to achieve his or her 120 hours for four credits. Internships should be completed within a single term but can occur over multiple terms with prior approval from the Internship Coordinator.

To advertise your internship opportunity, we recommend that you create a position description or announcement that includes:

  • Application instructions and contact information
  • Brief description of goals and duties
  • Timeline including expected start/end dates and hours per week
  • Preferred qualifications
  • What knowledge or skills students will gain from the internship experience

To email your announcement or to learn more, contact the ENVS Internship Coordinator (envsinternships@uoregon.edu).