Geography and Earth Science Internships

For undergraduates:

• Students must have at least 60 credits.
• A 2.0 overall GPA is required.
• Undergraduates in our program are required to take 3 credits of internship; a maximum of 9 credits is allowed.  

For graduate students: 

• A 3.0  overall GPA is required to take an internship.
• Non-thesis graduate students must complete 6 credits of internship; a maximum of six is allowed.

For all students: 

• The internship must relate to the student's major and/or educational background.  
• During the advising period, inform & consult you faculty advisor about your interest in an internship. 
• The prospective internship experience must be approved by the faculty coordinator. 
• An internship application form must be completed (details below). You will not be scheduled for an internship without a completed and approved application. 
• Each credit hour of internship equates to 40 hours of work at your placement, so a 3-credit internship equals 120 hours of work. 
• All internships are graded Pass/Fail. 
• Your internship is an academic experience in addition to being a professional experience. As such, tuition will be charged for internship credits just like any other academic course. For information on tuition costs, see the  Student Accounts website.

• Internships get your foot in the door with a potential employer and they look good on a résumé.
• You can “test drive" a career.
• You will build your professional network.
• You can establish relationships with mentor.
• You will gain an introduction to the field's professional culture and etiquette.
• Internships let you apply your academic skills and accumulate new skills.
• You will gain a "real world" perspective.

• Students should initiate contact with potential internship placements based on their individual interests. Students are expected to take the lead on finding, applying for, and securing an internship; the department does not place you although we do have some excellent support services.
• An excellent way to find an internship is to attend the annual Career Day organized by the department and held every November.
• Internships are posted on the bulletin board on the 100-level of Shearer Hall, and on our  Facebook page .
• You can also view our database of recent internship placements (2015-2016) by viewing our Google sheet.
• We have specific information about USGS internships and internships with the PA Department of Environmental Protection and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
• Special internship programs offered by PASSHE or SU:
  • Internships with The Washington Center
• If a student has any difficulty finding opportunities, they should consult with their advisors, and the internship coordinator who may make suggestions concerning internship opportunities and locations.
• Students are also welcome to use college and university-level resources, including the  Career and Community Engagement Center. The CDC has some excellent tips and tools for resumes and cover letters.

In addition to any applications you submit to agencies or organizations offering internships, you must also submit an application to the University so that the internship will count for academic credit. 

Complete an Intent to Apply on-line form

An "intent to apply for an internship on-line form must be completed prior to submitting a formal application. This form lets the Geography-Earth Science Department know you are planning to apply for and register for an internship in an upcoming semester, which allows the department to plan ahead. Note that this form does not constitute the internship application (see below) . Failure to submit your intent to apply may result in denial of your internship application. While this form should be submitted as early as possible - and usually before you have an internship placement - you must submit your intent to apply by the following deadlines:

• If you are going to apply for a Fall or Summer internship, you must submit your intent to apply by March 15.
• If you are going to apply for a Spring internship, you must submit your intent to apply by October 15.

Then Submit a Formal Application

Once you have secured an internship placement the College of Arts and Sciences internship applicationmust be completed in full. Incomplete forms will delay your registration.

• For Fall internships, paperwork must be filed by June 1 of the prior semester.
• For Spring internships, paperwork must be filed  by December 1 of the prior semester.
• For Summer internships, paperwork must be filed by May 15.
• These are deadlines set by the Dean's office. Late applications may not receive credit. 

Tips for your application:

• Dr. Pomeroy, Dr. Jantz, or your academic advisor can assist you in completing the application.
• Get in touch with Dr. Pomeroy (gmpome@ship.edu, x1776) or Dr. Jantz (cajant@ship.edu, x1399) to be assigned to an internship supervisor.
• Obtain the signatures of your faculty internship supervisor (assigned to you by Dr. Pomeroy or Dr. Jantz) and your site supervisor (an e-mail to Dr. Pomeroy or Dr. Jantz with approval will also suffice). Then submit the completed application to Dr. Pomeroy or Dr. Jantz (don't forget to sign it yourself!). Dr. Pomeroy or Dr. Jantz will review and sign your application, and will obtain the Dean's signature on your behalf.

Registering for internship credits

• You will need to work directly with Dr. Pomeroy or Dr. Jantz and Ms. Tammy Myers (TLMyers@ship.edu; 477-1685) to register for credits through the Banner system. Please note that Ms. Myers will not register any student who does not have the required approvals.
• For questions about registration, contact Dr. George Pomeroy (gmpome@ship.edu x1776), Dr. Claire Jantz (cajant@ship.edu x 1399), or Associate Dean Dr. James Delle (jadell@ship.edu x 1151).

Tuition for internship credits 

• Your internship is an academic experience in addition to being a professional experience. As such, tuition will be charged for internship credits just like any other academic course.
• For information on tuition costs, see the  Student Accounts website. 

• The internship is both an academic and professional experience. As such, our department has designed a syllabus that applies to all students registered for internship credits. Please download and review this syllabus as it contains important information for how you will be evaluated. A summary of your responsibilities is given below, but refer to the complete syllabus for all the details. 
• Students will submit activity logs to the internship supervisor every two weeks via email. If you are working more than 30 hours per week, your logs should be submitted weekly.
  • The log should be submitted as a Word or PDF document.
  • Include your name and internship location information at the top of each document.
  • Entries should be made for each day that you work.
  • Each entry should include each date worked, the number of hours worked that day, and the total number of hours worked toward the internship.
  • Submit logs only for the required number of hours needed to complete your internship (i.e. 120 hours if you are registered for 3 credits).
  • Click here for the internship log template.
   
• Halfway through your internship:
  • Your supervisor must complete a mid-term evaluation of your work and send it to your faculty internship supervisor. 
  • This can be submitted via fax, or through the mail directly to the Geography-Earth Science Department.
   
• At the end of your internship:
  • Complete a 5 page paper summarizing your internship experience.
  • This should be a reflective paper that summarizes your accomplishments, what you’ve learned, and the pros and cons of your internship experience.
  • The paper can be submitted to your internship supervisor as a Word document via e-mail.
  • Your supervisor should complete a final evaluation  (same form as the mid-term evaluation).
  • In addition to the paper, you need to submit an evaluation of your internship. 

Most of these forms are Microsoft Word form. Please type and submit electronically when possible.

• The Geography-Earth Science internship syllabus (PDF)
• Intent to apply for an internship (on-line form)
• College of Arts and Science Internship Letter of Agreement (MS Word download)
• Mid-term and final evaluation of the intern  (MS Word download)
• Final evaluation of the internship by the intern  (MS Word download)