Undergraduate/Graduate
Internship Information (PDF Version)
Geosciences
Department, Oregon State University
Undergraduate majors may earn up to 15 hours of academic credit by enrolling in GEO 410, Internship (graduate majors in GEO 510). Cooperating agencies or business are expected to give interns an opportunity to participate as broadly as possible in the activities and responsibilities of the organization. Ideally, the intern will be assigned one or more projects that can be completed in one quarter. Grades for the internship will be based in part on comments from the intern's work-place supervisor, and will be given on a pass/no pass basis.
Internships are NOT funded by the Department of Geosciences. Tuition must be paid to gain academic credit. Expenses are the student's responsibility; however, cooperating agencies or businesses are encouraged to financially assist interns if their budgets will permit doing so.
GUIDLINES
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For
each hour of academic credit, students are required
to work as an intern at least three hours per week.
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Students
should try to work at least 16 hours per week at the
cooperating agency or business. Additional coursework
should be kept to a minimum during the term of the
internship.
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Tuition
and fees should be paid during the term of the internship.
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It
is recommended that students have at least a 3.0 grade
point in geography courses, and that they have completed
the following courses before undertaking an internship.
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GEO
301 Map Image and Interpretation
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GEO
360 Cartography
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GEO
465/565 Geographic Information Systems & Science
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ST
201-202 Principles of Statistics
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Before
undertaking an internship, students are required to
have completed a one-page resume' and a one-page personal
statement indication 1) why an employer should provide
an internship, and 2) what goals the student wishes
to achieve with the internship.
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At
the end of the internship, students will prepare a
two to three page written report of activites and
accomplishments. This report should describe the work
experience, an overall reaction to this work, what
the Department of Geosciences might do to help students
better prepare for internships, and what additional
steps the student will take to improve his or her
skills. The report will be presented to the faculty
liaison for the internship program.
FACULTY
LIAISON
Interested students should confer with Dr. Julia Jones, jonesj@geo.oregonstate.edu (Wilkinson 220), Dr. Jon Kimerling, kimerlia@geo.oregonstate.edu (Wilkinson 252), or your advisor, to discuss arranging an internship.
GEO 410/510 – INTERNSHIP PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
The purpose of the Geosciences Internship is to provide a term by term applied learning experience for undergraduate and graduate students. The student is expected to utilize knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom, and to learn new techniques and applications while providing useful products for the host employer.
The student should develop a clear conceptual view of specific intern opportunities and responsibilities, and establish a work plan and schedule with the host employer. Clear project objectives and work tasks should be explicitly established. Where additional training may be required, the student should expect assistance and supervision from the host employer so that both parties might benefit from the resulting enhanced productivity of the student.
An internship proposal should provide the student, academic advisor, and employer an overall view of the purpose and objectives of the work program. The proposal should be developed cooperatively by the student and the employer, with a view to establishing realistic educational and production goals in the time available to the student. The student should be cognizant of the time requirements of such a program, and that employers often request substantial blocks of time to maintain work continuity. The basic requirements of a proposal include the following:
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Student’s name, address, and phone number / email
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Employer or Supervisor’s name, address and phone number / email
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Number of university credits scheduled
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Number of hours per week on work schedule
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Student’s learning objectives
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Employer’s production objectives
