Course Description
Students will intern at a private firm, governmental agency, or non-governmental organization where they will utilize geographic techniques in approaching practical problems relevant to the organization’s mission. An initial orientation and a post-internship evaluation with the internship coordinator are required.
Athena Title
Internship in Geography
Non-Traditional Format
Internship.
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Student learning Outcomes
- By the end of the internship, students will demonstrate the ability to apply geographic knowledge and techniques in a professional context, integrating concepts and skills from their coursework to address practical challenges and workplace tasks as they analyze real-world problems, apply theoretical knowledge, and reflect on their experiences to make informed decisions within their internship placement.
- By the end of the internship, students will demonstrate professional communication skills (written and verbal), articulating thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively by regularly engaging with supervisors and colleagues to exchange ideas and contribute to projects in a workplace setting, including giving and receiving feedback, asking appropriate questions, and presenting ideas to diverse audiences through various formats such as presentations, reports, maps, or geovisualizations.
- By the end of the internship, students will develop the capacity to collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds and work within a team setting through immersion in a professional environment, where they be required to interact and collaborate with diverse individuals, explore different perspectives, and develop an understanding and appreciation for cultures and communities beyond their own. This may include reflecting on how their own social identities shape how they understand situations, interact with others, and make decisions. It may also include considering the impact of organizational decisions on various communities and recognizing the ethical issues that emerge in their internship site’s area of work.
- By the end of the internship, students will have reflected on their internship experience to assess personal growth, professional skill development, and the broader value of geography in professional, organizational, and community contexts.
- By the end of the internship, students will develop creativity and innovation skills by applying geographic concepts and tools in new ways to address workplace tasks and projects. This may include applying knowledge and skills gained from coursework to improve projects or address challenges, taking risks to explore new ideas or approaches, or considering and incorporating alternative perspectives to enhance the quality of their work.
- By the end of the internship, students will develop leadership and collaboration skills by working collaboratively with others to achieve shared goals, taking initiative when appropriate. This may include being accountable for individual and team responsibilities, developing working relationships with colleagues and supervisors, addressing conflict within a professional setting, and employing personal strengths to support the goals of the larger team.
Topical Outline
- Interns are required to participate in an internship orientation session, which will acquaint them with the purposes of the internship program and provide logistical details of their specific internship.
Interns are supervised by cooperating host organizations who oversee the day-to-day work assigned to the intern.
All interns must summarize their internship experience in a written report that highlights the nature of the tasks performed and explores the geographic dimensions of those tasks. Host organizations also provide evaluative summaries of the intern’s performance.
