The University of Toledo

Every student who majors in either Environmental Studies (ENST) or Environmental Sciences (ENSC) is required to perform an internship. The internship must consist of at least 100 hours spent in an environment-­‐related activity at a location approved in advance by Dr. Sigler (describe the internship in an email). A wide range of activities are acceptable, including (but not restricted to) work at an environmental consulting firm, government agency, private industry, non-­‐governmental organization, research laboratory, or research center.

Once completed, students are required to submit to Dr. Sigler:

1. 1. A letter from the internship sponsor attesting that the internship has been performed satisfactorily and for a minimum of 100 hours; and

   2. A final report of the internship activities (outlined below).

Two types of internship are available:

1. 1. Traditional Internship.

      Traditional internships are positions that enhance the students learning or understanding of his/her plan of study and can be performed on a volunteer or paid basis. Internships do not utilize DES faculty time. Examples might include a position at a metropark, government agency or zoo.

      Internships can be performed for course credit, or simply performed to meet the department requirement (without signing up for course credit).

      For one credit, sign up for EEES 4940 section 001;
      For two credits, sign up for EEES 4940 section 002;
      For three credits, sign up for EEES 4940 section 003.
      
      EEES 4940 credits cannot be used towards the Area of Concentration for ENST and ENSC majors.
      
      
   2. Directed Research. 

      If the position utilizes DES faculty time (i.e., a laboratory‐based internship or a position at a UT center), then the student should sign up for EEES 4910 (Directed Research) under the section number of the faculty member directing the research. The faculty member will determine the number of credit hours earned for the research, which must be determined before the student can enroll.

The final report must be submitted to Dr. Sigler before a student can graduate. The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics will not clear a student for graduation until the registrar is informed that the internship has been completed and the report received.

IMPORTANT: Final reports that do not include the student's Rocket Number and major (BIOL, BIOM, ENSC or ENST) will not be accepted.

The final report should, at a minimum, include the student’s description of the activities performed, examples of any data or other information gathered, an assessment of new knowledge gained, and should address specifically the following questions:

1. How well did the coursework and other training provided by the Department of Environmental Sciences prepare you for your internship experience?

2. How would you evaluate the success of your internship in terms of (a) improvement of your communication skills, (b) deeper understanding of environmental issues, (c) new techniques learned, (d) contacts made that might prove useful later on in your career, and (e) ways your internship experience could have been improved?

Students are strongly encouraged to keep a daily journal of their experiences during the internship period. This diary will prove invaluable in the preparation of the final internship report.

>> VIEW INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

A memo confirming that the student completed at least 100 hours of internship activities must be sent from the internship supervisor to Dr. Sigler. An email is fine.

• Securing an internship is the responsibility of the student. Some starting points are listed in Internship Opportunities.
   
• In all cases, the student is responsible for contacting Dr. Sigler ahead of time to get approval for their position.
   
• Fellowships or other university-sponsored activities might count toward your internship requirement, as long as the activity allows the student to meet the internship requirements outlined above.
   
• Internships can be performed at any time in a student's degree program, however, we recommend that they are performed after the sophomore year, so that the student has an appropriate grasp of their plan of study and a vision (if very preliminary) of their career path.
   
• The registrar will be notified of the completed internship only after the (i) internship report, and (ii) memo from the internship sponsor are received. Please note that it will take several days before the registrar is contacted once the materials are received, so allow ample time for this to occur if you are planning to graduate during the semester that the internship is completed.

Send your final report and have your sponsor letter sent to:

von.sigler@utoledo.edu
Dr. Von Sigler, 
Dept. of Environmental Sciences, MS#604
University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft St.
Toledo, OH 43606.

Phone: (419) 530-2897