Internships

The Basics

Internships are a great way to obtain real-world work experience and make personal contacts in your field of interest before you graduate. Internships are an encouraged, but optional, part of the undergraduate (majors or minors) and graduate curriculum in the Department of Geoscience. Most internships are completed by juniors and seniors because students at that level have a solid background of geoscience course work. Many undergraduate students find their own internship opportunities through internship clearing houses, such as and  or directly from nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, or private businesses. Some agencies and companies offer student interns pay, while others don't.  Whether or not an internship is paid, students have the option of earning GE 494, 495, 496, 595 and ES 470 (Internship) credit hours for most internship experiences. If you would like more information than is provided here, feel free to contact Dr. Matthew Balentine, mdbalentine@una.edu, internship coordinator in the Department of Geoscience.

Receiving Academic Credit for Internships

INTERNSHIP COURSE (GE 494, 495, 496, 595 and ES 470): A geoscience student interested in undertaking an internship for GE 494, 495, 496, 595 or ES 470 should meet with Dr. Balentine.

CREDIT HOURS: The number of credit hours are determined in consultation with Dr. Balentine. Typically, each credit hour of GE 495 represents four hours of internship work per week during a 15-week semester. The maximum of 6 credit hours (combined) of GE 494, GE 465 and GE 496 will count toward a geoscience major (any track).

Requirements for all students

  • The internship must relate to t