Internship Info

We know that as adult students, the idea of an internship may be daunting! But don't fret. You can fulfill this option by finding something that suits your location, your schedule, and your life! Completing an internship as an adult student probably will look a bit different than you think: your internship does not have to happen over the summer, in your senior year, or even during traditional hours.

Internship requirements

The internship must be very strongly related to energy, sustainability and/or policy.
The internship must provide 120 hours of service within one semester.
You will need an internship "sponsor" willing to vouch for the internship job description, communicate with the instructor, and provide periodic review of your work.

Examples of prior internships

We have had students fulfill this degree requirement in the following ways:

Worked one day a week in an internship position
Interned in a different department at their current company in a position that is relevant to ESP (however this could work: one day a week, or maybe full time for just a few weeks, etc)
Interned on nights/weekends
Interned from a distance (many virtual or online internships can be found or even negotiated if the right circumstances exist)
Created their own project and found partners and sponsors who were willing to work with them/support their project

Not all internships are applicable; you will need to contact me [1] to review the job description/proposed project for approval of rigor and applicability.

Feel free to visit the internship course website [2] in order to learn more about the internship requirements and the course expectations.

How to find an internship

Finding an internship may be easier than you think. Keep your eyes and ears open and spread the word that you're looking for an opportunity. If there's a company or organization nearby that you'd like to work for, contact them and let them know that you're interested in an internship; just because they haven't posted anything doesn't mean that they don't need your help! Look within your own company for opportunities as well. Perhaps another department or division could use someone with your education and expertise!

Finding and securing an internship is each student's responsibility, but there are a few resources available to help:

ESP Program Office Website

The Internship Information [3] page lists a few websites you may want to investigate as a starting point!

Job and internship information is included in the weekly ESP digest that is emailed to you (typically on Fridays).

You can also visit the "Job Planning and Opportunities [4]" page for some links to organizations that may be offering jobs or internships.

World Campus Career Services

World Campus Career Services office may be able to assist you in finding an internship. Visit the Career Services website [5] to learn more!

World Campus Virtual Internships

World Campus has partnered with employers to offer virtual internships. You can learn more about those opportunities by visiting the Virtual Career Development and Internship Program webpage [6].