Internships

All students in the School of Sustainability are encouraged to pursue at least one internship during their academic career. Internships allow students to apply classroom theories to real life, professional situations. These professional development opportunities can also help students determine whether their chosen career is going to be a good match. Students who have done an internship tend to have a more competitive edge when working to find a professional position after graduation.

School of Sustainability undergraduate students who choose to do an internship for academic credit will also register for an associated course, SOS 484, where they will learn professional problem solving, workplace inquiry, and professional communication. Students culminate their experience with a final report to reflect on their experiences and acquired skills. School of Sustainability majors can review their capstone options on our Undergraduate Courses page.

Finding an Internship

The School of Sustainability partners with community businesses and organizations to provide undergraduate and graduate internships. Sada Gilbert, Internship Coordinator, is available to assist School of Sustainability majors in locating internships in their area of interest, as well as act as a liaison between the student and the internship provider once the internship has begun. Not sure where to start? Review our Getting Started handout.

Students in the School of Sustainability may see available internship postings by creating a LinkedIn profile, then requesting to join the ASU School of Sustainability group and the School of Sustainability Internships subgroup.

The School of Sustainability Internships group is available to students in the School of Sustainability only. Sustainability minors and other students interested in sustainability internships should refer to the many opportunities posted on Sun Devil Career Link.

Internship Providers

The School of Sustainability welcomes community partners who help our students connect with professional development experiences. Interested businesses and organizations should contact the Internship Coordinator, Sada Gilbert, by email: Sada.Gilbert@asu.edu or phone: 480-727-6963.

To begin, please read our Guidelines for Internship Providers.

You may also submit an internship description here.

Employers benefit from interns in many ways. While the employer is involved in the on-going training and mentoring of interns, the benefits are many and include:

  • A year round source of highly motivated pre-professionals
  • The opportunity to have new perspectives on various processes, procedures and programs
  • The increased visibility of your organization on the college campus
  • The freedom for professional staff to pursue important projects and tasks
  • The opportunity to influence the education of future professionals in your field
  • A flexible, cost-effective work force that does not require a long-term employment commitment
  • Prepared and trained new employees hired from your intern pool
  • A proven, cost-effect way to recruit and evaluate potential employees

(Adapted from Notre Dame’s An Employer’s Guide to Developing an Internship Program)

Forms

Internship Program Approval and Enrollment Process

For the Internship Provider:

  1. Guidelines for Internship Providers
  2. ASU Student Placement Agreement
  3. Employer Internship Description

For the student:

  1. Undergraduate Internship Handbook
  2. Internship Contract
  3. Liability Release Form
  4. Consent to Release Information

vision

Established in 2007, the School of Sustainability brings together multiple disciplines and leaders to create and share knowledge, train a new generation of scholars and practitioners, and develop practical solutions to the most pressing environmental, economic, and social challenges of sustainability - especially as they relate to urban areas.

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