Read this document carefully. Be sure that you fully understand the course requirements.

Also, keep these guidelines for future reference. Should you have questions regarding your internship, contact the Graduate Director.

PART I Eligibility

To be eligible for an internship, you should:

• Be currently enrolled at the University of Maryland at College Park and in good academic standing;
• Have completed at least 20 credits of graduate study;
• Have a minimum of 6 credits of coursework directly applicable to the internship position (in your concentration area, or as determined by the Director); these courses may be taken the same semester as your internship with approval;
• Have a demonstrated commitment to a program of study involving some aspect of applied geography.

The Graduate Director shall decide questions concerning eligibility.

PART II Obtaining the Internship

You do not have an approved internship until all of the following have been completed:

• Read "Internship Guidelines and Requirements"
• Complete the "Internship Application Form"
• Turn in a copy of your current transcript
• Complete an interview with the Graduate Director
• Complete a successful interview with the Sponsoring Agency
• Turn in a signed copy of your "Internship Job Description" and "Internship Waiver"

PART III Performing the Internship

Successful completion of the Internship requires that you:

• Work 150-200 hours for each three hours of credit
• Maintain a daily log
• Complete the "Internship Assessment Report"
• Provide copies of work products to the Graduate Director
• Turn in log, Internship Assessment Report and work products by the last class day of the semester
• All materials except the Internship Application and log must be typed
• Remember that a completed application and associated materials must be on file in order to receive a final grade. An Incomplete ("I") will generally be assigned should you not be able to submit the required materials by the due date.

PART IV Additional Policies, Procedures and Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

The following material should answer many of your questions concerning the operation of the internship Program. Additional questions should be directed to the Graduate Director.

What about course credit? Successfully completed internships earn 3 credits.

Are internships paid? A few are. Generally, however, internships are not paid. Paid internships are certainly sought and possible. Nevertheless, if you insist on a paid internship you likely reduce your chances of being placed.

How much does a paid Internship usually pay? Generally, minimum wage or slightly higher.

What types of internships are available? Internship possibilities include:

Planning Departments Nature Centers Parks and Wildlife Land Development Firms Air Control Board Institute for Corridor Studies Private Consulting Firms Mapping Agencies Health Department

Water Commission Energy Conservation Department Computer Mapping Information vendors Federal Government Agencies: USDA, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Forestry Service, Soil Conservation Service NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Headquarters NOAA, NIH.

Internships are generally available within the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Are internships designed for my interests? While we continually seek internship positions relevant to the needs and interests of each student, it is equally important for you to recognize that the current availability of internships involves several factors. One common problem is that your course work does not readily "fit" current Sponsoring Agency needs. The importance of sufficient background in one or more of the concentrations and skill areas (cartography, GIS, remote sensing, planning methods, quantitative methods, etc.) cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, you should work closely with your advisor, as well as the Graduate Director, to develop a program study that increases both your internship, and employment opportunities.

At what point in my studies should I undertake an internship? Generally in the last or penultimate semester (see Eligibility above).

How are students placed with agencies? The Graduate Director maintains a listing of internship positions that are available. During your conference with the Director (when you are making application to the program) you will have an opportunity to review the listing to determine the agencies that you would like to contact. Do not attempt to secure an internship without first meeting with the Graduate Director. All internship positions must have the prior approval of the Graduate Director.

If I am already working at a Sponsoring Agency, is it possible to count my work toward an internship?

Yes.

When should I apply for the internship program? Applications from eligible students will be accepted at any time. However, if possible you should apply early in the semester prior to your expected date of graduation.

What are the steps in the application process?

• The application form is available from the Academic Coordinator's office.
• Return the completed form to the Coordinator's office. All applicants should arrange to meet with the Internship Coordinator when (or shortly after) submitting their completed application. You are required to submit a copy of your transcript at the time of your meeting with the Internship Coordinator's office.
• After you have accepted a position with a Sponsoring Agency, return the completed job description (signed by your supervisor at the Sponsoring Agency) and waiver form to the Internship Coordinator's office. You are not formally accepted into the Internship Program until the job description and release/indemnity waiver forms are on file with the Graduate Director.

What criteria are used in recommending a student for a particular agency/organization placement?

Foremost, we seek to recommend the applicant who best fits the agency's needs and who will likely benefit the most from the internship position. Another very important factor in recommending a student is his/her GPA. Another common consideration is the willingness to commute. The Graduate Director may consult with other faculty before recommending an applicant.

How does the Sponsoring Agency make the final selection of an intern? Although several factors enter into the selection of a student for an internship, the Graduate Director does not make the actual hiring decision. The Director is, however, involved in the selection process. A typical example is where the Sponsoring Agency specifies the requirements of the internship and requests to interview one of more applicants who meet their requirements. The Director then examines the applications on file and recommends the candidates best suited for that internship. Final selection including the decision not to accept an applicant is up to the Sponsoring Agency.

What should I expect as far as the interviewing process? Generally, you will interview for an internship position one or two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester, although the timing varies. It is your responsibility to arrange an interview with the agency or agencies you are interested in contacting. Most of the sponsoring agencies submit their required application procedures along with the position descriptions that are on file in the Graduate Directors office. When you are reviewing the various placements that are available you will generally be instructed to phone the agency in advance to arrange a meeting time. Some agencies, however, are more formal and require submission of a resume and cover letter prior to making contact.

If an Internship position is offered to me, how should I respond? You are free to decline the offer of an Internship position, but you should keep in mind that the availability of Internship positions may be limited. Therefore, weigh your decision carefully. In declining an offer you should do so as promptly as possible and with a clear expression of your appreciation for the time taken by agency staff to consider you. Should you decide to accept an offer, you should do so in accordance with the procedures that were suggested to you at the time the offer was extended (, the agency may request that you give them an answer within a certain number of days.) Regardless of your decision with respect to an offer, you must immediately notify the Geography Department of your decision. You must call the Academic Coordinator's office and leave your name, the name of the internship position, and whether you will accept or reject the internship within 48 hours of the interview.

When should I register for the program? The Internship Program is designed to coincide with semesters. Therefore, you should register for internship credit during the same semester that you are with the agency. If this is not feasible (you are accepted for an intern position after registration is complete), you must register the following semester. You should register for summer internships at SS1 registration. Summer internships generally require 10 weeks (both SS1 and SS2) to complete, but only one registration is necessary. Regardless of when you plan to enroll for the program, you should make an appointment to visit with the Graduate Director in the first half of the preceding semester.

PART V Definitions/Standards

Please read the following information very carefully. Much of the material explains how final grades are determined for internship credit. Additional information related to evaluation and grading is found in Part VI.

Internship job description: You must provide a detailed job description of this internship. This description must include your duties and responsibilities outlined. It must also include a description of the project(s) upon which you will be working. This document must also include your supervisor's name, title, mailing address, and telephone number. Both you and your internship supervisor must sign this document.

Work Hours You must work the total minimum number of hours as specified by the Sponsoring Agency and the Graduate Director. The actual times that you work are between you and the agency. The number of hours you work each day is to be recorded in your LOG. A "typical" internship requires an average number of hours as follows:

SEMESTER Fall or Spring Summer*

CREDITS 3 3

NO.OF HOURS (p/wk) 12-14 15-18

NO OF WEEKS 12-14 10-12

LOG: You are to keep a day-to-day log in a notebook showing the particular tasks you worked upon during each day, including the time spent on each task. Be specific. The number of hours you record will be verified.

Internship Assessment Report: This formal (double-spaced, typed) report shall include the following:

• Description of the agency (organization, firm, etc.) for which you worked, including its principal functions and activities;
• Names, positions, and phone numbers of your internship supervisor and of key administrative personnel with whom you had contact;
• Description of your position within your agency;
• Complete summary of your duties and responsibilities (summary of the log);
• Detailed overview of the tasks assigned, including an assessment of their status upon completing your internship;
• Overall assessment of the internship, including what you feel you gained from the experience, and any suggestions or criticisms;
• Description of the internship regarding how your experience differed from the job description that you originally wrote;
• Evaluation of how your University education assisted you in your internship.

The assessment report must follow the above outline. Each element of the outline must be incorporated into a separate and appropriate section of your report.

Work Products: Work products are any materials on which you worked, individually or with others (clearly identify your contribution). Work products do not need to be "finished" documents; field notes or research data are examples of work products. Copies of these materials must be turned in to the Graduate Director, unless the Sponsoring Agency requests otherwise. In the absence of any significant work products to submit, you are to arrange an "exit interview" with the Graduate Director.

Project Report Proposal: This is a written proposal for the project report. Both the Graduate Director and the Agency Supervisor must approve the proposal before the report is written. A typical proposal consists of a one-page typed description of the report to be written. The proposal should state how the report would benefit the agency. The proposal must be written and approved before you have completed the 75 hours of Internship work.

Project report: This report is to demonstrate your ability to contribute professionally to the agency. This report should be comprehensive (approximately 5 pages in length.)

PART VI Evaluation and Grading

The Sponsoring Agency assigns your internship supervisor. You are responsible to this person when on the job. Near the conclusion of your internship, your internship supervisor will be sent an "Internship Performance Evaluation Form" in order to evaluate your work. The factors for evaluating your performance include:

Observing work hours Professional manner Meeting deadlines Initiative Work judgement Planning and organization Quality of work Effective use of time

Generating volume of acceptable work Accepting responsibility and direction Written and verbal communication Presentation Project reports Other factors, as appropriate

Additionally, your internship supervisor will be asked to write a short statement assessing your strengths and calling attention to areas that need improvement. The Graduate Director assigns your grade in the course.

You should not assume that mere completion of the requirements will result in the assignment of an A as the final grade. Final Grades will be determined as follows: (1) 35% for the evaluation given on your internship performance evaluation report, including direct communication with your internship Supervisor, (2) 10% for the quality of work products submitted, (3) 5% for the number of hours you worked, (4) 10% for your evaluation of the internship, (5) 25% for the project report, and (6) 15% for any other considerations which the Graduate Director regards as pertinent (quality of written work, including organization and proper use of the language, timeliness in the submission of requirements.)

Return to the Graduate Internship Program

Last updated 07 December 1998 by khollenb@Glue.umd.edu.