Internships
Internships are a key part of the Master of Environment (MEnv) program and provide students with real-world, hands-on experience, under professional supervision, in a field related to Environmental Assessment (EA).
Overview
The MEnv internship consists of a four-month placement in sectors such as industry, government or non-government organizations (NGOs), where Environmental Assessment (EA) work is being undertaken. The internship provides experiential learning and the development of professional skills. It also enhances the students' academic and theoretical knowledge. During their internship students are placed under the supervision of a professional.
Academic requirements
To be eligible to start an MEnv internship, students must first have:
- Sucessfully completed the prescribed 27 credits of course work as described in the program structure
- Achieved an overall GPA of 3.30 or higher
- Demonstrated language proficiency as required by the internship host
Students in the MEnv internship program must then complete 18 credits of Internship and Internship-related courses, as per the degree requirements.
Note: Students who do not meet the requirements for internship may transfer to, and continue in, the Graduate Diploma program in Environmental Assessment.
Procedures and conditions
- The internship is completed at the end of the residency requirement (minimum two terms). Under exceptional circumstances, it may be completed earlier, but only with the approval of the MEnv Graduate Program Director.
- The internship may be undertaken at any time in a calendar year, and can span academic years (e.g., August to October, July to November).
- The duration of the internship should be a minimum of 4 months, which is the equivalent of about 525 to 600 hours.
- The University accepts requests for renewals only from the same supervisor/team, as our program requires one internship, but facilitates up to two, should the supervisor/team wish to keep the student on staff.
- Internships may be held at any of the following:
- Government of Canada
- Provincial agencies
- Consulting or engineering firms
- Non-governmental agencies
- There is no restriction on location.
- This may be paid or volunteer work. Remuneration for the work done is negotiated between the intern and employer. For the purposes of the course remuneration is not manditory.
- Students registered in the internship must have full-time status and be in good standing with a GPA of 3.3 or higher.
- For every intern, there must be a person at the place of the internship who is willing to supervise them. This person is known as the 'Work Supervisor."
- The work undertaken by the intern may be part of an ongoing project, where the intern works as part of a team, and is responsible for a portion of a report or an individual research project on a specific research topic.
- The work will contribute to a 10,000 to 12,000 word report written by the intern following the completion of the job placement, and an oral presentation will be scheduled in the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment
- In all cases, the internship must be directly relevant to environmental assessment and/or the environmental field.
- Review information about the internship timeline and report guidelines.
- All students should communicate their interest to go on an internship with the Internship Coordinator. This must be done at the beginning of the term before they hope to go on an internship. That is to say in:
- January for internships starting in the summer
- May for internships in the fall
- September for internships in the winter
- Students are ultimately responsible for securing their own internships.
- The internship Coordinator will assist in the process by posting relevant internship opportunities as they arise from the department’s extensive employers list.
- In either case, the student must keep the Internship Coordinator apprised of their status and progress.
Internship opportunities
Opportunities to secure and internship may happen in one of two way. Specificaly when the:
Internship Coordinator has an available internship
- First, the Internship Coordinator will share the posting with students.
- Next, if the posting interests you, then you (along with other interested students,) should apply by the indicated deadline.
- The student who is chosen for the internship oportunity will be notified directly by the employer
Student found an internship opportunity on their own
The student must submit to the Internship Coordinator a completed Proposed Placement Outline that includes:
- The name and objectives of the organization
- A description of the project(s) the intern will be working on
- A detailed list of the specific activities involved and the expected end result
- An explanation of how the “job” will relate to the EA process
- The name, contact information (including email) and position of the proposed on-site supervisor
- The duration (beginning and end date, estimated total number of hours, whether full or part-time, paid or unpaid) of the internship.
Note: Although the department will actively seek internship opportunities for which potential interns may apply, the Department cannot guarantee placement. The student is responsible for seeking and securing a relevant internship placement.
If the original scope of your internship changes
It's important to understand that internships can change as they progress.
Should there be any major discrepancies between the intern's project(s) and the parameters of the original proposal, the student must immediately notify in writing any changes directly to their:
- Graduate Program Director (MEnv)
- Internship Coordinator
- Work supervisor
A decision will then be made regarding how applicable and relevant the new work is to the success of the original project and to that of the intern.
For more information about internships
For further questions about the internship program please contact the Internship Coordinator directly.
