INTERNSHIP IN GEOGRAPHY (595)
Internship Coordinator: Diana Gauss Richardson
Phone:
619 594-5476
Email:
drichard@mail.sdsu.edu
Office:
SH 301B
PREREQUISITES:
Junior or Senior standing. Geography majors only (or consent by instructor).
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Supervised internship of 180 hours or more in government or non-governmental agency, office or
business in an activity related to Geography program.
SECURING AN INTERNSHIP:
You can find an internship on your own, but, if you want course credit for it, you need to verify that it is
one that is relevant to your degree program and suitable for credit. You can also see me or Career
Services for ideas of where relevant internships may be found. We do not place you in an internship,
rather it is more like a job search on your part to obtain one. I do have many examples, and you will
often see my emails advertising open internships that I learn of.
REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSE CREDIT:
Requirement 1:
Prior to the add/drop date, meet with the Internship Coordinator (Diana
Richardson) for permission to enroll and to obtain the schedule number. Sign Waiver of Liability form
to be able to work off-campus. Submit Agency and Student Contact Information sheet.
Requirement 2: Meet with me twice during the semester – schedule a meeting the 4th week and the
8th week of the semester to discuss your work and progress.
Requirement 3: As soon as your internship begins, keep a “journal” of your activities, including who
you worked with, what you did, what you learned, and any feedback/reflection/reaction. Journal
entries must be at least weekly, and can be just a running Word document. Also, include the number
of hours worked that week.
Requirement 4: At the first semester meeting with me, submit (a) a summary description of the
internship, including a description of the agency, office or business as it relates to some aspect of
Geography and a description of responsibilities of the intern and how those responsibilities relate to
the function of the agency, office or business; and (b) several paragraphs indicating a specific
Geography issue area or areas of direct relevance to the internship work.
Requirement 5: 5-page term paper. At the conclusion of your internship, review your journal entries
and prepare a summary paper of your experience. The term paper will put the internship experience
into a broader context or contexts as relevant to an issue area in Geography. Specific
prompts/questions to answer in this paper are included in a separate document (see Term Paper
Requirements). This is due on the last day of schedule classes for that semester. Attach the “journal”
to your paper.
Requirement 6: By the last day of scheduled classes have your internship supervisor submit to me
their Evaluation of you, including (a) verification of hours completed and (b) the evaluation of the work
performance.
GRADING:
Student’s summary description (one page) of the setting for
the internship and responsibilities of the intern:
10%
Completion of two semester meetings with me:
10 %
Supervisor’s verification of hours completed in internship and
written evaluation of intern’s work:
35%
Student’s weekly summary of tasks and hours (journal):
10%
Student’s paper, five pages, analyzing and evaluating internship
in context of an Geography issue area and areas:
35%
Total:
100%
1. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 To research career opportunities.
 To participate in a Geography-related career as an intern.
 To build relevant experience.
 To build link between academics and careers.
2. SEARCHING FOR INTERNSHIPS AND APPROACHING AN EMPLOYER
 Students can use Aztec Career Connection, http://career.sdsu.edu to locate opportunities.
 Students can access opportunities as presented to the Geography Dept, -posted on bulletin
boards and sent out through the Geography email list.
 Students can research opportunities through known websites, and company websites.
3. CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENT, DEPARTMENT, AND AGENCY
 Students are expected to conduct themselves as professionals, maintaining standard styles of
dress/apparel for that agency/company, be well groomed, be good representatives of the
Geography Department and San Diego State University, and uphold the highest of character
standards, such as honesty, punctuality, dependability. Safety of students is critical; if a
student is uncomfortable regarding a safe work environment, see me or Dept. Chair
immediately.
SUPERVISOR EVALUATION FORM
INTERN’S NAME:__________________________________________________________________
PERIOD COVERING: Start and Stop dates_____________________________________________
EVALUATION:
(Please rate on a scale of
1-8 with 7-8 as outstanding.)
Needs
Improvement
Meets
Expectations
Exceeds
Expectations
1-3
4-6
7-8
Understands organizations, its
function, and intern’s place:
Understands responsibilities of
intern’s assignments:
Initiative (e.g., willingness to
take/accept responsibility):
Dependable (e.g., punctual,
follows instruction, minimal
supervision):
Cooperative (e.g., positive
attitude, accepts change in
assignment):
Efficient (e.g., gets work done on
time, works without supervision):
Judgment (e.g., discreet, keeps
confidences, asks appropriate
questions):
Ability to learn:
Quality of Work:
Agency/Company: _________________________________________________________________
Supervisor: ___________________________
(print please)
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________________
email: _______________________________
GEOGRAPHY INTERNSHIP EVALUATION
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS:
Has the intern completed the work agreed upon for the internship?
YES
NO
Has the intern completed a minimum of 180 hours of work?
YES
NO
Skills, abilities and strengths of the student/intern:
Areas of concern and weaknesses of the student/intern:
Would you hire the student/intern if there were an opening for which s/he was qualified?
Why? Why not?
Other Comments:
__________________________
Supervisor’s Name (print)
__________________________
Supervisor’s Signature
_________
Date
Internship Site: ___________________________________________________________________
Please send this form to: Diana Gauss Richardson, Geography Department, San Diego State
University, San Diego, CA 92182-4493. Additional contact information: FAX (619) 594-4938;
Phone: (619) 594-5476; email: drichard@mail.sdsu.edu
INTERNSHIP IN GEOGRAPHY (595)
Internship and Supervisor Information:
Organization:
________________________________________________________________
Address:
________________________________________________________________
Supervisor:
________________________________________________________________
Supervisor’s
Title:
________________________________________________________________
Supervisor’s
Telephone:
____________________________ Supervisor’s Fax: _____________________
Supervisor’s
e-mail:
____________________________
Student Information:
Student:
________________________________________________________________
Red ID#:
________________________________________________________________
Address:
________________________________________________________________
Work Phone:
_____________________________ Cell Phone: _________________________
Email:
_____________________________
Geography
Emphasis:
__________________________
Expected
Graduation Date: __________________