Internships

• Step 1 Internship Basics

  Internships can be taken for credit or solely to build your professional readiness. To be eligible to earn course credit for a geography internship you must: 

  • be currently enrolled at Texas State in good academic standing
  • have completed at least 60 credit hours with a minimum of 5 credits related to your internship position
  • be a geography major or minor

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  You can complete an internship as an undergraduate or master’s student. There are 3 Internship-for-Credit options:

  1.    GEO 4380 – Undergraduate Internship in Geography may be repeated one time to earn a maximum of 6 credit hours. However, the internship must be with a different sponsor. This internship is considered a geography elective.

  2.    NHT 4302 - Internship in Nature and Heritage Tourism (Undergraduate) If you are a nature and heritage tourism minor, this internship is mandatory and it may not be repeated.

  3.    GEO 5380 – Graduate Internship in Geography May not be repeated. This internship is considered a geography elective.

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  In order to receive internship course credit, you must:

  • Complete and submit the Waiver Form and Job Description Form within 2 weeks of starting your internship
  • Work a minimum of 150 hours performing geography-related work
  • Maintain a daily log documenting your activities, who you met, and what you learned 
  • Turn in a report documenting your internship experience
  • Have your internship supervisor complete and submit the Intern Evaluation Form
  • Update resume to include internship experience
  • Create LinkedIn profile and connect with the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and the Geography Internship Coordinator
  • Submit a 2-5 sentence testimonial about the benefits of your internship experience. (Optional: To have your testimonial featured on GEO Internships website, submit a headshot to accompany your testimonial)

  In addition to these requirements, master’s students must also complete a Project Report Proposal before the internship halfway point and submit the project no later than the last class day. Refer to the Graduate Internship Requirements Checklist for details.

  It will be helpful to familiarize yourself with the planning calendar listed below. Although the semester add/drop dates may be absolute, some accommodations may be possible regarding your internship start dates on a case-by-case basis if you contact Dr. Davio. 

  PLANNING CALENDAR
  Important Dates	Fall 2024	Spring 2025	Summer 2025
  Registration Opens	April 1st	October 23rd	N/A
  Classes Start	August 26th	January 13th	N/A
  Last Day to Register with No Tuition Penalty	July 31st	December 1st	N/A
  Last Day to Drop with No Tuition Penalty	September 11th	January 29th	N/A
  Last Day to Drop with Tuition Penalty	October 27th	March 24th	N/A
  Last Day of Class	December 6th	April 28th	N/A

• Step 2 Prepare for Success

  To maximize success, you should generally begin looking for an internship approximately 2-3 months before you hope to start. However, depending on your preparedness you may need additional time.

  Texas State University Career Services offers students and alumni assistance with career planning, coaching, and tools for professional development.

  Dr. Rebecca Davio, Geography Internship Coordinator can meet one-on-one with students seeking internships. Setup an appointment via email.

  There are several actions you need to take to prepare for an internship including: polishing your resume, developing a draft cover letter, developing a LinkedIn profile, cleaning up your social media accounts, and identifying references who can verify your skills and knowledge.

  #1 Resume
  A professional resume is required by most employers to help them quickly understand your educational background, work experience, and related professional information.  

  Your resume should highlight:

  • Your contact information
  • Your educational background, including your area(s) of concentration and relevant coursework
  • Any work experience, volunteer experience, internships, community service, or other significant experience (using 2-3 bullet points for each describing responsibilities and achievements)
  • Any honors, activities, or leadership experiences relevant to your internship and career goals

  Here is a sample Resume Template to get you started. Career Services also has great resume tips on their page: How to Create a Job-Winning Resume. 

  To receive a personalized analysis of your resume, please contact:
  Career Services - College of Liberal Arts Career Educator Nikky Bissonnette
          
  #2 Cover "Letter"
  A cover letter provides you an opportunity to provide a prospective employer a summary of information relevant to the position you are applying for while demonstrating your writing ability. Effective cover letters convey a sense of purpose, enthusiasm for the position, and demonstrate your knowledge of the employer's goals and needs. A positive first impression requires that your cover letter be concise and contain zero errors in spelling or grammar. Your cover letter should be customized to fit the position for which you are applying.

  These days, a cover letter is typically actually a cover email. If you're applying for a position through email, do not simply attach a resume and cover letter without properly introducing yourself. Instead of attaching your cover letter to an email, copy the contents of the cover letter into the body of your email.

  Here is a Sample Geography Cover Letter to get you started.

  For further help please contact:
  Career Service - College of Liberal Arts Career Educator Nikky Bissonnette

  #3 Writing and Work Samples
  Many employers want to see examples of past work or projects and may ask with little notice. Therefore, it is important to have a few examples that demonstrate the best of your writing and technical skills. It is very common in the GIS field to be asked for a GIS product or map, so prepare accordingly. Writing samples should demonstrate your best most relevant work and be 3-8 pages in length. 

  #4 LinkedIn Profile
  LinkedIn is often seen as the Facebook of the professional world. Approximately 95% of recruiters are reported to use LinkedIn to search for candidates. There are more than 690 million LinkedIn users worldwide. Developing your LinkedIn Profile is a great way to share information about your job skills with many people without necessarily having to send your resume to them. Think of your LinkedIn profile as your professional marketing brochure. Keywords relevant to your career interests are particularly important because some organizations use automated algorithms to search for appropriate candidates.

  Connecting with classmates, professors, previous employers, friends, and family members is a great way to build your LinkedIn network. Please connect with the Texas State Geography and Environmental Studies Department on LinkedIn. 

  There are many videos and articles on how to build a stand-out LinkedIn profile. Learn the LinkedIn 101.

  #5 Social Media Cleanup
  Hiring managers frequently refer to your social media accounts as your second resume. Approximately 50% of hiring managers search social media to find out more about their applicants. It is recommended that you use common sense in securing data you want to keep personal and clearly separating it from your professional life.

  #6 Reference List
  Your references should be informed in advance, and chosen from your academic, and if applicable, professional experience. Your reference list should include your name, and the following information for each of your references: name, title, organization, phone number and email address. This information should be kept separate from your resume as an independent document and provided on request to employers.

  Be sure to notify your references every time you are asked by an employer for your reference list. Providing your references with a copy of the job description will enable them to point out your most relevant skills and qualities.

  Additional Career Prep Resources
  To do some additional preparation for interviews and career success, you can take advantage of several courses available on the LinkedIn Learning platform. These courses help you brush up on some core skills required to get an internship and be successful in most jobs and are high quality, allow you to build your skills at your own pace, and are available free of cost to Texas State students.

  Topic	Length	Link
  Interviewing	1hr 12mins	https://www.linkedin.com/learning/expert-tips-for-answering-common-interview-questions/salary-negotiation-approach-and-tips?u=51086649
  Communication	1hr 16mins	https://www.linkedin.com/learning/communicating-with-confidence/speaking-with-confidence?u=51086649
  Business Writing (min)	1hr 32mins	https://www.linkedin.com/learning/business-writing-principles/understanding-business-writing?u=51086649
  Microsoft Excel	2hrs 17mins	https://www.linkedin.com/learning/excel-essential-training-office-365-microsoft-365/getting-started-with-excel-for-office-365?u=51086649
  Microsoft Word (min)	2hrs 10mins	https://www.linkedin.com/learning/word-essential-training-office-365-microsoft-365/create-brilliant-documents-with-microsoft-word?u=51086649
  Microsoft PowerPoint	2hrs 37mins	https://www.linkedin.com/learning/powerpoint-essential-training-office-365-microsoft-365/deliver-a-powerful-message-with-a-powerful-presentation?u=51086649
  Problem Solving	1hr 32mins	https://www.linkedin.com/learning/problem-solving-techniques/asking-the-five-whys?u=51086649
  Microsoft Teams	1hr 36mins	https://www.linkedin.com/learning/managing-projects-with-microsoft-teams/working-with-a-document-library?u=51086649
  Zoom	1hr 21mins	https://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-zoom/stay-connected-with-zoom-meetings?u=51086649
  ArcGIS Pro	2hrs 43mins	https://www.linkedin.com/learning/arcgis-pro-essential-training-2/exploring-the-amazing-world-of-gis-using-arcgis-pro?u=51086649

• Step 3 Find an Internship

  When looking for internships look early and look often. Those motivated to find a GEO internship should: 

  • Pay attention to emails from Geointernships@txstate.edu about internship opportunities
  • Search independently on job websites (Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster, etc.)
  • Proactively contact GEO alumni or hiring managers at organizations you are interested in working at to schedule an informational interview.

  If you want to do an internship but do not have one lined out, you can schedule a meeting with Dr. Davio, Geography Internship Coordinator, to brainstorm with her about finding an internship. It may be helpful to fill out the Intern Profile Form before talking with her.

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• Step 4 Prepare for the Interview

  When preparing for an interview there is some homework involved. You should learn as much as you can about the position you are applying for and the company you are applying with. Company websites are a great resource to find useful information. Make sure you familiarize yourself with any past, current, and future projects of the organization. If the company has a mission statement, ensure you read and understand it. This is arguably the most important piece of information to know about the organization.

  Be prepared to talk about yourself and answer in-depth questions. Try to find someone to practice with or talk to in the mirror. When in doubt dress more formally for the interview than you might anticipate. It’s good to look at what the job requires and dress slightly more formal than that. 

  Make sure you bring your resume and a list of references with you. Bringing an extra copy is important so that you and your interviewer can look at the same information simultaneously. 

  To better prepare yourself for an interview it may be a good idea to take a LinkedIn Learning course. 

  For further help please contact:
  Career Service - College of Liberal Arts Career Educator Nikky Bissonnette

• Step 5 Register for the Internship Class

  Once you have been hired for an internship and want to receive course credit:
  •    Email Erin Elliott to request permission to add the internship class. You must include your student number (A#), the course you want to register for, and the semester you would like to register for. 
  •    Register for the class as soon as you receive confirmation that your registration hold has been lifted.
  •    Email Dr. Rebecca Davio your waiver  and job description  forms within 2 weeks of starting your internship.
  •    Email Dr. Rebecca Davio if you are starting an internship in the middle of a semester.

  Now is a good time to refresh your memory on what the requirements are to earn credit and their corresponding due dates. This can be found under Step 1 Internship Basics tab. 

• Forms

  • Intern Profile Form
  • Waiver Form
  • Job Description Form 
  • GEO4380 Internship Assignments
  • NHT4302 Internship Assignments
  • GEO5380 Internship Assignments
  • Intern Evaluation Form
  • Example Internship Assessment
  • Example Internship Daily Log

• FAQ

  What are the requirements to earn credit for an internship with the Geography and Environmental Studies Department?
  Refer to the appropriate form above.
  Contact: 
  Dr. Rebecca Davio, Geography Internship Coordinator if you have additional questions.

  How do I create a LinkedIn profile?
  There are many videos and articles on how to build a stand-out LinkedIn profile.

  I need help with my cover letter, resume, or interviewing. Where should I go?
  Career Services or Dr. Rebecca Davio, Geography Internship Coordinator for personalized assistance. There are also many online resources available.

  If I find an internship in the middle of the semester, can I still earn credit?
  Although the semester add/drop dates may be absolute, some accommodations may be possible regarding your internship start dates on a case-by-case basis if you contact Dr. Rebecca Davio. 

  My internship spans multiple semesters, how does that work?
  If your internship employer wants you to work in 2 consecutive semesters, it may be possible as an undergraduate intern to get 6 hours of credit of you are learning additional skills in the second semester.  Contact the Geography Internship Coordinator  to discuss the possibilities. 

  Can I find my own internship?
  Yes! Internships should provide professional experience relevant to Geography and provide you an opportunity to work 150 hours. If you find your own internship, it must be approved by the Geography Internship Coordinator.

  Will the Geography and Environmental Studies Department find me an internship?
  The Geography and Environmental Studies Department can help by alerting you to internship opportunities, but it is ultimately your responsibility to secure an internship.

  Can I do an internship out-of-state or internationally?
  Yes, the same requirements apply.

  Can previous work experience count for this internship?
  Previous work experience can help you land an internship, but the 150 hours must be worked during the internship period. 

  Does the internship class have any required meeting times?
  No, but there are 1-2 meetings typically scheduled on Friday afternoons which are offered to help provide you helpful information. There are also several assignments which are all due on or before the last class day.

  How many hours a week can I work?
  If you are working in an on-campus internship, University policy restricts you to a maximum of 25 hours per week (20 hours for international students) during the semester. If you are working for outside employers, you are allowed to work the number of hours mutually agreeable to you and your employer.

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