Frequently Asked Questions About Internships

Q:Why should an internship be a part of my undergraduate education?

Instead of entering your career field "cold turkey", you can enter your field with a semester of valuable internship experience. Internship education allows students to answer the FAQ "What experience do you have?" with a resounding "Let me show you my dossier." As an internship student you will have experience as a professional in the field of your choice.

In the process of completing the internship you will:

Explore career interests Apply skills learned in the classroom Learn new skills Earn college credit in positions approved by Biology Department Faculty Develop professional and personal skills

Q:Who is eligible for an internship for college credit at UCO?

Any of our biology majors who meet the academic requirements for the program are eligible for an Internship in Biology. This means that Biology Majors (B.S. in Biology) "chasing rainbows" in any of the career fields involving field biology, laboratory biology, or some combination of both should consider internship education as a valid means of preparing for a career.

Eligibility Requirements.--Students must have:

Junior or Senior class standing
a 2.75 GPA in overall university course work
a 2.75 in Biology course work completed Biology core courses
completed 12 credit hours in Biology at UCO

Q:What is internship education in Biology at UCO?

Internships are opportunities for students who show excellence in the traditional classroom setting to expand their academic preparation in the career field of their choice. Biology Faculty help students design internships that have objectives and duties suited for the career chosen by the student. When finished with the internship, the student will have completed a dossier containing three parts: a daily log describing everyday internship activities, a compilation of protocols, and a final report. Evaluations by the intern mentor (Biology Faculty member) and the on-site supervisor are designed to provide the student with valuable feedback for professional and personal development.

Q:When do I prepare the internship?

In answering this question simply be careful not to "put the cart before the horse." To be most effective, the internship should carefully timed in your program of study (i.e., in your Junior or Senior year? during the Spring, Summer, or Fall?) As you can imagine, this is important because some internships are not available year round. Once you choose the semester of the internship, good internships take time to plan, usually about one month. The planning phase of the internship is every bit as important as the on-site duties. During this time the student lists career interests, finds internship sites that provide desired experience or training, and prepares an application. This may even involve contacting a new internship site, which may prolong the planning process. These activities build communication skills and clearly establish the activities that will be conducted at the internship site. Contact the internship advisor to plan your internship.

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