Undergraduate Internships

An internship can be one of the most valuable experiences you will have during your time at ECU. It allows you to apply what you have learned in the classroom to real-world challenges while building professional skills, expanding your network, and exploring potential career paths.

Internship Requirements

Find Opportunities

Dr. Jeff Popke
Internship Coordinator

Contact Dr. Popke

Internship Requirements

Students earn academic credit by completing supervised work with an approved sponsoring organization.

• Three (3) internship credit hours require 180 hours of work (60 hours per credit hour).
• Three internship credit hours are required for students pursuing the BS in Geography and Geospatial Data Science or to satisfy the Internship or Research Experience requirement for Environmental Studies majors.
• Internship credits are optional for other degree programs within the Department of Earth, Environment, and Planning.

Before registering: Students must meet with the Internship Coordinator to discuss placement opportunities, course requirements, professional expectations, and internship approval procedures.

Internship Planning

Students are encouraged to begin exploring internship opportunities at least two semesters before they plan to enroll. Many highly competitive internships, including federal, state, and nonprofit programs, have application deadlines several months in advance of the start date.

Internships can be paid or unpaid. Students may identify opportunities on their own or work with the Internship Coordinator to find placements that match their interests and career goals. All internships must be approved by the Internship Coordinator and Department Chair before work begins.

While internships are available throughout the year, summer often provides the most flexibility and the greatest variety of opportunities.

Finding an Internship

ECU Career Services uses Handshake for job and internship postings. The platform will allow you to set up a profile and enable searches and alerts. You may also want to consult general job hosting sites such as Indeed and ZipRecruiter.

Our students have completed internships with a wide range of organizations. The list below offers some good places to start, but you are encouraged to be resourceful and chart your own path.

Ready to Get Started?

An internship is more than a course requirement; it is an opportunity to gain experience, build confidence, and take the first steps toward a successful career.