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CSS 410 Internship

Course Description

Professional work experience previously approved and supervised by the department, written report required. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Purpose

The internship program in the Department of Crop and Soil Science is intended to provide the student with a learning experience that has immediate real world application. Ideally, it would provide the opportunity for students to put into practice some of the concepts they have learned in the classroom and at the same time provide an opportunity to learn new skills and applications. It should not just be a ‘summer job' where the student is providing only routine manual labor, but rather an environment that allows for increasing responsibility.

Internship Policies and Procedures

Internship is not a formal class with regular meetings, students work with the Internship Coordinator to identify an internship in the student's area of interest.  Students are expected to submit written goals and objectives for the proposed internship and a sponsor form from the prospective employer to the Internship Coordinator.  All internships must be approved by the department's Internship Coordinator prior to starting employment.

Students are expected to file at least three interim reports while their internship is in progress and a final report at the end of the internship.  A written evaluation of the student's performance will be submitted by the employer at the end of the internship.

Students are permitted to enroll in and receive credit for internships while they are in progress provided that interim reports are submitted.  The rest of the credit for the internship may be taken once the final report is completed.  For example, a student intending to take a total of 3 credits of CSS 410 for their internship may elect to take 1 credit in summer term while employed on the internship and choose to receive 2 credits in fall term with the completion of the final report.  Beginning in the 2008-09 academic year, both Crop Management and Soil Resource Management Options will require a minimum of 3 credits.

General Internship Guidelines and Considerations

The internship is intended to be a significant work and learning experience, usually lasting at least 9-10 weeks of full-time employment. For students working part-time during the academic year, the internship usually takes place in two or more quarters.  Students doing an internship during the school year may also elect to take one or more terms off from their formal studies to work on their internship.

Internships may take place at any time of the year, not just in the summer.   Some of the department's students need to return to their farms or family businesses for summer work activities, so an internship during the school year is most common with these students.  However, students are not permitted to do an internship in their family's farm or business.

The student intern is not required to be financially compensated for work done during the internship.  Students should check with the Internship Coordinator for scholarships and other financial assistance for non-paid internships.

Students are permitted to do international internships and these may be combined with study abroad opportunities.

Final Internship Report

The final internship report is a double-spaced document not exceeding 10 pages in length.  The document will contain a background or introduction section outlining the nature of your internship (type of position, location, industry type, etc.) and your objectives - what did you expect to learn and accomplish with your internship experience.  The body of the document will include an account of your experiences with the organization, the job duties that you were given, and any relevant observations that you might have had during your internship.  You should close by summarizing what you're learned as a result of the internship.

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