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There are many reasons to seek an internship to complement your formal studies. Internships provide valuable professional development experience. Student interns can improve their skills, gain work experience, network with professionals in their chosen field, and learn about the different sectors and organizational cultures. A significant portion of successful internships leads to full-time job offers.
What students are saying about internship opportunities…
- “Talk with your supervisor before you start. Prepare in advance; you will impress your host if you can hit the ground running.”
- “Remember that some employers are willing and able to tweak internship job descriptions for the right candidate. So, if the job isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, talk with the employer about possibly adjusting the responsibilities.”
- “The U-M semester ends earlier than most universities, so U-M students are able to start early. This can give you an advantage in the selection process.”
- “Make sure you understand what is expected of you. If you don’t, the experience could be disappointing for you and your employer.”
- “Ask in advance whether you will have to bring your own laptop and/or supplies.”
- “Set up a weekly meeting with your supervisor. This will ensure that you have time to ask questions and get feedback, plus it gives you an opportunity to build a nice relationship with a key professional contact.”
If you are interested in an internship overseas, contact the International Institute.
Click here to find internship funding opportunities in the SEAS financial aid database, including the Weinberg and Sussman internships.
SEAS also partners with employers on dedicated summer internships. Recent and ongoing partners include:
> World Wildlife Fund (WWF): One or more interns funded each summer working across select areas at WWF in need of SEAS student talent
> National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Great Lakes Regional Center: Two interns every summer focused on timely policy and advocacy focuses of NWF
Additional Recent Internship Partners:
> World Resources Institute
> City of Detroit Office of Sustainability
> Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
> RMI
> EDF Climate Corps
Common SEAS Internships Sites
- Alaska Conservation Foundation Internship Program
- Asian Development Bank
- The Carter Center Internship Program
- CDC Summer Graduate Environmental Health Internship
- Conservancy of Southwest Florida
- Department of Energy
- DOW Chemical
- Ducks Unlimited GIS Internship - Ann Arbor office, opens in in November
- Earthwatch Institute Internships
- Environmental Defense Fund Internships
- Environmental Defense Fund - Climate Corps (140 paid 10-12 week summer fellowships for Master's students focused on energy management in a variety of sectors--SEAS Master's Students in the SS, BEC, and EPP tracks would be a strong fit)
- Federal Diversity Internship Initiative
- ICF International
- Meijer
- Michigan Tech Research Institute - EI/Con Eco tracks
- National Park Service Academy
- National Wildlife Federation
- The Nature Conservancy GLOBE Internship Program (35 paid internships)
- NSF International
- ORISE Internships and Fellowships
- Rocky Mountain Institute
- Sierra Club Internships (San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC placements available)
- Smithgroup
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's (SERC) Internship Program
- The Student Conservation Association (SCA)
- U of M Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum Internships
- UNEP New York Office
- USFWS Directorate Fellows
- The White House Internship Program - application window has closed
- World Bank
- World Wildlife Federation
- World Resource Institute (WRI)
For general questions please email us at seas-careers@umich.edu.