If you are a Sustainability Studies Major, you must complete the Capstone Course, IDS 4942: Sustainability in Action, in the Spring semester immediately prior to your (late spring, summer, or fall) graduation.
The Capstone course will meet about ten times during the spring term (T 8-9, R 9).
In addition, you will be devoting 6-7 hours a week to an internship for 15 weeks.
You cannot enroll in the Capstone course yourself.
To guarantee enrollment, you must complete the following two steps before the completion of the fall semester:
Step 1: Receive approval to apply for an internship
You are strongly encouraged to secure your own internship. However, you must secure an approval for any internship for which you wish to apply.
Internships must be at local organizations, government agencies, businesses or academic institutions. Your internships must have a sustainability focus. It will be necessary that you regularly meet with your internship supervisor.
To receive an approval to apply to a specific internship site, send the Director of Sustainability Studies an email (thiele@ufl.edu) that indicates:
1. Your name:
2. Your UF ID:
3. The semester and year you will graduate:
4. Affirmation that you have no holds or blocks (e.g. unpaid fines) on your student account:
5. Affirmation that your spring schedule is open T8-9, R9:
6. Name of the local organization or business where you hope to intern:
7. Physical address of the organization or business:
8. Website address of the organization or business:
When attempting to secure your internship, be professional. Research the organization thoroughly on the Web before contacting its representative. Prepare before interviewing. When interviewing, explain why you would like to intern there, address your work and academic history and skill sets, and indicate what you believe you can contribute to the organization. You should mention that you will dedicate a minimum of 6-7 hours a week to your internship throughout the spring semester, beginning the second week of January and concluding the third week in April.
Only a limited number of capstone students are allowed to intern at any particular site, and it must have sufficient sustainability content. That is why you must receive approval from the Director before applying for an internship.
Internships that students secured in previous years can be found here:
Also, explore opportunities to intern at organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, or businesses that are not on the above list– ones that will expand your horizons and enhance your career development.
Note that volunteer positions are not approved for the capstone course. You need to secure an internship. The difference is that in an internship you develop identifiable skills by way of specific projects, and have a supervisor who regularly oversees your work and provides mentorship.
If you wish to discuss potential internship sites, you may speak with the Director during office hours.
2. Step 2: Upon securing your internship, inform the Director of Sustainability Studies (thiele@ufl.edu)
1. What your assigned internship tasks and duties are.
2. The name of your internship supervisor.
3. Your supervisor’s email and phone number.
After Steps 1 & 2 are completed, you will be enrolled in Sustainability in Action.
If you do not secure the first internship to which you apply, you must gain approval from the Director to apply for another one. So, repeat Step 1.
Students who have not secured an approved internship by the first week of classes in January will be writing weekly research papers throughout the semester and/or may be assigned an internship. You will be enrolled in the capstone course before the end of the Drop/Add period. You must attend the first week of classes in January in order to be enrolled in the class at this time and avoid late fees.
Much good luck finding an internship that allows you to gain important knowledge and skill sets, contribute to the community, advance sustainability, and most fully develop your potential.