Section
Eastern University Biology

Internships

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An "internship" is work experience directly related to a college major.  We do not currently require an internship or "co-op" experience for graduation, although we strongly recommend it whenever possible.  For many students, internships confirm their choice of career and provide useful contacts and training.  Occasionally an internship helps a student decide to change career directions, and that, too, is valuable.  For some, an internship has led directly to a job offer.

The final responsibility for arranging an internship is yours, but as a department, we try to help in the search process.  We have a department pizza supper every year related to resume development and job and internship search strategies.  Individually, we'll be glad to talk through career goals with you one-on-one, and help with specific contacts whenever we can.  The bulletin board outside the department lists many internship opportunities, and we keep files on others.

Some examples of internships

  • Pathology lab, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia. Aspects of molecular pathology of tumor progression and general tissue analysis for a cancer hospital.
  • Community Supported Agriculture, Philadelphia area.  Helped manage a low-input vegetable farm focused on local markets.
  • Fichera Lab
  • Pennsylvania Dept/Env. Protection.  Assessment of underground storage tank leakage and groundwater quality
  • Public health promotion and assessment with the government of Belize, Central America or in Philadelphia area through Jefferson Health Systems
  • Sustainable tropical agriculture techniques, private organic farmer, Belize, Central America
  • Policy analysis related to wetland and clean water regulations, the Sierra Club, Washington, D.C.
  • Africa Evangelical Fellowship in Angola.  Assisted physicians and other health workers in surgery and other public health issues in remote areas affected by the civil war.
  • Policy analysis and lobbying, focusing on consumption and justice issues, Mennonite Central Committee, Washington, D.C.

For credit:

Biology 495:  Two to 12 credit hours/semester; up to five credit hours total can count toward elective requirements. 
Eastern University requires these conditions for an internship:

  • Departmental approval of the internship and the preparation of the intern.
  • The supervising faculty member must be able to contact an internship supervisor.
  • A minimum of 40 hours on-the-job is required per credit hour.  For example, if a student worked eight hours/week (one full day/week or two full afternoons/week) for each of the 15 weeks of a semester, 120 hours of internship experience would thus be eligible for three credit hours.
  • In addition, our department requires a term paper summarizing the experience and discussing one issue in depth, with relevant references.