The Department of Geography is committed to providing students with experiential learning opportunities, where students can apply their knowledge and skills in geography and atmospheric sciences in real-world settings. One way the department supports this goal is through student internship experiences. Through internships, students have the opportunity to connect academic learning with real-word applications, develop professional and technical skills, and gain a deeper understanding of career opportunities in their field. Department of Geography Undergraduate Internships Geography Though an internship is not required for A.B. and B.S. Geography majors, it can provide valuable hands-on experience, help students apply what they are learning in the classroom, and prepare them for future careers and/or graduate school. Additionally, Geog3990 can count as a degree elective and may also fulfill an elective requirement for the Geographic Information Science or Local Foods Systems certificates, provided the internship relates to the certificate and supports its learning objectives. Atmospheric Sciences Internships and research experiences are an integral part of the Atmospheric Sciences degree. These hands-on learning opportunities help students develop the practical knowledge and professional skills needed for careers in meteorology and the atmospheric sciences. All Atmospheric Sciences majors are required to complete an internship or research experience. Students must select one 3-hour research or internship course from the options below: ATSC 3990: Internship in Atmospheric Sciences (3 hours) ATSC 4911: Collaborative Research in Atmospheric Sciences (3 hours; offered as needed in summers) ATSC 4960R: Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research I (1-6 hours) ATSC 4970R: Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research II (1-6 hours) ATSC 4980R: Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research III (1-6 hours) ATSC 4990R: Undergraduate Research Thesis (1-6 hours) GEOG 3990: Internship in Geography (3 hours) Students looking to enroll in a research course (suffix R), please contact Dr. Gabe Kooperman, kooperman@uga.edu. Internships for Academic Credit: Registering for ATSC 3990 or GEOG 3990 Internships may be arranged on a full-time or part-time basis, so long as no less than 150 hours of working time is spent at the internship during the semester enrolled. Each internship earns 3 credit hours, however, ATSC 3990 and GEOG 3990 can be repeated for a total of 6 hours. The course is graded S-U. The undergraduate internship coordinator--Dr. Kayla Anderson--is the default supervisor for all internships, but any faculty member in the department can fill this role. How to Register for ATSC 3990 or GEOG 3990 To receive permission to register for the course, please submit an internship proposal to Dr. Anderson (unless alternative arrangements are made with another faculty member), using this Microsoft Form. You will be asked to include the following information in your proposal: Your name, email address, and 81# number Your major/minor Course you wish to register for (i.e., ATSC 3990 or Geog 3990) Internship site Internship supervisor and email address. The person at your internship site who will be supervising you. Your goals for pursuing this internship. These can include improved skills in writing, research, and analysis or improved expertise in a particular subject area such as planning, conservation, transportation, climate, or health. (no more than 100 words) A description of the tasks you will be responsible for at this organization (no more than 250 words) A summary of how this work relates to the discipline of geography and/or atmospheric sciences--concepts or skills used, relevant courses taken at UGA, etc. (no more than 250 words) In addition, the students’ supervisor should contact Dr. Anderson directly via email to verify their intention to support this internship and their understanding that approximately 150 hours of working time is required. End-of-Internship Requirements At the end of the semester, students will be required to submit an internship reflection, describing the tasks completed during the internship, what they learned through the internship experience, and how the internship connects to their coursework in Geography and/or Atmospheric Sciences. Submit your internship reflection using this Microsoft Form. Directions for completing the Internship Reflection can be found here. The supervisor will also verify hours and complete a short evaluation using this Microsoft Form. For questions on internships, contact Dr. Anderson at kayla.anderson@uga.edu Internship Forms Internship Proposal Internship Reflection Supervisor Evaluation Current Internship Opportunities Tornado Talk’s Virtual Tornado Memorial Project Tornado Talk’s Virtual Tornado Memorial Project is looking for students to help with the project’s first stage of research into fatal tornado events. The Virtual Tornado Memorial Project is a historical research project working to identify and document the more than 22,000 people who have lost their lives in U.S. tornadoes. The project's goal is to go beyond a number in a database and preserve as much accurate information as possible about the people who died and the tornadoes that affected their communities. Please review this document for more information about the internship/research experience. This virtual internship is currently unpaid. In Spring 2027, students can receive course credit for their involvement with the project by enrolling in ATSC 3990 or GEOG 3990. If you have any questions or want to discuss receiving course credit for the internship, please contact Dr. Anderson (Kayla.Anderson@uga.edu). If you are interested in getting involved in the project either this semester or in the future, please contact Jen Narramore, the founder, director, and lead researcher of Tornado Talk (jennarramore@tornadotalk.com). Department of Transportation Summer Internship Program (DOTSI) The DOTSI Promise: Cultivating a vibrant and supportive culture that encourages personal and professional development, nurturing the future leaders of the transportation industry. Our Mission: The Department of Transportation Summer Internship (DOTSI) aims to mentor and cultivate the next generation of transportation leaders through hands-on experience and on-the-job training in current transportation-related topics and issues. A key focus is providing opportunities to students, motivating their entrance into the transportation field by providing meaningful work experiences that are instrumental in their professional growth within the industry. Our Vision: Our vision is to be the bridge to opportunities, fostering an environment where students thrive. We are committed to empowering individuals to achieve their full potential by providing access to resources and pathways for growth. Student Applications Open: October 1, 2026 - January 29, 2027 Applications will open October 1. Please do not apply before this date. Potential Internship Sites The Geography Department maintains a listing of potential internship sites for department majors. You can view that list below or click here for a full screen version. The Atmospheric Sciences Program also maintains a database of internship/research experience opportunities for students, which was initially created by alum Hannah Goodson.
