!!! Please note that effective 1/5/2023, CFAN 4096 will replace ESPM 4096 and ESPM 4096 will no longer be offered. !!!
FWCB Students should have several professional experiences while in college. Internships help you gain experience, learn about professions, develop skills, and build a network. Many employers and grad schools seek candidates with internship experience.
All students must complete a professional experience and the associated reflection class (.pdf), either CFAN 4096, Professional Experience Program: Internship, or CFAN 3096, Making the Most of Your Internship (see schedule below). These classes are designed to help you to complete pre-and post-reflection components of the experience. Be sure to register for one of these courses prior to beginning a professional experience – retroactive enrollment is not allowed. Here's how to register for CFAN 3096 and CFAN 4096.
| If you're doing your professional experience in... | You should register for... | And things will start in... |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | CFAN 4096 - Fall Semester | May/June with pre-internship orientation and "pre-flection" |
| Fall | CFAN 3096 - Fall Semester | Fall (coincident with classes) |
| Spring | CFAN 3096 - Spring Semester | Spring (coincident with classes) |
*Concurrent registration in CFAN 3096 during Summer Session is possible for extenuating circumstances
Finding an Internship
- For an overview and frequently asked questions, see the Internship Planning page
- Read about previous students' internship experiences, including locations
- Browse these websites to find internship openings, Online Job Search Tools
- Search Handshake, the University's online internship and job posting system
- Consider an internship abroad.
- Connect with Career and Internship Services to learn more about internships, or to get help finding one. Meet with a career counselor for assistance in identifying your internship goals and applying successfully. Call 612-624-2710 to schedule.
Job & Internship opportunities will be sent directly to undergrads by e-mail. Contact the FWCB office to be added to the Undergrads listserv.
Funding an Internship
CFANS offers multiple Undergraduate Internship Grants, worth up to $1000. These grants offer financial assistance to CFANS students doing an unpaid internship in spring, fall, or summer. This is a competitive grant for which you must apply. Eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and instructions can be found here. Select the CFANS link.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
The U of M's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides a stipend to undergraduates for special research, scholarly, or creative projects done with a faculty member. You must apply and be accepted into the UROP program. To apply, you'll develop your own research proposal, usually in partnership or with the permission of a faculty member. Applications are accepted twice a year. They're judged on the quality of the proposed project, and on the educational benefit to the student.
More information on UROP and other research opportunities can be found here.
UROP meets the needs under specific conditions: it counts if your UROP advisor agrees to the needs of CFAN 4096 (perform an evaluation, informational interview, etc.) and you list it through the CFAN 4096 handshake process and register for the course.
CFANS Mentor Program
The CFANS mentor program is an excellent opportunity for students to connect with professionals working in their areas of career interest. Through this relationship students can get an inside view of how various companies and organizations work, how professionals balance life and career and learn how to better prepare for the working world. In the past few years, about 6 FWCB students have been mentored by alumni or other natural resource professionals. We'd love to have dozens of students involved in this program each year.