The Environmental Studies & Sciences Program encourages students to gain experiences that will enhance their academic studies and provide meaningful connections “beyond the gates.”
Through partnerships with the Memphis Zoo, the Wolf River Conservancy, Greening Greater Memphis, Project Green Fork, Livable Memphis, Bridges USA, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, local government, and many other business and community foundations, the Environmental Studies and Sciences program provides opportunities for students to explore career options and begin establishing a professional network both in Memphis and in other regions.
Internships count toward the Environmental Experience required for all Environmental Studies & Sciences majors and minors.
Internships (ENVS 460, F11 credit) in Environmental Studies and Sciences
Before considering an internship in Environmental Studies & Sciences, students should speak with the chair of the Environmental Studies and Sciences program.
1. Students will spend at least 10 hours per week in their field placement for the full 14 weeks of the semester (140 hours total). This internship should bring students into substantial and sustained contact and dialogue with members of the Memphis community who are working on environmental issues, policies, or practices. The Office of Career Services maintains an up-to-date list of environmentally-related internships.
2. The internship experience must be approved by the chair of the Environmental Studies & Sciences program. Students must also complete all required paperwork by the Office of Career Services. Once approved, students enroll in ENVS 460.
3. Students may enroll in 1-4 credits of ENVS 460. All options carry the F11 credit. Specific information detailing the differences per credit hour are available from the chair of the Environmental Studies and Sciences program.
4. All students will keep a weekly journal of their experiences in the field, recording and reflecting on the work they have done. In particular, students should discuss how their in-class coursework on environmental topics relates to their field experience.
4. Students will submit this journal once every week to a Rhodes faculty supervisor from the Environmental Studies & Sciences program for review.
5. Students enrolled in 3 or 4 credits will have assigned readings on subjects in Environmental Studies or Sciences relevant to the fieldwork which the student is undertaking. Readings will be chosen by student in consultation with the faculty supervisor.
6. Students will meet once per month during the semester with a Rhodes faculty adviser. During that meeting, the student and faculty member will discuss the fieldwork, how it connects to environmental issues, and any readings that have been assigned.
7. Students will complete a final essay due at the end of the semester. In this essay, students will discuss connections between their environmental coursework at Rhodes, their internship experiences, and any course readings for the internship. Details regarding the essay are available from the Rhodes faculty supervisor.
Sample of Resources for Internships
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Coalition for Livable Communities
Environmental Change and Security Program
Memphis Zoo Internships
Population Action International
Student Conservation Association Internship
Study Abroad
Policy on Applying Study Abroad Courses to Environmental Studies Major or Minor
Students may apply courses taken abroad toward their Environmental Studies & Sciences major or minor only if the courses have been approved by an academic department or program at Rhodes, and approved by the chair of the Environmental Studies & Sciences program. These courses must have a substantial and sustained engagement with environmental questions and issues. Before leaving the United States, students must provide syllabi and descriptions of the courses they plan to take while abroad to the chair of the Environmental Studies & Sciences program. The chair will determine whether the proposed course of study abroad contains sufficient environmentally oriented content. According to Rhodes College official policy, a student must earn at least 50% of their credits at Rhodes. No more than 50% of the course requirements can be transferred from another institution for credit toward the Environmental Studies or Sciences majors or minors.