University of Central Arkansas

Biology Internship Program

The objectives of our internship program reflect the overall objectives established by the University of Central Arkansas Cooperative Education Program.  Biology internships provide students "real world" experiences, allowing the application of theories learned in the classroom to a job setting.  Internships may also provide learning opportunities not available in the Biology Department curriculum.  Internships aid students in choosing career paths and developing career goals prior to graduation.  These can be paid or non paid experiences.   

Participating students enroll in the course Internship in Biology (BIOL 3__45) for 1 to 4 credit hours.  These hours can either count towards helping the student meet the university-wide requirement of having 40 general upper division hours prior to graduation or the hours can count towards the elective credit hour requirement within the Biology Department.  If the latter, the student submits a proposal, describing the internship, to a committee of biology faculty for approval (Biology Internship Committee).  To receive biology elective credit, the internship must clearly provide rigorous learning opportunities that cannot be obtained in one of the listed biology courses.  Each student enrolled in Internship in Biology is assigned an Internship Advisor who is part of the Biology Department faculty.  The Internship Advisor is responsible for establishing grading criteria and is generally the facilitator of the experience with the sponsoring agency, institution, or corporation.  Every student participating in the Biology Internship Program registers with the UCA Cooperative Education office.  For additional information, contact the Biology Department Office

Additional Requirements:

• GPA of at least 2.5
• Must have completed 60 hrs of coursework prior to the start of the internship
• Must be enrolled in Internship in Biology during the semester of the experience
• Must have a mentor/internship advisor within the Biology Department
• Fill out an intake form in Cooperative Education located in Bernard Hall 209

Examples of Internship Opportunities:

• Medical Internship at Conway Regional Hospital
• Internships with local dentists, veterinarians, and physicians
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• United States Forest Service
• United States Geological Survey
• Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services
• Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
• Audubon Arkansas
• The Nature Conservancy
• Tyson Foods
• Greenbay Packaging
• Student Conservation Association

To see internship opportunities go to Job Opportunities and More.