Paid and unpaid internships are often arranged between the Geography Department and local employers or government agencies. Students who participate in our internship program gain on-the-job experience which greatly enhances their post-graduation employment opportunities. Some internships develop into full-time paid positions upon graduation.
You may receive 1-6 hours undergraduate credit (GEO490) or graduate credit (GEO690) for internships. An internship with a single agency/business performing the same or similar duties can only count for 3 hours credit. A second internship with a second agency/business or with significantly new duties may count for an additional 3 hours credit. See Dr. James Leonard for more details.
Geography students have completed internships at a dizzying array of agencies and businesses, including:
- Aurora Colorado Water, Conservation Division
- Wayne County, WV Assessor’s Office
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN
- Steptoe-Johnson law firm, Charleston, WV (oil and gas property rights mapping)
- WV Governor’s Internship Program (various GIS-related positions)
- National Weather Service, Charleston, WV
- Chesapeake Energy, Charleston, WV
- WV Department of Highways, Huntington, WV
- Huntington, WV Planning and Zoning Department
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington, WV
- WOWK TV meteorology department, Huntington, WV
- Arctic Region Supercomputing Center, Fairbanks, AK
- WV Department of Environmental Protection, Charleston, WV
- Putnam County, WV Planning Department
- Charleston, WV Planning and Zoning Department
- WV State Historical Preservation Office, Charleston, WV
- WV Department of Highways, Charleston, WV
- Region III Planning, Huntington, WV
- KYOWVA Interstate Planning, Catlettsburg, KY
- WV Health Care Authority, Charleston, WV
- Rahall Transportation Institute, Huntington, WV
- FIVCO Area Development District, KY
Other options for internships could include:
- WV State Tax Department
- Huntington, WV Parks District
- Huntington, WV Public Works
- Beckley, WV Public Works
- WV State GIS Coordinator’s Office
- WV Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- WV Bureau for Public Health
- US Census Bureau, DC headquarters, check http://www.census.gov/hrd/www/jobs/student.html
- County assessor’s offices
- County 911 offices
Internships in GIScience
GIS Internships
Cowanesque Lake Recreation and Visitor Services Placement
Position Summary This position is primarily focused on recreation and visitor services at the Cowanesque Lake project. The Cowanesque Lake project consists of over 2,000 acres of land and water and receives about 100,000 visitors a year. Work comple...
Apr 14, 2026 4:37pm
GIS Intern
The GIS Intern will support the mapping, data management, and spatial analysis needs of the Tennessee Champion Tree Program.Preferred SkillsExperience with ArcGIS platformsAbility to manage coordinate data and map layersFamiliarity with GPS data coll...
Apr 14, 2026 11:25pm
QGIS Expert
OverviewHandshake is looking for skilled QGIS users to support AI research through flexible, hourly contract work. This is not a traditional job. You'll draw on your hands-on experience with geographic information systems, spatial data analysis, or e...
Apr 2, 2026 8:39pm
Transportation Engineering Intern
Program timeline: Mid-May-mid-August.Join GFT, an award-winning architecture, engineering, and construction firm, as a Transportation Engineering Intern and gain real-world experience in a dynamic environment. Our inclusive environment will fuel your...
Apr 22, 2026 8:43pm
NETI Student Intern
Fall 2026 applications are due May 22U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers qualified and highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to volunteer side by side with practicing environmental technical professionals and at...
May 6, 2026 2:45pm
Environmental Intern
Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an i...
Apr 23, 2026 4:12pm
GIS/Urban Planning Intern
Thrive West Central is dedicated to fostering regional growth and innovation by offering comprehensive solutions in Economic Development, Community Planning, and assisting an Aging Population with aging in place. We are committed to enhancing opportu...
Apr 28, 2026 3:24pm
Cap-and-Invest Policy Internship (Administrative Intern 1) Two Positions
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen The Department of Ecology is hiring two Cap-and-Invest Policy Interns (Administrative Intern 1) within the Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP). These are temporary positions for two months at 40 h...
Apr 28, 2026 3:49pm
Community Planning Fellow
Position Title: Community Planning Fellow – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance ProgramConservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements ProgramSite Location: 1100 N. Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304Application Timeline: Pre...
Apr 29, 2026 5:43pm
2026 Arboriculture, Conservation & Landscape Internship
The Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF) is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation based on a 700-acre estate in Upperville, Virginia with a mission to perpetuate and share Rachel Lambert Mellon’s home, garden, estate and Library to serve th...
Apr 30, 2026 7:19pm
GIS Summer Internship
Charlotte Water’s GIS Group is seeking a four-year undergraduate student for the GIS Intern position. The GIS Group provides full-scale GIS solutions and support to the entire Utility utilizing web, mobile, and desktop applications. CLT Water is on...
May 1, 2026 11:50am
USDA-ARS Semiarid Rainfall-Runoff Modeling Through Time Fellowship
Application Deadline 6/19/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time ZoneDescription *Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis.ARS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agr...
May 5, 2026 6:22pm
2026 Summer Internship - Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) - ELT-OEEC-26000
Deadline for applications is 5/19/2026.Do not apply on Handshake. Only letters/resumes submitted via the instructions below will be considered.Agency: Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC)Job#: ELT-OEEC-26000 (Work Student III)Hours:...
May 5, 2026 2:32pm
Water Engineering Intern
Program Timeframe: Mid-May through mid-August Join GFT, an award-winning architecture, engineering, and construction firm, as a Water Engineering Intern and gain real-world experience in a dynamic environment. Our inclusive environment will fuel you...
May 12, 2026 7:52pm
Farm Creek and Illinois Waterway Park Ranger
Position Summary The primary objective of this position is to assist the Park Ranger assigned to the Farm Creek Project and Illinois Waterway with numerous responsibilities. The SCA member will engage in the following activities: • Environmental S...
May 12, 2026 1:18pm
Interconnection Specialist
OverviewHandshake is looking for energy industry professionals to support AI research through flexible, hourly contract work. This is not a traditional job. You'll draw on your hands-on experience with environmental assessment, GIS analysis, and rene...
Apr 25, 2026 2:20am
Environmental Analyst
OverviewHandshake is looking for energy industry professionals to support AI research through flexible, hourly contract work. This is not a traditional job. You'll draw on your hands-on experience with environmental assessment, GIS analysis, and rene...
Apr 25, 2026 2:18am
GIS Analyst
OverviewHandshake is looking for energy industry professionals to support AI research through flexible, hourly contract work. This is not a traditional job. You'll draw on your hands-on experience with environmental assessment, GIS analysis, and rene...
Apr 25, 2026 2:19am
Aeronautics Drone Internship Summer 2026
Position SummaryMassDOT’s Aeronautics Division is searching for an Intern to support the MassDOT Drone Program. This role will work alongside stakeholders in MassDOT Aeronautics, MassDOT Highway, and the MBTA, and will work directly with Drone Prog...
Mar 4, 2026 5:45pm
Year-round Student Worker- Seeds Program
Year-round Student Worker- Seeds ProgramSalary Range: $17.58 - $23.61 per hour MnDOT's Seeds Program provides paid, college-level student worker positions to highly motivated students. The program is designed to equip and train qualified participant...
Feb 11, 2026 10:04pm
Kosovo National Park: Professional, Academic, and Cultural Experience included!
Join Isla for a truly immersive and “all inclusive” international experience! Our team pairs you with a local NGO in your field of interest, supports you every step of the way, secures housing, insurance, etc., connects you with professional, soc...
Aug 18, 2025 12:30pm
FALL 2026 - State Historic Preservation - Historic Preservation Assistance Intern
Name of OrganizationWest Virginia State Historic Preservation Office Organization Mission StatementOur mission is to encourage West Virginians in efforts to identify, recognize, and protect the state’s historic and cultural resources. Name of I...
Mar 16, 2026 5:11pm
FALL 2026 - Yew Mtn Center - Mountain Medicine Trail Intern
Name of OrganizationYew Mountain Center Organization Mission StatementThe Yew Mountain Center provides programs that explore Appalachian ecology, culture, and arts while promoting personal and community wellness. Name of Internshi...
Apr 1, 2026 1:47pm
Engineering: Professional, Academic, and Cultural Experience included!
Join Isla for a truly immersive and “all inclusive” international experience! Our team pairs you with a local NGO in your field of interest, supports you every step of the way, secures housing, insurance, etc., connects you with professional, soc...
Aug 21, 2025 1:45pm