Purpose of the Internship

The purpose of the internship is to provide the fledgling emergency manager with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience related to all four phases of Emergency Management. The internship is a key component of the Emergency Administration and Planning program and provides pre-career students an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge and develop professional skills that will lead to a successful career. Moreover, the internship experience frequently provides the student with an entry into a permanent position.

Emergency Administration and Planning students must complete an internship of at least 240 hours of employment. Students must register for EADP 4800, EADP Internship Preparation, and complete the course before beginning an internship appointment. This three hour course meets four times during the semester and prepares students for an internship. Career testing, resume and interview preparation, and discussions of professional and ethical conduct are covered. When the student is ready to begin an internship, the internship coordinator will assist in identifying internships, but the student is ultimately responsible for securing an appointment.

Internships may be completed during the summer months, on a part-time basis during the academic year, or once all course work has been completed.

• Internship Guidelines

• Career Center Internship Information

• Current EADP Internship Placements

• Internship Practicum Testimonials

• Internship Waiver Request - Please include your current resume with this form.

For more information, please contact the EADP Internship Coordinator, Dr. Ron Timmons.

Internship Details

There are three categories for internships in the EADP program:

Students with no professional work experience: 48 hours in major

• Required: Internship Preparation (EADP 4800)

• Required: Internship Practicum (EADP 4810) and a 240 hour internship.

Students with professional work experience (but not in EADP field): 45 hours in major

• Not required: Internship Preparation (EADP 4800)

• Required: Internship Practicum (EADP 4810) and a 240 hour internship.

• This change must be approved. Please contact Dr. Ron Timmons, the EADP Internship Coordinator (Chilton 204J), to request a waiver for EADP 4800.

Students with three (3) years professional work experience in Emergency Management: 42 hours in major

• Not required: Internship Preparation (EADP 4800)

• Not required: Internship Practicum (EADP 4810) and a 240 hour internship.

• This change must be approved. Please see Dr. Ron Timmons, EADP Internship Coordinator (Chilton Hall 204J) to request a waiver for EADP 4800/4810.

Notes

• If you choose the 42 hour degree plan, you may not complete an internship for credit.

• EADP 4810 (Internship Practicum) is a restricted enrollment course and requires a permission code for registration. You MUST contact the Internship Coordinator prior to your registration date. It is best to acquire your code at least two weeks prior to your registration date. DO NOT wait until the day you are scheduled to register to try to obtain your registration code.

EADP 4800 - Internship Preparation 
During Internship Preparation, students will meet with the internship coordinator to begin arranging their internship. The internship coordinator will assist the student in securing a practicum, but the final responsibility for finding an internship rests with the student.

• Enroll in Internship Preparation at least one semester before beginning an internship.

• Prerequisites:  Enrollment is restricted to EADP majors who have completed EADP 3010, 3035, and 3045, and consent of the Internship Coordinator.

• Topics covered in this course include: career counseling, resume development, professionalism and interviewing skills.

EADP 4810 - Internship Practicum 
Students will meet during scheduled classes to monitor progress, discuss experiences, turn in documentation and resolve concerns. The dates, locations and time for the class will be announced at the beginning of each semester via student email.

• Internship Coordinator must approve internship prior to beginning internship. If it is not approved, it will not count.

• Pre-requisites: Enrollment is restricted to EADP majors who have completed EADP 4800, 3010, 3035, 3045, plus 3 additional hours of EADP coursework. After a student has arranged for an internship, he/she must register for Internship Practicum (EADP 4810).

Note:
EADP 4810 is a restricted enrollment course and requires a restriction code for registration. You MUST contact the Internship Coordinator prior to registration in order to enroll in this course. It is best to acquire your code at least two weeks prior to your registration date. Do NOT wait until the day you are scheduled to register to try to obtain your registration code.

Obtaining an Internship
Internship opportunities are available with a variety of public agencies and departments, as well as at various levels of government. Students may also serve as interns in the private and nonprofit sectors. Internships complement coursework in the major field with practical, hands on knowledge. Students gain a better understanding of emergency management principles while also obtaining experience, credentials, and identity in the field. EADP internships, therefore, serve a very important step in the student's career preparation and development.

When anticipating an internship, you should begin by thinking about the type of work experience you would like to complete.  For example, consider whether you hope to work in the public, private or nonprofit sector.  Then, narrow the choice further by specific organization (e.g. municipal, state or federal government) and functional area (e.g. planning or response).  The internship preparation course will also help to identify student's strengths and areas of professional interest.  All students enrolled in EADP 4810 must register with Eagle Careers through the UNT Career Center. Students may find an internship searching opportunities posted on Eagle Careers, through networking, and reading professional newsletters.  To qualify for course credit, the internship must be approved by the Internship Coordinator prior to beginning the internship, be related to Emergency Administration and Planning, and supervised by a professional in the field.

If you have any questions about internship requirements or procedures, please contact the Internship Coordinator, Dr. Ron Timmons.

Internship Waiver Form
Occasionally, students will enter the Emergency Administration and Planning program with professional experience in the field. Students who feel they have a great deal of experience directly related to emergency management can appeal for an internship waiver. Students will need to be able to articulate in a scholarly manner how their full-time professional experiences directly relate to all four phases of emergency management. A faculty committee will carefully review the request. If a student is waived from the internship requirement, their degree plan will be altered.

Additionally, a few students will have sufficient experience in a professional setting although not necessarily related to emergency management. In this situation, students may appeal to be waived from the Internship Preparation class, but still expect to do an internship. In order to be waived from the Internship Preparation Course, students will fill out the Internship Waiver Request. If the student is granted a waiver from EADP 4800, then the student will need to meet with the Internship Coordinator BEFORE accepting an internship for academic credit.