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Experiential Opportunities

Experiential opportunities for environment and science communication students include programs in the Curriculum for Environment and Ecology and the School of Information and Library Science. Scroll down to find an experience that fits your goals.

Curriculum for Environment and Ecology

As part of their studies, students are encouraged to examine global environmental issues through programs abroad. These field sites provide a semester’s worth of hands-on environmental study that includes courses, an internship and a Capstone group research project.

The research field sites hosted by the UNC Institute for the Environment provide a semester’s worth of environmental study that includes courses, an internship and a Capstone group research project.

There are four field sites in North Carolina, as well as three international field sites:

North Carolina Field Sites

  • The Sustainable Triangle field site provides coursework to fulfill a sustainability minor while exploring local sustainability efforts.
  • The Morehead City field site provides ideal study for students interested in marine issues and coastal ecology.
  • Students at the Outer Banks field site learn about environmental decision-making, public policy, environmental law, natural resource management and city and regional planning.
  • The Highlands field site offers classes and research into mountain biodiversity, local conservation efforts and local use of GIS and landscape analysis.

International Field Sites 

  • Students at the Cambridge field site study energy and environmental assessment.
  • Coursework at the Thailand field site focuses on energy, environmental infrastructure and sustainability.
  • The Galapagos/Ecuador field site is best suited for students interested in ecology, population, environment and development, environment and culture and environmental decision-making.

Coral Reef Ecology and Management is a field study which offers 1 credit hour each spring semester, focusing on coral reef environment and ecology and strategies for protecting and managing the reef environment. This course combines lectures, reading of primary material, and an experiential learning trip to St. John in the Virgin Islands for the week of Spring Break.

 The School of Information and Library Science

SILS offers opportunities for students through programs abroad and through internships.

International Programs 

SILS has 6 active student exchange programs:

Additional programs are emerging in China and Ireland. SILS also has selected projects in Africa. All of these programs offer possibilities for environmental informatics students to study and work abroad. Learn more about international offerings at SILS.

Internships

Students have the option to earn course credit for internships through the SILS Field Experience program. In addition, students may work directly with the SILS Career Services coordinator in order to find an internship that meets their specific goals. Learn more about SILS Career Services offerings here.