BI 410 Internship

Want to see what a career in biology looks like before you graduate? An internship gives you the opportunity to apply what you've learned in the classroom to real projects, real workplaces, and real challenges. Whether you're working with a business, government agency, nonprofit organization, research group, or other biology-related organization, internships help you build professional skills, expand your network, and gain valuable experience that employers are looking for.

Many employers prefer candidates with relevant work experience, and an internship is one of the best ways to explore career options while developing confidence and professional skills. Some internships may be paid, while others can be completed for academic credit through BI 410.

Internship objectives

BI 410 internships are designed to help you connect your academic studies with professional practice while developing skills for future careers. Through your internship, you will:

Explore career pathways and academic areas within the life sciences.
Apply scientific knowledge, concepts, and techniques learned in your biology courses to real-world settings.
Develop new scientific, technical, and professional skills through hands-on experience.
Strengthen written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills in a professional environment.
Reflect on your experiences and evaluate how the internship influences your career goals and professional development.
Build workplace readiness skills such as professionalism, initiative, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication.

Prerequisites for BI 410 Internship

Before registering for BI 410 Internship credit, you must:

Be a Biology major.
Secure an academically relevant internship with a business, government agency, nonprofit organization, research group, or other approved organization.
Ensure the internship aligns with your interests, knowledge, skills, educational objectives, and schedule.
Discuss the internship opportunity with your Biology faculty advisor if you have questions about eligibility for credit.
Complete and submit a Handshake request at the end of the term prior to your internship. Credit cannot be awarded retroactively.
Receive approval and register for the appropriate number of BI 410 credits.

Finding an internship site

This process has a variable timeline and presents similar to a job search.

Sometimes it can take a week, sometimes months. Start two terms in advance.

It is your responsibility to secure a site and do any onboarding before the term starts.

Please be kind to sites as they are volunteering their time to help you grow.

Start reaching out via phone, email, or in person. Start with people you know, or do an internet search to find a biology-based site that fits your future goals.
Biology internship sites are diverse and may include research laboratories, conservation organizations, wildlife agencies, zoos, aquariums, and biotechnology companies. Students might assist with field research, habitat restoration, laboratory studies, or wildlife and environmental education programs.
It will take persistence and checking back in with the sites to show your dedication and interest. You may have to go to the site and show who you are.
Prepare your resume and cover letter and plan to share with the site. And be ready to interview! Our Career Design Center can help you prepare for this process, as well as your Beyond OSU I and II courses.
Talk with your potential site supervisor about the credits, hours, your availability, dates of the term(s), etc. Share the site supervisor resources with them.
Once a site has agreed to allow you to spend time there, please thank any other sites you have engaged in conversation. Do not leave them waiting.
Some internship sites offer paid internship, but this is not standard or expected.
If you're considering using your current job to fulfill your internship requirement, you'll need to identify a new learning experience or take on a special project that goes beyond your regular duties. This ensures that your internship provides meaningful growth and aligns with academic learning outcomes.

Handshake process

Collect your info

Before you start, you will need to know:

Your site's name and location
Your site supervisor's name and email address
Number of credits you plan to take
A job description or the tasks and responsibilities you will take part in during your internship experience.

Submit an Experience in Handshake

Log into Handshake with your OSU credentials.
On the left side menu, click on Career Center.
Go to Experiences and Submit an Experience.
For the Experience Template, select "OSU-Cascades BI 410 Internship."
Then select the Term in which you plan to do your internship.
Fill out information pertaining to the Organization where you will do your internship.
Under Experience Details, input “internship” under Experience.
Enter the email address for the Internship Site Supervisor. NOTE: This will be an employee from your internship site/place of work that will supervise you during your internship (this is NOT someone from OSU-Cascades).
Respond to all the General questions pertaining to your internship.
Lastly, click Submit an Experience at the bottom.
*Let your Internship Site Supervisor know to look for an email from Handshake to approve your Experience request. The request must be approved within 5 business days. Handshake emails often go to junk/spam inboxes, so remind your Supervisor to check there. Contact the Career Development Center with any issues regarding Handshake approvals.

Once your Internship Site Supervisor, Faculty Advisor, and Academic Advisor approve your Handshake Experience request, you will receive an email from your Academic Advisor instructing you to register for the course. It is your responsibility to register for the course and the corresponding number of credit hours. Refer to i nstructions for adding variable course credits.

Internship course expectations

The BI 410 Internship course runs throughout the full academic term (Weeks 1-10). To get the most from your experience, internship activities, assignments, and reflections are designed to occur throughout the term rather than all at once. Be sure to plan your internship hours and projects accordingly so you can stay engaged from start to finish.

Working with your site supervisor

Your site supervisor is one of your most valuable professional connections. Make the most of the opportunity by communicating regularly and demonstrating professionalism.

Schedule a weekly 15-30 minute check-in with your site supervisor.
Come prepared with updates, questions, and discussion topics for each meeting.
Ask for feedback on your performance and suggestions for growth.
Remember that you are representing both yourself and OSU-Cascades. Professionalism, reliability, and communication matter.
Treat your internship like a job because it could lead to future employment opportunities, references, or professional connections.

Assignments and tasks

Every internship experience is unique, so specific tasks will vary depending on your site, project, and career interests. Your grade is based on completing course assignments and fulfilling the expectations established with your internship supervisor.

Your site supervisor will also complete a mid-term evaluation and a final evaluation, so be sure to discuss these requirements with them early in the term.

Course assignments may include:

Internship learning goals
Bi-weekly reflection activities
Documentation of internship hours
A project proposal or project plan
An updated résumé that includes your internship experience
A final project and reflective summary of your learning

Make the Most of Your Experience

An internship is more than a course requirement. It's an opportunity to build skills, explore career paths, expand your professional network, and gain experience that employers value. Show initiative, ask questions, stay curious, and take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow.

Experiential Learning in Biology