UNCW has a robust Honors program and provides two levels of participation; Departmental Honors and University Honors. Both satisfy the Applied Learning requirement. Honors projects span multiple semesters (usually 2 or 3). They also require a thesis and defense of the thesis before a formal committee. Participation in both Departmental Honors and University Honors requires a formal application. Information on the application process and the requirements for the programs can be found at their respective websites (University Honors).
Directed Individual Studies (DIS) are collaborative efforts between students and faculty on specific research projects. DIS projects have numerous benefits, including the chance to participate in meaningful, targeted research in your area of interest. DIS also foster a relationship between students and faculty that can enhance the careers of both over time.
DIS classes are created for a single semester. The faculty member submits a DIS form outlining the student's role in the project to the Registrar and works with the student to ensure timely completion of the tasks outlined in the form. If you are interested in pursuing a DIS, talk with a faculty member whose work interests you and see if they have opportunities for you to participate in their research. Do not email the Applied Learning Coordinator for DIS-related questions or registration.
If you have a specific project you would like to pursue, you can also talk to a faculty member whom you believe might share your interest. Be sure to research what faculty are doing before making an appointment to talk with them. A little preparation will serve you well in this regard.
Do not email the Applied Learning Coordinator for DIS-related questions or registration. Directed Individual Studies forms are completed by the faculty member that you work with for the project. There are separate undergraduate and graduate forms. Students should think of this form as a contract of what their responsibilities will be for the DIS including what deliverables will be expected at the end of the semester. As such, it is recommended students read the completed form prior to the faculty member submitting it.
UNCW, the College of Science and Engineering (CSE), and EVS's recommendation is that students make arrangements to participate in any Internship/Practicum/Environmental Community Engagement learning that require face to face work with a supervisor in a semester not affected by COVID-19.
If you choose to participate in one of these courses, you acknowledge that you understand the potential health risks of attending the internship and that your physical presence in the facility, which may include direct contact with other people, may significantly increase your risk of exposure to COVID-19 and other illness.
You agree to abide by all policies and procedures of the host facility regarding COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, including those regarding self-reporting and self-quarantine in the event you experience symptoms of illness. You understand that the host facility may prohibit you from attending your internship in the event you manifest, or appear to manifest, symptoms of illness. You understand that the host facility may later decide not to accept students, and/or UNCW and CSE may later decide to require you to make alternative course assignments.
You understand that UNCW, CSE, EVS, and your course instructor are not responsible in the event you are exposed to, or contract, COVID-19 or other illness as a result of your attendance in the internship and/or presence in the host facility.
Due to the current pandemic of COVID-19 and associated health risks, final approval of all student applied learning credits must come from CSE. Students are NOT PERMITTED to start working at their host organization for UNCW credit until they receive a final email and an override into the course from the Applied Learning Coordinator indicating the College has approved all paperwork.
This course is no longer offered within the department. Students seeking credit from an internship at an environmental organization should review the Undergraduate Practicum information.
The Certified Internship Program (CIP) is offered through Career Services. This program is a great opportunity to fulfill your Explorations Beyond the Classroom, but it does not grant academic credit.
Because CIP does not grant academic credit, it cannot fulfill the applied learning requirement for EVS majors and minors. Students seeking credit from an internship at an environmental organization should review the Undergraduate Practicum information.
This course is for non-EVS majors who are EVS minors or Sustainability minors and can be taken for 1 credit hour. This course is an introduction to the role of environmental agencies in the community and requires 40 hours of volunteer or paid time directed toward helping the mission of the environmental agency.
Additional liability insurance expense may be necessary. EVS majors are encouraged to enroll in the Undergraduate Practicum program. To apply for this course, please visit Prerequisites and Application Process page.
This course is no longer offered within the department. EVS majors should review the Undergraduate Practicum information and non-EVS majors who are EVS minors or Sustainability minors should review the Environmental Community Engagement information.
Non-EVS majors who are Sustainability or EVS minors and on a catalog older than 2020-21 will need to email the department to have a substitution of EVS 490 for EVS 496 made.
EVS Undergraduate Practica are available only to undergraduate students in the EVS Department. Practia constitute the highest level of Applied Learning activity in EVS for undergraduate students. The Undergraduate Practicum provides students with a chance to explore work with an environmental organization while fulfilling the Applied Learning requirement.
Practica positions provide opportunities for students to engage with the agency by embedding themselves in the daily activities of an agency. Practica classes require a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer or paid work with the organization for one (1) hour of academic credit but students can enroll for up to 6 credits (i.e., 240 hours). In general, most students register for 3 credits (120 hours).
Students are required to submit weekly logs of their activities and will be required to submit a reflection paper toward the end of the semester. There are additional online assignments for this course that contribute to the overall grade.
Students should visit the Prerequisites and Application Process page of the EVS website to see if they qualify for this course and how to apply.
EVS Graduate Practica are available only to graduate students in the EVS Department. Graduate students interested in undertaking a practicum should first contact the EVS Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Devon Eulie, to discuss benefits of a graduate practicum in their degree program and to make sure they have sufficient academic standing to participate in the Practicum program. The Graduate DIS DocuSign form is found on the EVS Graduate Canvas Shell.
Students should check the Prerequisites and Application Process page on the EVS website to ensure they meet the prerequisites for these courses. On that page, students will also find a list of steps of how to apply for credit.
All paperwork must be completed by the first day of classes in the beginning of the semester. The paperwork can take time so it is imperative that students act early on this process! If you have an interview or think you may be securing a position close to the start of classes, you should contact the Applied Learning Coordinator before the deadline for applications.
Please refer to the UNCW Academic Calendar for the first day of classes in each semester.
Applications for Environmental Community Engagement and Practicum are to be completed by DocuSign by the deadlines below. If a student is still waiting to receive an offer from a host organization and thinks they will want to register for either course, they must contact the Coordinator prior to the deadline to discuss their options for the application process.
Students should check the Prerequisites and Application Process page on the EVS website to ensure they meet the prerequisites for these courses. On that page, students will also find a list of steps of how to apply for credit. Once an application is approved, the student will receive an override to register for the course on SeaNet.
All paperwork must be completed by the first day of classes in the beginning of the semester. The paperwork can take time so it is imperative that students act early on this process! If you have an interview or think you may be securing a position close to the start of classes, you should contact the Applied Learning Coordinator before the deadline for applications.
Please refer to the UNCW Academic Calendar for the first day of classes in each semester.
There are several ways to find a host organization for your Environmental Community Engagement or Practicum! EVS has relationships with several sites in the area. One of the easiest ways to find a host organization is to subscribe to the UNCW EVS Internships ListServ.
Directions on signing up for the ListServ can be found here:
Technically, no, but you should! Most EVS graduate students and all EVS majors and Sustainability minors are required to have at least 1 credit of applied service learning to graduate and registering for Environmental Community Engagement (EVS 490) or Practicum (EVS 497/597) is an excellent way to fulfill that requirement by gaining hands-on experience in an organization outside of the University.
Additionally, students should recognize that since this is a requirement for all our students, gaining this experience puts you on the same experiential level as everyone else who is graduating from EVS. We encourage you to gain as much experience as possible before you graduate which is why you can gain this credit through internships at multiple organizations!
Plus, when you register for this credit, you will be covered for liability insurance and will have access to all resources provided by the university including the Disability Resource Center.
Both paid and unpaid positions are acceptable for Environmental Community Engagement and Practica. However, the majority of the placements students find are unpaid. Students cannot earn Environmental Community Engagement or Practica credit at a host organization for which they are already employed without permission from the Applied Learning Coordinator. In these situations, duties and responsibilities above and beyond that of the current employment of the student will be expected.
Students may participate in Directed Individual Study (with approval of supervising faculty), Environmental Community Engagement, and Practica during the summer session. However, students must be enrolled in the associated class for the summer to receive academic credit for their work (i.e., students cannot perform work prior to the semester in which they are registered).
Most students prefer to undertake their Practicum in the summer because doing so allows for more hours with the host organization in a shorter time and provides the opportunity to participate in more activities with the host. Summer also allows for more flexibility in scheduling Practicum work.
Students have until the last day of classes in the second summer session to fulfill the minimum number of hours (required 120 hours minimum during summer) for the Practicum class.