Field Requirement

Mandatory Field Experience Requirement

 A field experience is generally a structured experiential learning opportunity on location with a company, organization, group, or academic department. It is a core requirement for both the geography and meteorology degree. For students who double major, two separate field experiences must be completed for credit: one three-credit experience for each degree.  

The purpose of the field experience is to gain exposure to different learning opportunities outside the classroom.

Three Options to Complete the Field Experience Requirement:

1. Study Abroad: This credit bearing experience must be at least three credits and be part of an approved study abroad program. Additionally, for field requirement credit, the program must be approved by the department and related to the student's major. This could include: any VT 3954 course; any discipline-specific Virginia Tech course taken as part of an approved study abroad: any transfer credit taken from a foreign institution; or through a third party as part of an approved study abroad. You can find more information about Study Abroad programs through CNRE and the Global Education Office.

2. Undergraduate research: GEOG/MTRG 4994: This experience must be supervised by university affiliated faculty or staff and will be graded A-F based on project or work completed. Students must complete a CNRE Undergraduate Research form to receive academic credit.

3. Field Study/Internship or Service Learning: GEOG/MTRG 2964 or GEOG/MTRG 4964: Internships can be paid or unpaid. A significant service learning experience may also count toward the requirement. To receive three  credit hours of academic credit, grasded pass/fail, students must complete a minimum of 150 hours of work and provide the necessary documentation. To be registered for the credits, an approved Field Study Form is required before the start of the program. Credit cannot be granted retroactively. A Student Evaluation and an Employer Evaluation, sent by the department directly to the supervisor, must be submitted at the end of the experience.  

CNRE compiles a list of resourses for students investigating internship opportunities.

For more information or questions about the undergraduate field experience requirement, please contact:

Julie Burger
Academic Advisor
Department of Geography
138 Cheatham Hall
Phone: 540-231-5482

jcburger@vt.edu
Appointments Available Monday- Friday: Schedule an Appointment