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College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

UF/IFAS Extension Internship Program

The application period for 2024 internships is closed. Applications for summer 2025 will open in early fall 2024.

The summer internship program is a collaboration between the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Students participating in this paid internship will work with county UF/IFAS Extension faculty to deliver educational programming throughout Florida. Together with the local UF/IFAS Extension faculty, students will work in one or more of these program areas:

  • Agricultural and horticultural enterprises
  • Water resources
  • Natural resources and environmental quality
  • Individual and family development
  • Community resources and economic development
  • 4-H Youth Development

Students selected for a UF/IFAS Extension internship will be required to take a 1-credit hour class in the spring ("AEC 4905 Building a Foundation for Extension Internship Success") that will focus on UF/IFAS Extension and the land-grant system, FERPA training, Youth Protection Training, interviewing, cover letter writing, resume development, and Extension project proposal, planning, and implementation. 

For additional questions regarding internship responsibilities or the class, contact Dr. Charlotte Emerson at cemer@ufl.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the goal of the UF/IFAS Extension Internship Program?

    The internship program's goal is to benefit interns through a unique service learning opportunity and mentoring by professional educators while providing support to UF/IFAS Extension faculty and the communities they serve.

  • When will I find out if I am accepted?

    Students will be notified about acceptance by November 8. Placement notifications will be sent mid-December.

  • What is the UF/IFAS Extension Service?

    The Florida Cooperative Extension Service is the outreach component of UF/IFAS. Its mission is to extend knowledge to the public and encourage the application of research. UF/IFAS Extension covers a specific range of topics, which include agriculture, natural resources, energy conservation, marine education, sustainability, family living, and youth development. Each of Florida's sixty-seven counties has a UF/IFAS Extension office.

  • What are the qualifications for the internship position?

    Interns should be at least college juniors or seniors who are currently enrolled and maintaining at least a 2.8 GPA.

  • Do I have to be in a UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences major?

    We are not limiting appointments to students in the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. However, you should be majoring in a subject related to the programs taught in our county offices.

  • What are my responsibilities as an intern?

    Interns will be asked to plan and teach programs at the local level under the supervision of a UF/IFAS Extension faculty member.

  • What county will I be assigned to if I am accepted?

    Interns will be matched with counties acceptable to them. Interns must also be acceptable to the recipient county.

  • How many hours is the internship?

    The internship program is 40 hours per week for eight weeks with a maximum of 320 hours.

  • When does the Internship begin?

    This internship is a summer program. Once a student has been placed in a county, the student will work with the local UF/IFAS Extension faculty member to determine the exact start date and program calendar for the internship. The dates are somewhat flexible according to the needs of the student and the county schedule.

  • How much will each intern be paid?

    Interns will be paid $640 per week ($16 per hour for eight weeks).

  • Will I receive academic credit for this internship?

    This internship does not provide academic credit, however, registering for a 1-credit hour class in the spring is required of all interns in order to participate in the summer internship assignment. Students should check with their college or department about the possibility of arranging academic credit for the summer portion of their internship.

  • Will my living expenses be covered during the internship?

    Students will be paid for their internship and this can go toward the cost of living expenses. There are no additional funds available to help with living expenses in the counties. Some counties may be able to make local arrangements.