Students majoring in Forest Engineering, Forest/Civil Engineering, Forestry, Wood Innovation for Sustainability, and Tourism, Recreation & Adventure Leadership must complete six-months of work experience related to their degree prior to graduation. Natural Resources majors do not have a six month work experience requirement but are encouraged to seek out internship and work experiences. Experience can be paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time, and volunteer or in a hired position.

The following principles provide guidance and outline the goals for student practica.

1. To promote students’ learning and development.
2. To connect students’ in-class education with on-the-job training through paid (or unpaid) employment.
3. To provide the opportunity for students to “test-run” a type of job, an agency or business prior to entering the work-force in that specific area.
4. To engage students in active practice of their chosen field of work with the benefit of a seasoned professional’s guidance.

Requirements

1. Students must complete work equal to six months of full-time employment. Work may be completed in shorter periods (i.e. two 3-month summer periods, etc.) so long as the duration totals six months. 
1. Work experience can be full-time, part-time, seasonal, and internships. 
2. Unpaid work experience is acceptable to submit (i.e. unpaid internships, volunteer work). 
3. Work should be related to your area of study. If you have questions about what types of work are acceptable, please make an appointment to speak with your Advisor.
4. One month of work equals 150 hours, six months equals 900 hours of certified work experience. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of the hours worked. You may wish to confirm your dates of employment and hours worked with your supervisor prior to submitting your Practicum Summary form in order to ensure consistency and accuracy. 
2. Students must complete and submit a Practicum Summary form in which they address the learning outcomes, detail the type of job performed, and provide supervisor contact information, etc. which will be used to send an evaluation to the supervisor.  
1. The student’s supervisor must complete an evaluation of the student’s performance and assign the degree of competency reached for each of the Learning Outcomes. It is suggested that students discuss the work experience requirement and employer evaluation request prior to submitting the work experience so supervisors will be expecting it.
2. If the immediate supervisor is a current OSU undergraduate student, an employee in a supervisory role who is not a current OSU undergraduate student should evaluate work, verify hours and complete the employee evaluation. 
3. If you are self-employed and do not have a direct supervisor, your work experience will be evaluated by a member of the College of Forestry who will determine if your work meets program guidelines and should be forwarded to the Department Designee for certification. 
3. When writing about your work experience and learning outcomes please write professionally, and with clarity and coherence (i.e. write in complete sentences, avoid slang or texting abbreviations, etc.).
4. Work experience must be submitted at least one full term before the student’s anticipated graduation term (to allow time for processing, review of the documents, approval by the departmental designee, etc.)

Full overview and guidelines for the CoF Student Work Experience Practicum.