Hands-On Learning

Hands-on experiences help our students build the skills and confidence to thrive in their careers and communities.

High-impact experiences are a core part of every student’s journey in the College of Natural Resources. These hands-on learning opportunities have been shown to improve critical thinking, increase career readiness, deepen engagement with coursework and support personal growth. That’s why every student — in every major — participates in at least one high-impact experience before graduation. In fact, most students complete more than one, gaining valuable experience, building their resumes, and growing confidence along the way.

High-impact experiences include:

Internships and co-ops
Study abroad
Summer practicums
Research and more

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All of our students complete high-impact experiences before graduation.

Internships and Co-ops

Students don’t just study natural resources; they experience it firsthand through internships and co-ops with agencies and organizations such as NASA, National Geographic, the National Park Service, Walt Disney World Resort and many others.

Our internship and co-op programs give students real-world experience with natural resource challenges. Explore requirements for your major and opportunities below:

Forest Biomaterials Internships and Co-ops
Forestry and Environmental Resources Internships and Summer Practicum
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Internships and Co-ops

Where Experience Meets Opportunity

Our students don’t just study natural resources; they get out there and live it. From internships to study abroad, every experience helps them grow, explore and prepare for what’s next.

Student at internship at National Geographic — Kairavi Gardé, a fourth-year student majoring in environmental sciences and sociology, interned with the National Geographic Society’s education and community engagement team during the summer of 2025.

Student from Paper Science at internship at Wayerhauser Auv — Titilayo Tajudeen, a third-year Ph.D. candidate studying geospatial analytics, gained hands-on experience in UAV-based forest analysis during a summer internship at Weyerhaeuser Company in Washington.

Wallace Layman (Paper Science and Engineering ’23) built hands-on experience through multiple industry internships, developing practical skills and earning TAPPI’s highest student award.

Tatiana Frontera with a body of water in the background - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Tatiana Frontera (Environmental Sciences ’24) spent the summer of 2022 interning with the Montana Conservation Corps, supporting conservation and restoration efforts along Montana’s Madison River.

Lauren Pharr with a handful of nestlings - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Lauren Pharr (Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology ’25) conducted field research to protect the red-cockaded woodpecker, one of the Southeast’s most threatened bird species.

Elyssa Collins interning at NASA - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Elyssa Collins (Geospatial Analytics ’23) interned with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, using satellite data to model global water availability.

Eli Teague collecting stream samples - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Eli Teague (Natural Resources ’25) gained hands-on field experience conducting wetland delineations and endangered species surveys during an internship with Terracon.

Muhammad Ikbal Putera in the Kilauea Iki crater - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Muhammad Ikbal Putera, a Ph.D. candidate studying parks, recreation and tourism management, gained hands-on experience in cultural interpretation and conservation education during an internship at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Antonio Jimenez at the National Baseball Hall of Fame - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Antonio Jimenez (Sport Management ’25) gained experience in communication and sports leadership during an internship at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the summer of 2024.

Taliana Tudryn and classmates with research on the Neuse River Waterdog - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Taliana Tudryn ’23 (left) strengthened her research skills and graduate school readiness through hands-on fieldwork studying the Neuse River Waterdog alongside her classmates in the fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology program.

Jack Elvin with a juvenile alligator - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Jack Elvin (Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology ’23) applied classroom lessons during an internship at Camp Bryan Farms, using heavy machinery to manage land and restore habitats for wildlife.

Fenton McKown and volunteers inspecting a cairn in the Adirondack Mountains - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Fenton McKown, a fourth-year student studying fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, helped conserve endangered alpine plants and educate hikers across New York’s Adirondack Mountains during an internship with the Summit Stewardship Program.

Jenna Abrahamson developing remote sensing methods to predict flooding - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Geospatial Analytics Ph.D. candidate Jenna Abrahamson interned with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where she developed remote sensing and machine learning methods to predict and monitor flooding across U.S. ecosystems

Joseph Taylor growing vegetables Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Joseph Taylor (Environmental Sciences ’19) tested crops and automated irrigation systems designed for growing food in microgravity during an internship at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Victoria Fuda at Yellowstone National Park - Hands-on Learning - College of Natural Resources at NC State — Victoria Fuda (Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management ’21) interned at Yellowstone National Park and gained experience in sustainable hospitality management during the summer of 2021.

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Study Abroad

From sport management courses in the United Kingdom to biodiversity programs in Equatorial Guinea, our college offers overseas opportunities to match your interests and major.

Explore programs for your field of study:

View all programs

Research

Our undergraduate and graduate students have numerous opportunities to conduct research alongside our world-leading faculty. Explore research options in your department:

Through cooperatives, consortia, centers and institutions, we collaborate to create solutions to real-world issues:

Career Support

The Career Advising and Professional Engagement Center offers personalized approach to career planning, ensuring students have the resources and encouragement needed to thrive, both in high-impact internships today and in the professional world tomorrow.

From securing that first critical internship to landing a dream role after graduation, our team is here to coach students through every milestone. We provide one-on-one sessions and career-building events designed to connect future graduates with top employers, hands-on experience and a lifelong community of support.

Hands-On Learning

Need help planning your career path?

All of our students complete high-impact experiences before graduation.

Internships and Co-ops

Where Experience Meets Opportunity

Study Abroad

Research

Career Support

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