Each student completing a Sustainability Studies minor is expected to complete a three-credit internship or independent study project connected to sustainability and his or her major field of study.  We maintain relationships with a variety of organizations who can provide you with hands-on experiences that will improve student understating of how sustainable things get done. 

These include:

  • Sustainable Lawrence
  • Terhune Orchards
  • Spiezle Architectural Group
  • Lawrence Township Public Schools
  • The Lawrenceville School
  • Eggerts Crossing Community Center
  • Lawrenceville Nature Center
  • Friends of the Hamilton-Trenton Marsh
  • D&R Greenway
  • Terracycle     
  • Mrs. G’s Appliances
  • Homefront
  • Rider University Organizations:
    • Energy & Sustainability Steering Committee (ESSC)
    • EcoReps
    • RHA/SGA

Other organizations are always being added to the list. You should always feel free to craft an internship with the advising and consent of the director and supervising faculty member.  Keep in mind that appropriate projects will include measurement and documentation of the environmental, social and economic impact of the work. 

Qualifications

Student must have completed a minimum of 60 credits (and have at least a 2.75 GPA) in order to undertake an internship.

Requirements

  1. A faculty member from the Sustainability Studies must agree to supervise the internship. The Sustainability Studies Director must be notified of the internship at the time of registration.
  2. Students who want an internship must obtain permission from the Sustainability Studies Faculty member at least two months prior to the beginning of the internship.
  3. A student intern is expected to work in the assigned agency a minimum of 48 hours for each credit earned. For three (3) credits a student must work a minimum of 144 hours.
  4. During the Fall and Spring semesters, internships shall normally be 13 weeks in duration. During the Summer sessions, internships shall normally be 5 weeks in duration.
  5. Individual agencies may have additional internship work hour requirements beyond the minimum.
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Springer Sustainability Studies Competition Winner

On April 18, Rider University hosted a 2014 Sustainability Studies Awards Program and announced the winner of its new Springer Sustainability Studies Competition.  The Springer Sustainability Studies Award is given to a student who prepares the strongest paper after completing the requirements associated with the Sustainability Internship.  This Award is named for SpringerNature, a publisher known for its extensive science and environmental materials. 

Shown at the awards program are, from left, Maura Diamond of SpringerNature; Victoria Circosta who completed her internship at Greener by Design; Olaitan Fakinlede, Account Manager at SpringerNature; Katelyn White who completed her internship at Climate Central; Daniel Druckenbrod, Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences; Katharine Jaworski who interned at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture; Patricia Dawson, Associate Professor- Librarian; and Geoffrey Scognamiglio who interned at ZT Technology Solution. 

The event also featured remarks by Frank Sherman, Director of Sustainability at Spiezle Architectural Group.