Internships in Wood Science and Technology

Students in the Wood Science and Technology curriculum are required to complete a summer internship with the wood products industry or an appropriate state or federal agency for formal course credit under the course designation: WDSC 491, Professional Field Experience (3 credits). The cooperator (employer) is expected to provide training to the student that includes a basic understanding of the cooperator's process, products, and operations.

To accomplish this, the student is usually assigned a number of different tasks by the cooperator during the internship experience. Students are expected to find their own place of employment with the assistance of their faculty advisor. Any and all wages will be paid by the cooperator to the student. The student will submit weekly reports and a final report to the faculty advisor on the internship experience. The faculty advisor will remain in contact with the student and cooperator and provide appropriate feedback to the student. Students must work on a full-time basis for not less than ten full work weeks to qualify for credit for WDSC 491 in the Wood Science and Technology program. Prior to beginning the internship, the student, the cooperator, and the faculty advisor must complete a simple  memorandom of understanding agreeing to the terms of the internship.

Students become available to work following the end of the Spring semester (mid-May) until the beginning of fall semester (mid-August). It is recommended that the memorandum of understanding be completed and submitted to the Wood Science and Technology Coordinator no later than April 30. The daily managerial control and working conditions of the internship program are coordinated by and under the sole direction of the cooperator (employer).  Consequently, the University does not have or can it assume any liability relative to the protection of the individual intern.  Students are urged to review what employee benefits are made available by the employer, i.e., health and accident insurance, workmen's compensation and liability insurance, etc.).  If adequate benefits are not provided by the employer, the student is responsible for making his/her own arrangements for adequate insurance. Student's must sign a University Liability Statement which is to be submitted to the student's advisor before registering for WDSC 491.

Intership Memorandom of Understanding  (must be submitted to advisor before beginning program) University Liability Statement (must be signed and submitted to advisor before registering for WDSC 194)

Assistance with arranging an internship is available through Dr.Jingxin Wang, Associate Professor, Phone: (304) 293-7601. E-mail: jxwang@wvu.edu, or Dr. Jim Armstrong, Associate Professor, Phone: (304) 293-7603. E-mail: jarmstro@wvu.edu, P.O. Box 6125, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6125.