SFSU Climate Justice Internship Program

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Are you concerned about climate change & want to make a difference? 

Would you like to gain work experience in the climate justice field?

 

Apply for a Climate Justice Internship & get paid to do the work you care about!

 

SFSU Climate HQ’s Climate Justice Internship Program places undergraduate students in a semester-long paid internship with partner organizations committed to climate justice. Selected students will be matched with an organization to complete a project that advances that organization’s work and gives students the opportunity to learn from seasoned organizers, activists, advocates, and professionals. We expect to match 2-5 students at each organization.

 

Important Information

 

Deadline for Submission

October 10, 2025

Dates of Internship Work

January to May 2026

Stipend Amount

Up to $3000, spread across the semester

 

Eligibility and Requirements

 

Student Eligibility

  • Undergraduates from any major at SFSU can apply
  • Interns must be full-time students enrolled at SFSU during their Spring 2026 semester
  • No citizenship requirements

 

Requirements & Expectations

  • Selected interns must: 
    • Enroll in and pass a 1-unit seminar, BIOL 681: Climate Action for Real World Change in Spring 2026. This course provides support, community, and professional development during your internship.
    • Work an average of 10 hours per week for 15 weeks (150 hours total) with the matched organization.
    • Participate in a showcase during Earth Week.

 

How to Apply

 

By the deadline, submit the following through our survey (link coming soon):

  • Names and email addresses for 2 academic or professional references. References may be contacted after your application is submitted.
    • Pro-tip! be sure you ask their permission beforehand
  • Answers to the Application Questions, below
    • Pro-tip! we recommend typing out answers to the 4 essay questions ahead of time and then pasting them into the survey link when you go to submit

 

Application Questions

The application consists of 3 parts and will be available in full by September 2025. 

  • PART 1: Student Information and Eligibility Questions
    • This section asks for your name, student ID number, email address, major, expected graduation date; to confirm your eligibility; to note your availability for interviews; and to tell us how you heard about this program.

 

  • PART 2: References & Organization/Project Preferences
    • This section asks for names/emails for your 2 references and asks your preferences about which organizations and projects you are most interested in working with in Spring 2026. Possible organizations/projects are listed here.

 

  • PART 3: Essay Questions
    • This section asks you to answer 4 short essay questions (150-250 words each) so we can learn more about you, your life, and your journey. Feel free to share as much about your personal lived experience as you want.
    • Questions:
      • 1. What does climate justice mean to you? (For example, how has climate disruption/climate change informed or impacted your life?)?
      • 2. What personal or professional goals would participation in SFSU’s Climate Justice Internship Program help you achieve?
      • 3. Why do you want to become an intern working in an organization that advances climate justice? 
      • 4. What skills, interests, or strengths would you bring to the internship? (ex. Do you have video editing skills, social media skills, GIS skills, etc.? Note: it’s ok if you don’t bring a particular skill set to the internship; the internship could be a chance to learn a new skill set.)

 

Timeline

 

  • September, 2025 (exact dates TBD): Information session #1
  • October 1, 2025: Information session #2: 10-11am
  • October 10, 2025: Applications due
  • November, 2025: Selected students notified & matched with organization
  • November 2025-January 2026: Selected students work with organization to co-develop work plans
  • January-May 2026: Internships run (1 week of Spring Break with no work requirement)

 

Find Out More

 

Students who would like to learn more in any of these three ways:

  1. Send an email to climatehq.internships@sfsu.edu

  2. Attend an information session

  • Info session #1: mid-Sept (exact date/time TBD)
  • Info session #2: Oct 1, 2025, 10-11am 

  1. Drop into the office hours of the co-leads of the program (office hours start week of Sept. 2, 2025)