Imagine a career in which you can make a positive difference in the community every day…
Imagine a career where you teach people, and your classroom is a farm, field, factory, forest, home, or community. Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to apply to the NC State Extension Summer Internship Program. This is an experience that prepares students for challenging and rewarding careers!
Interns will assist Extension Agents through programs such as Master Gardeners, crop protection, diabetes cooking classes, and 4-H livestock projects, just to name a few! Extension internships offer a first-hand view of Extension careers. For these internships, we are seeking students whose academic background is relevant to Extension, especially: agricultural and Extension education; agricultural and resource economics; animal science; applied ecology; biological and agricultural engineering; communications; crop and soil sciences; education; entomology and plant pathology; family and consumer sciences; food, bioprocessing and nutrition sciences; horticultural science; plant and microbial biology; poultry science; public administration; youth development; and others.
Family and Consumer Sciences program assistant Gaebryl Vives work at the Briggss Ave Community garden in Durham, NC. Its purpose is to provide an urban garden for Durham families to affordably grow healthy food, learn about sustainable agriculture, conserve pollinators, build community, and increase food security. The Garden engages citizens of all ages providing free hands-on agriculture education, recreation, and fellowship in a low-stress, supportive environment. Photo by Marc Hall.
In 2026, 48 internships are available across North Carolina.
Interns are compensated $6400 ($16 per hour, 40 hours per week, 10 weeks). Learn more about each specific internship and county by checking out the Internship Locations page. The FAQ page includes information about qualifications, academic credit, and more. NC State students should apply in ePack. The job title is “NC Cooperative Extension Summer Internship,” and the ID number is 226281.Students completing the Extension summer internship are also encouraged to check out the Extension Education minor offered by the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences. Contact Dr. Donaldson (joseph_donaldson@ncsu.edu; 919-515-1758) to learn more!
Applicants must submit the following by March 6:
Two references with contact information
A resume that includes their major and current GPA
Latest college or university transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
A list of up to three specific county location(s) to which the applicant is applying
Students from other institutions should email complete application materials in pdf format to Ms. Desiree Mallon, ddmallon@ncsu.edu.
Developing Future Research and Extension Professionals to Advance the Essential Cs: Cropping Systems, Climate Smart Agriculture, and Communication: National Center of Excellence for Career Pathways in Agricultural Research and Extension is funded by the Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) program of United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) Award Number 2024-68018-43454.
