2025
Comparably’s Best Company Outlook
Internship Program
Jumpstart Your Career
A Launchpad for a Meaningful Career
Internships are more than just resume-builders—they’re launching pads for meaningful careers. From day one, you’ll contribute real work that matters to our clients, our communities, and the environment.
Whether you’re designing learning programs, documenting cultural resources, or supporting field operations, you’ll play a vital role in helping us deliver on our mission.
Internship Structure
At SWCA, our internship program is designed to launch your career with purpose. From day one, you’ll work alongside professionals on impactful projects, gaining hands-on experience in field operations, resource management, and internal programs. Our managers provide strong support and guidance, ensuring your growth every step of the way. You’ll also join a cohort of about 45 interns, connecting weekly to learn from business leaders and explore different areas of the company.
Practical Experience
- Supporting environmental monitoring and compliance inspections
- Collecting and analyzing field data
- Participating in site assessments and reporting
- Documenting historical and cultural sites
- Conducting archival research and field investigations
- Supporting GIS mapping and spatial analysis
- Helping prepare technical proposals and project documentation
- Designing and coordinating training materials
- Supporting employee engagement initiatives
- Supporting project teams in delivering client solutions
Milestones
Each internship cohort experiences a unique mix of events tailored to maximize learning and engagement.
While specific activities may vary, each cohort generally includes group meetings, guest speaker sessions, and opportunities to explore different areas across the business. Cohorts meet weekly to build connection among interns and there is dedicated time set aside to prepare end-of-summer internship presentations. The program wraps up with a celebratory send-off, marking the successful completion of the internship experience!
2025 Cohort Schedule
- Welcome and Onboarding
- Internship Orientation
- Meet + Greet with SWCA's Chief Executive Officer and President, Joseph J. Fluder, III
- Intern Social Event
- Guest Speaker: Social Media at Work & Personal Brand
- Early Career ERG Session
- Guest Speaker: Job Seeking 101
- Prepare Internship Presentation
- Presentations to Leadership
GIS Intern • Arlington, TX
Patrick
"Absolutely go for it! The internship program is structured well and people genuinely want to make sure that you succeed!"
College:
The University of Texas at ArlingtonMajor:
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesGraduation Year:
2025Intern Year:
2024
Cultural Resources Intern • Chicago, IL
Erin
“My SWCA internship gave me the perfect real-life experiences in both the office and field that I was looking for post-grad and it prepared me well to integrate successfully into the full-time working environment.”
College:
University of Minnesota-DuluthMajor:
Public HistoryGraduation Year:
2023Intern Year:
2023
2 Years at SWCA
Environmental Planning Intern • Salt Lake City, UT
Charlotte
"My internship at SWCA gave me the head start I was looking for in my career. They've given me on-the-job training and have helped me every step of the way to achieve the goals I've set.”
College:
University of UtahMajor:
Urban EcologyGraduation Year:
2023Intern Year:
2023
2 Years at SWCA
Grants and Ecological Restoration Intern • Denver, CO
Christian
“I felt very welcomed and supported during my internship and when I transitioned to a full-time role with SWCA. My manager and coworkers have continuously provided mentorship and opportunities for career development.”
College:
University of Colorado BoulderMajor:
Environmental StudiesGraduation Year:
2022Intern Year:
2022
3 Years at SWCA
Hear from SWCA Interns
Curious about what it’s like to intern at SWCA? Hear from our interns as they share their experiences, insights, and the meaningful work they’ve contributed to during their time with us.
Why People Love Working Here
We’re a team of curious minds, problem-solvers, and get-it-done types who care about making a difference. This is environmental consulting with heart, grit, and purpose. Let’s do some good, together.
100% Employee Owned
Employee ownership drives our success. It's who we are, how we work, and why we share in every win.
Employee-ownership is more than a business model; it’s the heart of who we are. It's the core principle that drives our success and defines our culture. We approach our roles with the mindset of an owner since we directly benefit from the success of the company and share the rewards.
Workplace Flexibility
Work where you work best—home, field, office, or all three. Flexibility isn’t a perk, it’s key to how we support people and clients.
We want employee-owners to work where they work best. Whether that be at home, in the field, at the office, or a combination of all the above, workplace flexibility is a cornerstone of our culture. It’s not just a perk—it’s a strategic imperative that meets the needs of our team and our clients.
Global Presence, Local Expertise
Global perspective, local know-how—our teams deliver smart, regional solutions for clients, communities, and the environment.
Our network of offices and professionals provide a global perspective, while our local teams are the experts on regional ecosystems, regulations, and community needs. This combination ensures that every project benefits from tailored solutions that leverage global reach and local expertise to deliver the best outcomes for clients and the environment.
Make an Impact
Make a lasting impact—your daily work helps protect species, restore habitats, and shape a more sustainable, innovative future.
Contribute to meaningful initiatives that shape a better world through your day-to-day work. Whether you’re assessing impacts to protected species, restoring critical habitats, discovering and preserving cultural resources, engineering creative solutions, or helping organizations become more sustainable, your work drives tangible, lasting change. With access to cutting-edge resources and experts, you are empowered to innovate and make a difference for generations to come.
Work With the Brightest
Work with top experts, apply cutting-edge solutions, and grow your skills while tackling the world’s most critical challenges.
Learn from and work alongside leading scientists and professionals. Apply advanced research and
innovative solutions and expand your expertise. The best work with the best to tackle critical challenges in our world.
Give Back to Your Communities
Your community is our community. SWCA provides employees with paid time off to volunteer—solo or with teammates at Gives Back events.
Your community is our community. SWCA provides employees with paid time off to volunteer, whether independently or alongside colleagues at locally organized Gives Back events.
FAQs
Find answers to some frequently asked questions below. If you don’t see the details you’re looking for, please contact SWCA recruiting for more information.
Typically, SWCA internships last a minimum of 10-12 weeks. However, we sometimes invite interns to extend their internship for a few weeks or months based on need and availability.
Any SWCA office may choose to host an intern. A sampling of offices hosting interns in 2025 included:
- Amherst, Mass.
- Portland, Maine
- Baton Rouge, La.
- Austin, Texas
- San Antonio, Texas
- Houston, Texas
- Arlington, Texas
- Denver, Colo.
- Flagstaff, Ariz.
- Tucson, Ariz.
- Phoenix, Ariz.
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Pasadena, Calif.
SWCA also offers internship positions within our corporate functions, such as Marketing, GIS, and IT, which can often be done remotely.
SWCA interns typically work 40-50 hours per week.
Yes! We encourage you to apply for any and all internships that are of interest to you.
Yes! However, whether or not a student can be awarded academic credit for their internship is a decision between the student and their institution of higher learning. It is incumbent on the student to make all the arrangements and receive the necessary permission from their school. The student’s SWCA internship supervisor can then provide the necessary documentation.
Yes! Students on an F1 Visa are eligible to apply to SWCA internship positions.
Yes! All SWCA interns are paid at least $18/hour, with higher rates by geographic location, local regulation, or certain specialties.
Possibly. Some departments, such as GIS, have a fully distributed (remote) workforce, but most departments require interns to be available for field and office work.
Many of our positions will require travel to field projects. These positions will indicate on the job posting if travel is required. For these positions, reliable transportation is required. For those driving on behalf of SWCA, a motor vehicle driving record screening will be conducted as part of the onboarding process.
Please note that some SWCA internships require long periods (days to weeks) in the field, while others do not require travel at all.
Use the following sources to access a variety of housing listings nationally. This list is not exhaustive and is only intended to provide you a starting point in your search. Please evaluate your housing options carefully, as not all may be suitable for student living.
- Apartment List – Aggregated apartment listings from hundreds of sources across the country
- Craig’s List – Contains housing listings for various cities throughout the US
- Hostels.com – Lists hostels throughout the US (and worldwide)
- JuneHomes.com – Offering fully furnished apartments without having to lock into a long-term lease
- Sublet.com – Apartment rentals, sublets, houses, and rooms for rent in major US cities
- Zumper – Map-based search for home & apartment rentals with real-time updates. Also available on iOS & Android
- Trulia – Search rooms & apartments for rent by location.
Former SWCA interns are often the best candidates in applying for our open positions and many have been hired as full-time employees. However, there is no guarantee that interns will be selected for full-time positions.
Helpful Resources
Accommodations
If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.
Transparency in Coverage Information
Under the Transparency in Coverage Rule, issued in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of the Treasury, health plans who sponsor employee benefit plans and health insurance issuers must publish two separate MRFs.
In Network: Negotiated rates for all covered items and services between the plan or issuer and in-network providers
Out of Network: Allowed amount paid to, and billed charges from, out-of-network providers for all covered services within a 90-day period
The links below lead to the machine-readable files that are made available in response to the Transparency in Coverage Rule and includes negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. The machine-readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to access and analyze data more easily.
Aetna: Machine Readable Files (MRFs) – Aetna
HMSA: Transparency in Coverage: Machine-readable Files
Kaiser Permanente: Transparency In Pricing Machine-Readable Files | Kaiser Permanente