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Sociology Department Internship Courses FAQs

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What is the Sociology Internship Program?

The Sociology Internship Program is designed to provide junior and senior sociology majors and minors with the opportunity to work hands-on in the community and to gain practical knowledge and experience. The program provides Sociology majors and minors the opportunity to connect sociological theory to the “real world.” Throughout the semester, students will actively apply their sociological knowledge to gain a deeper understanding of their internship experiences. Participation in the program requires both on-site (or remote) and academic work.

Who can enroll in an internship course?

• Internship Credit is available for Sociology majors, minors or those enrolled in either the Certificate in Social Innovation or Care, Health and Resilience Certificate program.
• You must be an undergraduate of junior or senior standing at the time of your internship and
• You must have an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and
  • ��for Sociology majors or minors, successful completion (grade C or higher) SOCY 1001 and at least one upper division sociology course or
  • for certificate students, acceptance into the certificate program and completion of one or more core certificate course is required.
• You must submit all paperwork (application and contract linked below) before you can be enrolled in a sociology internship class.

How much credit can I earn?

• Students accepted into the program can earn 3 units toward their Certificate or up to 6 units of upper division sociology credit for majors or minors.
• Students can earn this credit over 1-2 semesters. Specific details on application and contract documents.

How do I find an internship?

1. Make sure your resume is up to date. Career Services has people and resources to support you with this.
2. Decide what field you’d like to gain experience in or what population you are interested in working with.

3. Decide what location works best for your current situation or future career plans.

   You may not have transportation so need to be walking or bus distance from school/home.

   You may have transportation and are willing to commute for a specific opportunity.

   You may want to work in another state after graduation or have an opportunity in your “home state” - this is often deal for summer internships for some folks.

4. Decide if there is a specific organization you would like to work with or you have an opportunity with a specific organization. Remote internships are often available for national or global organizations (like the ACLU, UN, DNC or RNC, etc) and can be found on their websites.

5. Reach out to multiple organizations indicating interest in paid positions, internships, OR volunteer positions. Any of these can work for internship credit and not all organizations specifically offer internship positions, but they do appreciate volunteers.

   Websites will have a “get involved” or “contact us” button that will often lead to a form to start the inquiry process.

   Attach your resume (if possible). Your email or introduction conversation should indicate your interest, time frame, number of hours you can or need to work over that time frame (minimum of 120 hours over 15 weeks of semester), and your availability.

6. Prepare for your interview: be able to discuss the field and the organization’s mission, why you are interested, and what you bring to contribute to that.

Where can I work for internship credit?

• Internships can be on-site or remote work.
• Internships can be in any location in the United States.
• Internships can be with organizations that are in the business, non-profit, or government sectors.
• While the vast majority of internship opportunities are volunteer positions, if you have a paid position, it is still possible to earn credit with approval of Dr. Walden.
• Internship credit is NOT available for work that involves illegal activities (federal or state law).

Where do I learn about possible opportunities for internships?

• We have a list of organizations we have worked with in the past and with whom students report positive experiences here (link to Potential Internship Sites doc).
• The Volunteer Resource Center
• Handshake through Career Services
• Career and Volunteer Fairs are held regularly on campus in the fall and spring semesters.
• Talk with professors in the field in which you are interested
• Ask your academic advisor.
• Family and friends that work in that field or may know about opportunities are an excellent resource.
• State or County websites often have links to opportunities in government, law, and social services.

What is involved and required for internship credit?

• Once you have secured an internship and are enrolled in the course, you are required to work a minimum of 120 hours at your site (or remotely) during the semester enrolled for 3 units of credit (trainings count toward hours).
  • Additional credit, up to 6 units over one or two semesters, is dependent upon hours worked. See specifics on application and contract documents.
• The academic requirements include class attendance or individual meetings with the instructor, online discussions and assignments, and sociological analysis of your internship organization or field as your final paper.

When should I begin the application process (deadlines)?

• August 1st is the deadline for fall semester internships
• December 1st is the deadline for spring semester internships
• May 1st is the deadline for Summer term internships
  • These deadlines have some flexibility so if you find an opportunity after the deadline has passed, do not hesitate to submit your paperwork to Dr. Walden.

Why would I want to participate in the internship course?��

• Career exploration: an opportunity to get a taste of work in possible fields of interest like criminal justice, social welfare, medicine, politics, law, education, social science research, and more;
• Work experience: gain new skills and build your resume, including a solid reference from your internship supervisor;
• Maximize your benefits for your efforts: earn upper division sociology credit while building work skills and experience and making a contribution in your community.

Here’s what some Sociology majors had to say about their Sociology internship experience!

Who do I contact with questions, and where do I send my paperwork?

Dr. Glenda Walden����
Ketchum 171

Important Documents:

• List of Potential Internship Sites
• Sociology Major or Minor Internship Application
• SOCY 4931 Internship Application
• Certificate Internship Application 2026
• Sociology Internship & Certificate Contract