College of Arts & Sciences
Undergraduate Internships
GENERAL INFORMATIONThe Department of Sociology offers internship opportunities to eligible students. Students receive 3 hours of academic credit towards their degree while interning at an approved intern site for 12 hours per week during Fall or Spring term, or 20 hours per week during Summer term. A maximum of 6 hours of internship credit may be earned, but this entails additional hours at the internship site. Check with the Intern Coordinator for details. |
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Students are under the direction of the Intern Coordinator throughout the term of the internship.
PURPOSE OF INTERNSHIP
Internships provide students with both observational and hands-on learning experiences designed to enhance their academic preparation and increase their ability to perform on a professional level after graduation. Students apply knowledge from their academic experiences to professional settings that are appropriate to sociology and receive practical experiences in the field. The objective is to provide students with actual work experiences where they will learn the skills required to succeed in social service and non-profit organizations, and write sociologically about their work experiences.
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION MATERIALS
Appliants must meet all the following requirements:
- 2.5 overall GPA.*
- 12 hours of Sociology coursework completed, including SOCI 1101.
- At least 60 hours of coursework completed, (at least 9 hours completed at GSU).
- Current Academic Evaluation (can be obtained on GoSolar or 418 GCB)
- A letter of reference from a GSU faculty member within academic major (sample form in application packet).
- A one page statement of purpose detailing what the student hopes to gain from the internship and how this relates to his/her career goals.
* (If the first requirement is not met, students may still qualify for an internship if they maintain a 2.75 GPA of Sociology coursework with at least 15 hours of 3000/4000 upper level Sociology coursework.)
The Department of Sociology does not give credit retroactively for work performed during a semester when the student did not complete the application process.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Students should apply for the internship program well in advance of the semester of actual enrollment. The procedure is:
- Student submits all application materials prior to deadline.
- Intern Coordinator verifies eligibility.
- Student receives acceptance letter via email from the Intern Coordinator.
- Student chooses an internship site from the official site list, or student may choose his/her own site (unofficial sites must be approved by the Intern Coordinator – please download a site packet for more information).
- Student contacts sites, sets up interviews, and makes arrangements with the site he/she has selected.
- Upon acceptance into the program, the student will be authorized to register for SOCI 4980.
DEADLINES
All application materials are due by the following dates:
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Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
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June 15th |
October 1st |
March 1st |
THE STUDENT
Students are expected to meet eligibility requirements for acceptance to the Internship Program. Once accepted, the student is expected to participate in the ongoing operation of the agency to the fullest extent possible. Since the internship is considered an employment experience, the intern is expected to maintain a professional demeanor throughout the internship experience. The student must also meet course requirements, and attend regularly scheduled meetings.
THE INTERN COORDINATOR
Dr. Wendy Simonds is the Undergraduate Director and Intern Coordinator for the Department of Sociology. She may be reached at (404) 413-6512. The Intern Coordinator will act as liaison between the student, department, and internship site. The Intern Coordinator is the person agencies should contact regarding student matters and placement opportunities.
Brian Buckwald is the Academic Advisor for Sociology. He can be reached at (404) 413-6503.
THE AGENCY SUPERVISOR
The major responsibility of the agency supervisor is to guide the internship experience of the intern while he or she is within the agency setting. The supervisor will make the final determination as to whether a student is qualified to complete an internship with the agency. The supervisor will consult with the student to determine intern responsibilities. Any problems that develop must be reported by the supervisor to the student and to the Intern Coordinator. At the end of the internship period, the supervisor will be asked to complete an evaluation of the student’s performance.