College of Arts & Sciences

Undergraduate Internships

No credit will be given for work completed prior to the start of the term for which you apply.

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 of our internship program 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. Students are under the direction of the Internship Coordinator, Dr. Wendy Simonds, throughout the term of the internship.

INTERNSHIP CREDIT HOURS

* Students may organize their internship time in any way is that is mutually conducive to the organization and the student as long as the total required hours are completed by the end of the semester.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION MATERIALS

Appliants must meet all the following requirements:

• 2.5 overall GPA OR 2.75 GPA of 3000/4000 level sociology coursework with at least 15 hours of credit.
• Completion of SOCI 1101 "Introduction to Sociology."
• Completion of 9 additional hours of sociology coursework.
• At least 60 hours of coursework completed (at least 9 of which completed at GSU).

Students must submit the following in order to apply:

• Internship Application
• A completed reference form (see internship application for form) completed by a GSU sociology faculty member.
• A printed copy of your Academic Evaluation (available on PAWS or GoSolar)
• A typed one page statement of purpose. Please discuss what you hope to gain from the internship and how it relates to your career goals.

Please submit your completed application to the front desk of the Department of Sociology (1040 General Classroom Building).

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Students should apply for the internship program well in advance of the semester of actual enrollment. The procedure is:

1. Student submits all application materials prior to deadline (see below) to the front desk of the Department of Sociology.
2. The Sociology Departmetn verifies eligibility.
3. Student receives acceptance letter via email from Dr. Wendy Simonds (within two weeks after the application deadline).
4. Upon acceptance into the program, students will be authorized to register for SOCI 4980. Students may modify the number of credit hours through GoSolar.
5. Student chooses an internship site from the official site list, or student may choose his/her own site (unofficial sites must be approved by Dr. Wendy Simonds.
6. Student contacts sites, sets up interviews, and makes arrangements with the site he/she has selected.

DEADLINES

All application materials are due by the following dates:

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are expected to meet eligibility requirements for acceptance to the Internship Program. Students are responsible for doing the work involved in finding their internship sites. 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 Internship Coordinator for the Department of Sociology. She may be reached at (404) 413-6512 or wsimonds@gsu.edu. Students are under the direction of Dr. Simonds throughout the term of the internship. Agencies should contact Dr. Simonds regarding student matters and placement opportunities.

Brian Buckwald is the Sociology Department Academic Advisor. He can be reached at (404) 413-6503 or bbuckwald@gsu.edu. Brian is available to address problems, questions, or concerns throughout the application process and internship experience.

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.

Approved Internship Sites

Spring 2010 Midsemester Meeting