Careers&internships

One way to explore future careers BEFORE graduation is by doing an internship. This can be done as one of your 5 sociology electives, or as your capstone course.

The Internship Program in Sociology involves earning 3-6 academic credit hours (under Sociology SOC-R 494) by working in an organization where students apply or gain practical insight into sociological concepts, theories, and knowledge. Students learn by taking on responsible roles as workers in organizations and observing and reflecting on what happens while they are there.

The goals of the internship include:

acquisition of skills and knowledge relevant to a particular area of employment
exposure to various work roles and career choices
opportunity to apply academic learning to real life
service to the community
job experience before graduation

Some internships pay; the majority do not. However, students find their qualifications for employment improve because of an internship and several students have been offered jobs by their interning organization. Jobs typically involve social service, research, public relations, political advocacy, or community organization.

Prerequisites for registering for internship credit in Sociology:

• Student is a declared major or minor in sociology.
• Student has completed 12 credit hours of sociology courses, (6 of which must be taken at IUPUI),
including subjects relevant to a desirable internship placement.
• Student's current overall GPA is at least 2.5 , and GPA in sociology courses must be at least 3.0.
• Student has a schedule which permits them to schedule 4-8 hour blocks of time during the regular
week to work for an organization. Students must plan to work at the internship site 3 hours per week
for every 1 credit received (i.e. 9-10 hours per week for 3 credit hours; 18-20 hours for 6 credit hours)
• Student identifies and meets with a sociology faculty member whose expertise and interests are
similar to the subject of the internship (see departmental homepage for ideas).

How an internship position is identified:

Students are responsible for locating an internship opening, with help from the sociology faculty. It is usually helpful if students take stock of the sociology courses they have taken, their particular interests and abilities and career goals before choosing a subject for the internship.

Once students have some idea of the direction they want to go, they can identify possible job openings in several ways: Students can check for openings on the campus job listing called "Jag jobs" (through the career placement web page). Faculty can be consulted for ideas, and students can consider arranging an internship with an organization they have volunteered for in the past. An internship position can usually be developed, even if IUPUI has not previously placed an intern there. (Students may not register for an internship to work for pay at the same job they already occupy, even if it is relevant to sociology.)

Once the Director of Undergraduate Studies has approved the internship, students can (on their own) arrange for an interview with the organization. Students, faculty and employers can provide job descriptions to be evaluated by the Department of Sociology's curriculum committee as suitable placements for sociology students.

Steps to take well in advance of the semester of the internship:

• Check to see if you meet the academic prerequisites.

• Decide on a subject for the internship and locate a faculty advisor.

• Locate an internship opening, make sure that Sociology has approved the job description.

• Arrange to be interviewed by the organization.

• Once accepted as an intern, develop a "proposal" for your internship, which is agreed and signed off by the employer and faculty adviser.

It takes time to set up an internship. Typically, internships are not conducted in the summer. For a fall internship, you should contact the faculty sponsor by April 1.

Click here for:

STUDENT GUIDELINES

FACULTY GUIDELINES

EMPLOYER (INTERNSHIP ORGANIZATION) GUIDELINES

Interest and Eligibility Form

Student Mid-term Evaluation

Employer Mid-term Evaluation

Student Final Evaluation

Employer Final Evaluation

For more information, contact: Professor Patricia Wittberg, Sociology, Cavanaugh 303G, ph. 274-4478, e-mail: pwittber@iupui.edu.

Internships

Graduate Internships

SOC-R 594: INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN SOCIOLOGY

The internship option is designed to generalize theory and research skills acquired in the classroom to the reality of the work situation.

INTERNSHIP AGREEMENT FORM GRADUATE DIVISION

INTERNSHIP ACCEPTANCE FORM GRADUATE DIVISION

All M.A. students pursuing the internship option (under Sociology SOC-R 594) are expected to participate in an internship in an organization, school, or business.

Students will work in an agency for a minimum of 8 hours a week for 14 weeks for each 3 internship credit hours, prepare a weekly journal of activities, and complete a project that utilizes specific skills that benefit the student in the labor force as well as provide a needed service for the agency. The outcome of the internship is a final paper reflecting the internship experience, and presentation of a summary to the internship committee or at a public forum.

Some internships are paid, others are not. However, students find their qualifications for employment improve because of an internship and several students have been offered jobs by their interning organization. Jobs typically involve social service, research, public relations, political advocacy, or community organization.

The Internship Option

Select an Internship Chair: The first step in getting ready to do your internship is selecting a chair of your internship committee. This person must be a member of the sociology graduate faculty.

Select an Agency: Students are responsible for locating an internship opening, with help from the sociology faculty. A good step is for the student to take stock of their particular interests, abilities and career goals before choosing a subject for the internship. The Sociology Department maintains a listing of agencies that often seek interns. This list is available from the Director of Graduate Studies. In some cases, a student may use their own place of employment for the internship site; however, the student must then complete duties that are in addition to their current duties (normally a minimum of 6 additional hours a week).
Internship Committee: After you have identified your chair and an agency, you must select one additional faculty member to serve on your committee.
Complete the Internship Agreement Form-Graduate: This form is designed to coordinate and clarify the expectations and responsibilities of the student, the agency, the faculty committee chair and second committee member, and is completed by each of these parties after an agency is selected. Normally this form is completed at least one week prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student plans to enroll in internship credits. Your form should be no longer than 2-3 pages and MUST be typed (employers may also add a copy of the job description instead of completing their section of the form). Once approved, make 4 copies: provide the original to the Director of Graduate Studies, one to each of your committee members, one to your internship agency, and keep one for yourself.
Begin and complete your internship. After completing 18 credit hours, and once you receive final approval from your internship committee, register for SOC-R 594 and begin your internship. Normally this is done at least one week before the first day of the semester in which you plan to enroll for internship hours. Remember, you can't begin the internship until it is officially approved in writing on the Internship Agreement Form-Graduate.
Complete a Weekly Journal of Activities: You must maintain a WEEKLY journal of your internship experiences that includes the date, hours spent on the internship that week, all activities, and a brief statement that reflects on the sociological relevance of your placement. Journals are submitted to the internship chair every 1-2 weeks. While the specifics of your journal will be decided by your advisor, refer to the Graduate Handbook for guidelines:
Complete an Internship Project and Paper: The internship requires completion of a minimum of a 5000 word (approximately 20 double-spaced typed pages) paper at the conclusion of the internship. The format and content of the paper must be planned in consultation with your internship committee. Normally, this paper takes one of the following forms: a research report on a topic of interest to the agency; a research grant proposal for the agency; or a critical reflection on the sociological relevance of your placement.

Provide a complete copy of your internship paper to your committee chair at least one week prior to the last day of classes. After your chair approves this final draft, you may then ask your second member to read the paper for his/her approval, normally on the last day of classes. BOTH members of your internship committee must approve your internship paper and submit the Internship Acceptance Form-Graduate.
8. Complete an Internship Presentation. Each student will be required to make a short 20-30 minute presentation on their internship experience before the end of the semester in which he/she enrolls in internship credits. Your presentation may take any of several forms such as a presentation to your committee, the internship agency, at a conference, or to one of our graduate classes.

This information is provided as an outline only. For complete information and special rules regarding Internships, refer to the Graduate Handbook.

Questions? Contact: Carrie Foote, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Sociology, Cavanaugh 306A, ph. 278-8454, e-mail: foote@iupui.edu.

INTERNSHIP AGREEMENT FORM - GRADUATE

INTERNSHIP ACCEPTANCE FORM - GRADUATE

Student Mid-term Evaluation

Employer Mid-term Evaluation

Student Final Evaluation

Employer Final Evaluation