Academics - Internship in Sociology

SOC 495: Internship in Sociology

The Sociology Department offers a supervised internship providing practical experience in a field placement and requiring parallel readings and study.  Emphasis is on the guided application of concepts and principles from related courses and structured readings which are then applied to situations in the field.

Prerequisites:

•  Sociology major
•  Senior standing
•  Sociology GPA of at least 3.0 (based on at least 3 Sociology courses)

Credits:

The internship may be taken for 3-9 credits, but not more than 6 credit hours may be used toward the Sociology degree requirements.  (Each 3 credit hours is equal to 10 hours at the site.)

How do I apply?

1. Obtain an “Intent to Declare an Internship” form from the Sociology office (201 Fernald Hall).
2. Meet with the organization that is the prospective internship site. Obtain its approval for your internship and a list of your possible duties.
3. Meet with the Sociology faculty member whom you would like to have supervise your internship and complete the declaration of internship form together.
4. Drop off the form at the Sociology office by March 24 (for the Fall) or October 15 (for the Spring).
5. Register for SOC 495 during registration in April (for the Fall) or November (for the Spring).

Other considerations:

Generally, internships will be conducted in the Bangor area.  For internships to occur outside the Bangor area, the student must get prior approval of the faculty advisor and the Department of Sociology Curriculum Committee.

• Summer internships may be possible only with the approval of both the faculty advisor and the Department of Sociology Curriculum Committee.
• Current employees of an organization may not sign up for an internship at the organization while they are paid employees.
• Students may get paid for an internship if the organization offers a paid internship or if the student is eligible for a work-study position and the organization approves this work-study/work-learning position (i.e., if the organization will pay the prevailing share of work-study funds).
• The faculty member the student is working with will meet with the field facilitator a minimum of twice each semester of the internship, once at the beginning of the field placement and once toward the end (for evaluation purposes).  The student should be present at these meetings.
• At a minimum, for evaluation purposes, students will provide written academic materials, a summary and evaluation of the learning experience, and a mid-term and end-of-term evaluation of the placement.

Click here for a listing of current internships we have learned about.

Examples of previous internships include:

 Greater Bangor Area Shelter (homeless adults).  Assist in all aspects of shelter functioning.  Develop new programming for homeless guests.  Assist in fundraising program in the community.

Career Center, University of Maine.  Learn all aspects of Center’s student services.  Develop skills in assisting students in finding internships, writing résumés, doing job searches, and preparing for job interviews.  Update current resources and develop new ones.

Spruce Run, Bangor (domestic violence program and services for women).  Develop skills in working on emergency hotline.  Learn goals and strategies for providing domestic violence services.  Participate in organization’s activities.

Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office.  Information-gathering and analysis.  Assist in all aspects of D.A. job to learn how to apply sociology to future law degree.

Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center, Bangor.  Learn all aspects of providing community health services for women.  Assist in development projects being organized by Center.  Participate in day-to-day operations of the Center.

Maine Center for Women, Work, and Community.  Participate in many aspects of Center’s program creating an enhancing environment in the community for women and work including developing and implementing outreach programs, developing teaching/training materials, conducting workshops.  Learn about and assist in maintaining the Center’s collaborative organizational model.

Child and Family Mediation at Penquis Community Action Program, Inc. Learn conflict mediation skills.  Assist in mediation training in schools and families.  Plan, develop, and participate in family and school outreach programs in tri-county area.  Participate in various aspects of unit’s activities.

PDF pamphlet about Internships in Sociology.

Intent to Declare an Internship form

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