Internship Program
The sociology internship program provides students with an applied social science opportunity combining practical work experience with academic knowledge.
Through internships, students can explore potential future working environments of interest, prepare for graduate study, and build their resumes. Employers and graduate schools are increasingly searching for students who have some professional experience in their field. An internship is a great opportunity for students to gain real-world experience and increase their competitiveness.
Internships in the Richmond area are abundant. Examples of internship sites our students have worked at include:
- Equality Virginia
- Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Planned Parenthood
- Neighborhood Resource Center
- Safe Harbor Shelter
- Local community gardens
Email our internship coordinator, Meredith Katz, at makatz@vcu.edu for a list of internship options, or check out ConnectVA for a comprehensive list of organizations in the Richmond area.
Requirements
Junior and senior sociology majors with a minimum 2.7 GPA may enroll in SOCY 493 (Field Internship) for a one-time, three-credit course and 150 hours of internship work over the course of one semester.
Internship Application and Forms
Internship Application
To apply for an internship, please complete the internship application form. Upon approval, you'll receive a follow-up email to arrange a meeting with the internship coordinator. Any outstanding questions or concerns should be directed to Meredith Katz at makatz@vcu.edu.
Internship Deadlines
Please keep in mind these deadlines while planning an internship. Plan at least a semester ahead and be mindful of how the internship will impact your other coursework.
- May 1 for fall semester
- Nov. 1 for spring semester
- April 1 for summer
Internship Timekeeping
You will need to log 150 hours of work at your internship site by the end of the semester. Please use the internship time log to keep track of your hours, and have your supervisor sign off on this log before the end of the semester. This form must be submitted alongside the your final paper to receive a satisfactory mark for your internship credit.
Internship Supervisor Evaluations
Students are required to provide performance evaluations completed by their internship supervisor at both the mid-point and end of their internship. It is the student's responsibility to initiate the evaluation form process at both points in the semester.
To initiate the signing process, complete the forms below, at which time the evaluation form will be delivered directly to your site supervisor's email via VCU's DocuSign system.
- Mid-Semester Intern Evaluation Form (DocuSign process)
- Final Intern Evaluation Form (DocuSign process)
Frequently Asked Questions
A sociology internship is an opportunity for you to get applied experience working in a community organization, governmental agency, or non-profit. Sociology internships provide you with an opportunity to test out a career you are interested in, a way to build experience for graduate school applications, and an overall resume-builder. Did you know that internships are the second leading reason (behind networks) why people get jobs?
No. In order to be a novel learning experience and achieve the goals listed above, you may only undertake internships with organizations that you are not currently working for.
Maybe. If you can find a position outside of the sociology department and make the case that it is beneficial for your professional development, it may be possible. Teaching assistant positions will not be approved for internships. As with all other positions, the final say on whether a position is acceptable for internship credit is at the discretion of the internship coordinator.
You can do a sociology internship almost anywhere, excluding your current place of employment (in addition, the site must be approved by the internship coordinator). Internships are intended to benefit you and the organization, so as long as there is a good match, the sociology department is pleased to support the internship.
Many students do their sociology internships in the Richmond area. However, if you secure an internship in another area and the internship is approved, you may complete your internship there.
Internship sites vary greatly depending on student interests. Examples include working with domestic violence shelters, free after school programs, human rights legislation, homeless shelters, affordable housing, unions, English language learners and recovery centers. The possibilities are endless.
Undergraduate students
Sociology internships (SOCY 493) can satisfy 3 credits for your upper-level elective in sociology. You must have completed 18 credit hours in sociology and have junior or senior standing prior to enrolling in an internship.
To earn 3 credit hours, you must intern for 150 hours (roughly 10 hours per week during the academic semester). You must meet with the internship coordinator prior to registering for an internship. You cannot register yourself for an internship—you must have an override.
Graduate students
Graduate students complete a 3-credit internship (SOCY 693), which can be repeated for a total of 6 credits, during the second year of the master’s program. Graduate students must complete 150 hours of internship per semester, as well as complete a paper each semester related to their internship.
Every student enrolled in an internship is required to complete the 150 hours (3 credit hours) at their internship site. In addition, graduate students are required to write a paper detailing their experience and linking it to sociological theory and methodology. Students should stay in contact with the internship coordinator throughout their internship, and submit interim and final evaluations from their internship supervisor.
Immediately. If you are thinking about an internship, the first step is to determine your areas of interest. Are there certain areas of sociology that interest you more than others? Are there certain populations you are interested in working with? Would a specific internship be best for your future plans? If you answered yes to any of these, you should schedule an appointment with the internship coordinator.
Internship deadlines are:
- May 1 for the fall semester
- Nov. 1 for the spring semester
- April 1 for summer