Sociology 503 - The Internship Class
The Sociology Department has a strong commitment to student internships. The liberal arts experience is designed to educate students “for life.” Consequently, the curriculum is not bound by the classroom but includes a wide variety of structured learning situations. One important set of opportunities is obtained by practical experience in service agencies, government offices, media organizations, and other businesses. Sociology majors have interned at local television stations, women’s shelters, the department of probation and parole, family planning clinics, the division of youth services, and other settings. Internships provide the chance to explore vocational possibilities as well as gain valuable experience that may enhance admission to graduate school or lead to desired employment.
Prerequisites: SOC 101 or 102; one upper level course in Sociology; a minimum 2.8 GPA in one’s major; or permission of instructor. This course provides advanced students with practical experience in a variety of local social service agencies. Interns complete a minimum of 120 hours of on-site activities relating to their internship objectives, participate in scheduled seminar meetings,workshops, and field research exercises, and meet regularly with internship director and agency supervisor. Students cannot take this course pass/fail and it does not count toward the eight-course major in Sociology.
Evaluation: For SOC 503, evaluation is typically based on successful completion of the internship, a journal describing field experiences, written analysis of assigned readings, and regular meetings with supervising faculty. The internship is counted as a four hour credit course. Reading and writing assignments are designed to provide a relevant intellectual underpinning to the field experience.
When to apply: Students should begin exploring internships as early as possible in the fall term preceding the spring term in which they wish to intern. They should also talk with Dr. David Redburn chair of the department, early in the fall term. Help may also be obtained from Susan Zeiger in The Center for Engaged Learning.
Previous Internship Class Placements
2005
Chesley Adams: Bethany Christian Services
Catherine Bonardi: Pendleton Place Children's Shelter
Lucy Clark: GHS Children's Advocacy/SAFE KIDS Upstate
Lauren Fryer: Communities in School (Chandler Creek Elementary)
2006
James Chappell: Greenville City Police Department
Susan Fuller: Rosewood House of Recovery
Amanda Jones: Greer Development Corporation
Anne Rone: Loaves and Fisher
Rachel Whitten: Piedmont Women's Center
2007
Erin Bear: United Ministries
Jessica Pety: Shepherd's Gate