Internships in Sociology

Internships are an ideal way to facilitate the transition from student to professional. Student interns develop their skills in applying academic course learning to applied professional work settings. Our Department provides internships at the undergraduate and graduate levels for the sociology and gerontology programs. Students earning a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership may take their NPL Internship from any cooperating programs including sociology. See the NPL information page for more details.

Faculty Internship SupervisorS:
FALL 2023 - SPRING 2024 INTERNSHIPS
Carol L. Glasser, PhD
Office: 113 Armstrong Hall
Telephone: 507-389-1345
Email: carol.glasser@mnsu.edu

FALL 2022 - SPRING 2023 INTERNSHIPS
Saiful Islam, PhD
Office: Armstrong Hall 113T
Telephone: 507-389-5613
Email: saiful.islam@mnsu.edu

How to set up an internship:

1. Make sure this internship is right for you. You must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in your major. If your major is outside of sociology or gerontology, you must also have a 2.5 GPA in the field that you are taking the internship in. You cannot set up an internship until you have been given permission by the faculty internship supervisor. To get permission, complete steps 2- 6 below.
   
   For each credit hour of the internship that you register for you most complete 40 hours of work at the internship site. A typical internship is 3 credits, which requires 120 hours of work. Students may register for more or fewer credits in some circumstances, with permission from the internship coordinator. There is also an online course module associate with the internship that includes additional career-building activities such as resume writing, online discussions, and journaling about the internship experience. Even if you complete all internship hours, if you do not satisfactorily complete the required course work you will not receive credit for the internship.
2. Complete the Internship Application. After completing the application, make an appointment to review it with the faculty internship coordinator who will be managing the internship in the semester you wish to take it. The application is posted on the bottom of this page.
3. Find a field placement site. Finding a field placement site to intern at is the responsibility of the student. Think about the types of placements that are best for you and your professional goals. Allow sufficient time for planning your internship, preferably a couple of months before you plan to register for the course. Some internships, such as those with government agencies, take longer to arrange. You will likely want to find two or three potential places to intern, and then meet with each in person to decide the best fit for you.
4. Create a learning contract. A template of the learning contract is posted at the bottom of the page. You should clearly state goals that will achieve what you hope to learn in in your internship. It is not required, but is ideal to email it to the Faculty Internship Coordinator for feedback before bringing it to your field supervisor, in case changes are requested.
5. Get the learning contract signed. Meet with your field supervisor and go over the contract to ensure you agree on your goals. Adjust the contract if needed. Have it signed by your field supervisor at the site you will be working at. You will need to get this contract signed by yourself, your field supervisor, and the faculty internship supervisor, in that order.
   • Students may not register or start the internship without a learning contract signed by the student, field supervisor and faculty supervisor. Hours worked at the site without having a signed contract and being registered cannot be counted toward fulfillment of the required hours for the internship.
6. Purchase internship insurance from the cashier's office ($12). This must be purchased in person or via postal mail and you cannot be cleared to register for the internship until it is purchased. Write your name on the receipt once you purchase it, photocopy or scan it, and send to the faculty internship supervisor.
   • Students may not register or start the internship without internship insurance. Hours worked at the site prior to turning in proof of insurance to the faculty internship supervisor and being registered cannot be counted toward fulfillment of the required hours for the internship.
7. Register for the internship. Let the faculty internship supervisor know once you have submitted all the required paperwork (application, learning contract, and proof of insurance). Your paperwork will be reviewed and you will be cleared to register.

Links and Forms:

• Internship Application
• Learning Contract Template
• Learning Contract Guidelines

FAQ:
How many credits can I register for?
You may take the internship for 1-12 credits, with 40 hours required per credit for undergraduates and 45 hours per credit required for graduate students.

Do I have to take all my internship credits at one site?
No, you may split them up between sites. If you plan to complete your internship at multiple sites, approval of the faculty internship supervisor is required.

Do I have to do my internship in Mankato?
No, you may do the internship from anywhere, with permission of the faculty internship supervisor.

NOTE: Students interested in internships abroad are required to register with the Kearney International Center, whose staff will help coordinate their international experience. The International Center can also help you locate potential internships abroad and give you support in planning a successful international experience. Contact Caryn Lindsay, CSU 250, Phone: 389-6724. Go to http://www.mnsu.edu/studyabroad/ for more information.

May I intern at my current job?
Generally, no. However, in some circumstances, students have an opportunity to intern at their place of work, learning a completely new skill set from their typical job, and in addition to the hours normally worked. If this sounds like it applies to you, contact the faculty internship supervisor to discuss the specifics of your situation.