Internships are intended to provide practical learning experiences in applying sociological knowledge and skills in different work environments. Students interested in pursuing internships may be interested in the syllabus found on this website for Sociology 416/516. Students may enroll for 1-6 credits in these courses. Also visit my webpage for Social Science Internship Opportunities.
General requirements for enrolling in Sociology 416/516 include: Completion of 21 hours of Sociology courses, including Sociological Research Methodology (SOCI 303) , or permission of instructor, with a grade of C or better. In addition, students who enroll must have a minimum GPA of 2.75.
A variety of ways to obtain an internship are available:
- You may visit George Mason's Career Center located on the third floor of Student Union Building I. The Center has a wide array of resources ranging from a Library of publications on internship possibilities to an online database listing both internships and employment opportunities. You must register with the Career Center in order to gain access to the Patriot Web where internships and job listings are available. Registering will take a certain amount of time, but it is well worth the effort. (And you can use this resource to search for part-time jobs and full-time openings---after graduation.)
- Through contacts you have made as an employee or volunteer, you may have learned about internship opportunities. (Note that you may have an internship connected to a paid job.) If you find an internship on your own, you are required to get it approved by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and/or the Career Center. Through this process the University can ensure that the sponsoring organization understands the nature of internships and their linkage to your academic work. For example, GMU requires that 50% of more of the student’s internship tasks are career related and helpful to the student in building academic knowledge.
- After you have preliminary discussions with a possible internship contact, you should make an appointment to see the Department's Internship Coordinator, who will provide you with the necessary forms to take to your prospective sponsor and discuss learning objectives and requirements.
- Finally, the Internship Coordinator maintains a roster of ongoing internship opportunities for Anthropology and Sociology students. These are limited in number, though the Department is making a concerted effort to develop contacts that will be helpful to students. Internship opportunities are also posted in the Department's main office.
For further information, contact Dr. Patricia Masters, Sociology and Anthropology Internship Coordinator at 703-993-1432 or pmasters@gmu.edu.