Internship Credits
W&M policy on internships for credit provides the relevant standards. Specifically:
- “The internship should provide a structured learning experience."
- “The internship provides an opportunity to apply and expand knowledge under expert supervision.”
- “The internship must be approved in advance.”
- “Academic credit is awarded for a project that incorporates the hands-on experience of the internship, but also includes an analytic or research component, and a final, written report.”
What this means, as a practical matter, is that you are responsible for finding a Sociology faculty member willing to work with you to create an academic framework around your internship experience. This MUST take place prior to starting the internship. You, and your faculty supervisor, should complete the form together, get the signature of your external supervisor, and submit the Internship for Academic Credit form to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies Office (Ewell Hall). After obtaining approval from the Dean’s office, your faculty supervisor will be able to enroll you in Soc 498: Internships in Sociology.
In addition to obtaining approval from the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, the Department requires the following for successful completion of Soc 498:
- Regular meetings with a sociology faculty member over the course of the internship. Sociology faculty supervisors may require written work to be submitted at the time of these meetings. It is up to the supervising faculty to decide on the specific content and frequency of these meetings. However, the expectation is that regular and engaged consultation should occur over the course of the semester.
- A minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 hours per week spent devoted to internship-related activities, the majority of which should be spent on-site.
- A final paper that completes a sociological analysis of some aspect of the internship experience.
If you have any questions, feel free to consult any one of our faculty members for advice getting started.
