Social Sciences Internships

Anthropology and Geography Internships

Sociology Internships

Forms

• Internship Contract Agreements:

  Social Sciences Contract Agreement (SOCS 440)

  Anthropology Contract Agreement (ANT 465)

  Geography Contract Agreement (GEOG 465)

  Sociology Contract Agreement (SOC 440)

  
  

• Supervisor Evaluation

• Student Evaluation

  Internship Brochure
  

Cal Poly offers course credit for supervised work experience related to a student's coursework and concentration. Student internships in the social sciences offer excellent opportunities for Cal Poly students to "learn by doing" in the fields of anthropology, geography, and sociology.

Internships provide students with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom to real-world professional challenges. Student interns also provide employers with capable, motivated, task-oriented employees that bring valuable skills to a business or organization, and may become future employees.

The Social Sciences Department has developed relationships with a multitude of agencies and businesses in the non-profit, private and government sectors. On this webpage, students and internship supervisors can find all of the information and forms necessary to get started.

COURSE CREDIT, GRADES AND HOURS

Internships may be completed any time during the year, including Summer. The student enrolls in SOCS 440 (Internship) in the academic quarter while working. Students who complete work during the Summer enroll and receive credit in the following Fall quarter.

The student may enroll in 4 to 8 units per quarter, repeatable up to a total of 3 quarters with a maximum of 18 units. Up to 12 units of internship may be used in the concentration. The University requires a minimum of 3 hours per week for each unit of academic credit. A student must complete 120 hours to receive 4 units of credit. Internships are graded credit-no-credit.

ARRANGING AN INTERNSHIP AND GUIDELINES

Students are responsible for arranging their own internship as they would find any other job. Students can contact one of the organizations listed on this web-site, or they can explore other internship opportunities independently. Internships may be paid or unpaid. A student may be currently employed in a position, which may also qualify for internship credits. The University does not provide internship credit for past work experience, and the Faculty Advisor must approve all internships prior to arranging for credit.

In order to receive university credit, all internship placements must be pre-approved by the Social Sciences department. Internships must meet the following criteria:

1. The internship job assignment must directly relate to the student’s coursework and concentration and must enhance job-applicable skills relevant to the major.
2. The internship opportunity must be open to all Social Sciences students; that is the agency, business, or other organization must have inclusive, non-discriminatory hiring practices.
3. Students may work for faith-based organizations if the focus of their activity is secular, service-oriented and does not involve proselytizing.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO ENROLLING FOR INTERNSHIP CREDIT

The student must complete the following:

1. Signed internship contract agreement form.
2. One-page description written by the student, including duties that will be performed and how the internship supports the student's education.
3. Signed letter on letterhead from the job supervisor verifying internship employment with the business, agency, or organization, describing the work to be done, and stating the number of hours to be worked.

Bring these materials to the current Social Sciences Department's faculty advisor for approval. The student will then obtain the course number, class ID, and permission number from the department secretary and then register on PASS.

DURING THE INTERNSHIP

The student and the job supervisor should keep track of the duties performed and the number of hours completed, as number of hours determines the number of units of credit for the internship.

UPON COMPLETION OF THE INTERNSHIP

To receive credit, the student must complete the following:

1. Two-page student report of the internship experience, which includes job responsibilities, activities and what was learned as a result of the internship experience.
2. Follow-up with the job supervisor to make sure that the supervisor evaluation form has been completed and returned to the Social Sciences Department.

* The faculty internship advisor must have these documents in hand by the end of the quarter in order to get credit.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER BEFORE WORK BEGINS

The job supervisor must complete and sign a brief letter on letterhead verifying employment, describing the work to be done, and stating the number of hours to be worked. The supervisor must also sign an internship contract (provided by the student).

DURING THE INTERNSHIP

The student and the job supervisor should keep track of the duties performed and the number of hours completed, as number of hours determines the number of units of credit for the internship.

UPON COMPLETION OF THE INTERNSHIP

The supervisor will receive an evaluation form from Cal Poly to be filled out and returned to the faculty advisor. Job supervisors are also encouraged to write a letter evaluating the performance of the student. This letter can serve as a letter of recommendation for the student in the future.

In order to receive a grade for the Internship, the evaluation form must be received by the Social Sciences Department by the end of the quarter. The letter can be mailed, faxed (805) 756-7019, or hand delivered in a sealed envelope.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Karen Moro

Social Sciences Department

Cal Poly Sate University

San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

(805) 756-2260

(805) 756-7019 (fax)

klmoro@calpoly.edu