@ Albright College

Introduction:
Internships are designed to provide the informed student the opportunity to participate meaningfully in an off campus setting related to their academic interests.  While the intern may complete tasks of benefit to the agency with which they are placed, the primary goal of the internship experience is for the intern to develop an understanding of how the agency is organized, how it fits into the larger social institution of which it is a part, and how the “work" of the agency is related to the overall operation of the social system. 

 The experiences are viewed as recursive in that both the student and the placement site are both advantaged through it.  A student will benefit from an internship to the extent that they interact with, and question, the professionals and staff at the agency.  The internship sites to which our students go have a demonstrated interest in having college level students.  Is the student’s responsibility to take advantage of the opportunity provided to them.

 The internship experiences we provide students are the result of cooperation between the college and internship site, however, STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING AND THEN SETTING UP THEIR OWN INTERNSHIP SITE.  This means that the student should make the initial contact with the site and set up a schedule for their internship activities.  Students must clear their choice of internship with a member of the sociology faculty before making initial contact. 

Requirements:
Students are expected to work onsite for a minimum of 145 hours.  Furthermore, each student involved in an internship will write a major paper analyzing their placement and experience in it.  Guidelines for the paper can be downloaded by clicking here or on the link below under "Forms". 

 Although there are no formal tests or examinations associated with internship experience, the paper and the internship evaluation will be the basis for the grade.  Internship experiences are intended to provide students with the opportunity to participate in the workplace environment.  The same norms for punctuality, dress and behavior that apply to employees of the internship site are assumed to also apply to interns.  Failure to comply with the agency’s norms or the college’s requirements will result in dismissal from the internship site and course failure.

Forms:

Guidelines for the Internship Paper (NOTE: You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the document)

Internship Evaluation Form (This will be sent out to the site by a member of the sociology faculty) (NOTE: You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the document)