Internships
Internships provide students with valuable hands-on experience that complements their academic studies. Through SYA 4941: Internship in Sociology, students can earn academic credit while working with a sociology-related organization or agency. This experience allows students to:
- Apply disciplinary knowledge to real-world professional environments.
- Develop professional skills and competencies necessary for career readiness, including communication, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making.
- Engage in networking opportunities and build professional relationships within the field.
- Gain exposure to industry practices and organizational structures relevant to sociology.
- Reflect on personal and professional growth to assess career interests and future goals.
Eligibility and Requirements
- Course Credit: SYA 4941 is a 3-credit hour course.
- Prerequisites: At least 6 credit hours of prior sociology coursework and department permission.
- On-Site Hours: A minimum of 135 hours of on-site work is required, along with assigned readings and written reflections. (Note: This hourly requirement begins Fall 2025.)
- Grading: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading only.
- Semesters Offered: Available during Fall, Spring, and Summer C semesters only.
- Application Packet (with Internship Agreement) Deadline: Submit the completed application packet to the Internship Coordinator, Dr. Erika Brooke, by 5:00 p.m. at least two full business days before the UF registration deadline (prior to the semester start).
- Course Timeline: All required hours and assignments (including those on Canvas) must be completed during the semester of enrollment.
- Credit Limitations: You may not earn credit for another internship course (e.g., IDS 4940) during the same semester. IDS 4940 credits do not count toward the sociology major or minor.
- Additional Notes:
- No retroactive credit is granted for past internships.
- Internships may be paid or unpaid, depending on the placement.
- Current employment cannot be used for internship credit.
Getting Started with Your Internship
Thinking about an internship for course credit? Follow these steps to get started:
- Check Your Eligibility
Before you begin, make sure you meet the requirements to enroll in SYA 4941: Internship in Sociology (prerequisites, hours requirements, etc.).
- Explore Internship Opportunities
Identify an organization/agency that aligns with your interests.
- You can start by reviewing our Suggested Internship Providers list.
- You’re also encouraged to explore opportunities beyond this list—internships are not limited to the Gainesville area.
- Reach out to the internship coordinator to discuss your options, too.
- Reach Out to Organizations
Contact the sites you’re interested in directly.
- Secure an Internship Placement
Although faculty can provide guidance, it is your responsibility to secure an internship site.
- Complete and Submit the Internship Application Packet Once you have confirmed a placement, you are required to submit a complete Internship Application Packet in order to register for the course. The packet must include:
- Internship Application Form, signed by both you and your internship supervisor
- Internship Agreement (also known as a Memorandum of Understanding or MOU), signed by the internship site and the University of Florida
Important:
An active Internship Agreement must be on file between UF and your internship site before you can begin your internship. If an MOU does not already exist, additional time may be needed to complete the process. Please plan ahead to ensure you meet the application deadline. If you’re unsure whether an MOU is already in place, contact Dr. Erika Brooke for assistance
Email your completed and signed packet to the Internship Coordinator, Dr. Erika Brooke (ejbrooke@ufl.edu):
- All application forms and internship agreements (if applicable) must be submitted to Dr. Brooke by 5:00PM at least two business days before the UF registration deadline (before the start of classes) for review and approval.
- Note: The review and processing of Fall 2025 applications will begin after Summer B (once summer processing has been completed).
Have more questions?
If you’re considering an internship and need help finding a site, understanding course requirements, or registering for SYA4941: Internships in Sociology, contact our Internship Coordinator, Dr. Erika Brooke. She’s here to answer your questions and guide you through the next steps.
Other experiential and research-related opportunities
Undergraduate Research (SYA4911)
Students may enroll in SYA4911 Undergraduate Research if they wish to gain practical research experience by assisting a professor with ongoing research. In most cases, the student will have previously developed a working relationship with the professor by taking another course with her or him. Interested students should consult with a faculty member in Sociology (graduate student instructors may NOT sign off on this work). The professor and student are free to decide between themselves how the research work will be structured and evaluated. SYA4911 credits may also be used to conduct preliminary work for a prospective senior honors thesis.
Students may enroll in SYA4911 for 0-3 credit hours. SYA4911 may be repeated for up to a total of 8 credit hours (in combination with SYA4905) WITH CHANGE OF CONTENT.
Individual Work (SYA4905)
Students may enroll in SYA4905 Individual Work if they wish to study areas not covered by formal courses. Interested students should consult with a faculty member in Sociology (graduate student instructors may NOT sign off on this work). In most cases, the student will have developed a working relationship with the supervising professor in previously completed coursework. The professor and student are free to decide between themselves how the independent study will be structured and evaluated. SYA4905 can be taken for 1-4 credit hours and carries the prerequisites of at least 9 hours of previous sociology coursework and signed consent of a faculty member. SYA4905 may be repeated for up to a total of 8 credit hours (in combination with SYA4911) WITH CHANGE OF CONTENT.
Senior Thesis (SYA4931)
Students may enroll in SYA4931 Senior Thesis for 3 credits applicable towards the major.
Eligibility and Requirements
- must have a minimum 3.5 upper division GPA to be eligible to pursue;
- registration in your graduating semester
Please note: SYA4905, SYA4911, and SYA4931 cannot be substituted for any requirement and can only be used as an elective for the sociology major.
Registering for these courses
Each of these “courses” requires the one-on-one mentorship of a Sociology faculty member (not graduate instructors). You cannot register for these courses without prior permission from the department. Please use this list of our faculty and their contact information to explore these options. Registration must take place before the end of drop/add, just like any other semester course.
To arrange enrollment, students should arrange for a faculty mentor to supervise the work and then email the Sociology Undergraduate Advisor, Dr. Tanya Koropeckyj-Cox, to request the course. Please include your name, ID, name of faculty mentor, the course and number of credits requested, and a brief description of the planned work. An emailed confirmation from the faculty mentor is also required before a student may be enrolled. Please note that these courses do not fulfill general education or writing requirements and that the Department will not substitute credits earned through these courses for any college or departmental requirement other than a sociology elective.
International Studies
Many sociology majors utilize a semester studying abroad and find this to be a very rewarding experience. If you plan to study abroad and want sociology credit for a course, you will need to fill out the appropriate paperwork as part of your application for overseas study available in the Study Abroad Services office at the International Center and have it evaluated by the Sociology Undergraduate Coordinator and your appropriate college. This must be done well in advance of you going abroad.