Internships
Internship opportunities offer students the opportunity to obtain applied experience as part of their education. SYA 4941 provides students with an opportunity to earn credit from a supervised individual sociology practicum/internship in a social services setting.
- Internships are not required, but often prove beneficial to students for various reasons.
- Foremost is the opportunity to apply the sociological theories, concepts, and principles learned in class to “real-life” situations.
- Internships also provide the chance to “network,” or develop working relationships with supervisors who will be in a position to write reference letters and further career development opportunities. Some internships even evolve into full-time positions following graduation.
Eligibility and Requirements
- The internship course requires a minimum of 120 hours of on-site agency work, directed reading, and writing.
- SYA4941 is a 3 credit hour course and carries the prerequisites of at least 6 previous hours of sociology coursework and junior standing.
- SYA4941 may be repeated for credit a second time at a different site with departmental approval.
- Grading Scheme: Letter Grade
- Enrollment in the summer internship course is for Summer C only.
- Applications must be submitted to the Internship Coordinator (Dr. Michael Capece) at least one week before the first day of classes each semester.
- Required hours and all class assignments must be completed during (not before or after) the semester you are registered for the course. This includes work assigned in Canvas.
- You may not be registered for or receiving any credit towards any other internship course during the semester you are enrolled in SYA 4941. IDS 4940 credits do not count towards the major or minor.
Getting Started
- Please review our list of suggested internship providers (click here). This is not an all-inclusive list and you are welcome to explore internship opportunities with other social service organizations.
- Internships are not restricted to the Gainesville area.
- Contact the organizations you are interested in.
- It is recommended that you also meet with Dr. Capece to discuss your options. This can be done before or after you contact individual organizations.
- Review and complete the internship application with all signatures.
- Completed applications should be emailed to Dr. Capece.
- Applications must be submitted for review no later than one week prior to the start of classes. Enrollment is contingent on application approval.
If you are considering an internship and would like more information on how to find a placement, details about class assignments, or you are ready to be enrolled in SYA4941 Internships in Sociology (3 credits towards the major), please contact our department Internship Coordinator, Dr. Michael Capece ASAP. He will answer your questions and help explain the registration process and course requirements.
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 obtain a permission form available on this website or from the Sociology Undergraduate Advisor, Dr. Tanya Koropeckyj-Cox, secure the proper signatures as noted on the form and return the form before being enrolled in the section. The faculty member and the student must both sign the forms acknowledging that these courses do not fulfill any general education or Gordon Rule 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.