Internships

The Department of Sociology has internships available to Texas A&M University Students who are currently Sociology majors or minors. These internships are designed to provide students with an opportunity to acquire professional skills while earning college credits. These skills are beneficial to students whether they plan to pursue a graduate or professional degree or seek employment in a related field.

What Is An Internship?

An internship provides the opportunity for students to apply the knowledge they have learned in the classroom to "real world" experiences. A typical three credit hour internship includes 100 hours of work at the agency site, a first-month journal, a sociology project, and a brief power point presentation at an end-of-the-semester symposium.

Internships may be completed during the fall, spring, or summer terms. Most internships are in the Bryan/College Station area, though some may be located in other cities, including Houston, Austin, Dallas, or Washington D.C., and internationally.

Why Do An Internship?

SUCCESS improve your chances of success after college by

• Standing out an internship on your resume helps you stand out from others as a candidate for a professional job or graduate school
• Understanding understand the expectations of your chosen profession and increase your understanding of self (your strengths, what you need to improve, your aspirations)
• Capabilities develop capabilities/skills specifically needed in your profession or graduate school
• Critical Assessment help you critically assess your career options
• Experience gain professional experience to increase your job marketability and help you succeed in your first professional job
• Social Networking create valuable professional networks to help you find jobs or get into graduate school
• Scholarly Achievement write a scholarly research paper tailored to your professional interests that can be submitted with graduate school applications or a professional job portfolio.

Which Fields Offer Internships?

Sociology internships are available in many types of agencies, including:

• Social Services
•      Alcohol and substance abuse
•      Abused women
•      Abused children
•      Crisis or teen pregnancies
•      Parenting
•      Homeless shelters
•      Community development
•      Aid to the elderly
•      Animal shelters
•      American Red Cross
•      United Way
•      Medical fund raising

• Education, Mentoring
•      Early childhood education
•      Youth activities
•      At-risk-youth
•      ESOL
•      Children's museums
•      Historical museums  

• Marketing, Media, and Public Relations
•      Television
•      Radio
•      Hotels and restaurants

• Criminal Justice
•      Local law enforcement
•      Federal law enforcement
•      Juvenile justice
•      Supervision and corrections
•      Criminal law

• Law
•      Civil law
•      Criminal law
•      State enforcement agencies

• Medical Services
•      Mental health
•      Rehabilitation centers
•      Medical social work

• Politics, Public Policy
•      Legislative offices
•      Congressional offices
•      White House interns
•      Federal agencies   

• Social Research
•      Demography
•      Family Studies
•      Applied Survey Research

• Texas A&M Services
•      Student Activities
•      Student Leadership
•      International Services
•      Career counseling

• International Opportunities
•      Europe
•      South America

Former Intern Testimonials

"Participating in an internship through the Sociology department was an amazing experience that allowed me to explore different areas I was interested in pursuing... I am now a Social Work Graduate student and thanks to the internship program I feel much more prepared."
-Caroline Christian '07 (Phoebe's Home)

"The Sociology Internship Program has given me an opportunity to experience real life in the community we live in.  It has made me even more positive that I want to serve in a non-profit in the future."
-Alyse Bowers '08 (Habitat for Humanity)

"The FBI Houston internship was more than I could have ever asked for. The members of the FBI are true servants who are passionate about serving the community and are great role models."
-Brian Kwan '08 (FBI Houston)

"The sociology internship program was absolutely integral in me gaining an advanced understand of the field... Furthermore, I believe my internship played a crucial role in my acceptance into graduate school with full funding."
-Aida Ramos '07 (Public Policy Internship Program)

"Interning with Twin City Mission granted me invaluable knowledge about a field I have interest in, while helping those actually working with the program along the way."
-Bryan Tabor '08 (S.T.A.R. Youth Program)

"Through this internship I have gained a great deal of knowledge about the criminal justice field as well as many great contacts and friends that will help me in my pursuit of a law degree."
-Brian Doherty '07 (District Attorney's Office)

Minimum Qualifications

1. Sociology Major or Minor
2. Junior or Senior Classification
3. 2.5 cumulative GPR (3.0 is required for some internship positions)
4. Completion of SOCI 220 or equivalent with a grade of "B" OR completion of both SOCI 220 and SOCI 420 with grades of "C" OR cumulative GPR of 3.0 and concurrent enrollment in SOCI 220 or equivalent.
5. Basic Health Insurance Coverage

How to Obtain A Sociology Internship

• Schedule a meeting with Dr. Dietrich to discuss your interests, the internship process and opportunities, and complete an Internship Application.



• If your internship application is approved, Dr. Dietrich will help you select potential agencies for your internship.



• Contact students who have previously interned with these agencies -- check with the Association of Former Students in case the contact information for the former student is not current.



• Contact and schedule interviews with these agencies discuss availability of internship positions, the kind of work you would be doing and other internship requirements, and anticipated start and end dates at the agency site.



• When you have secured the internship in your chosen agency, contact Dr. Dietrich to complete student contract.



• Dr. Dietrich will register you for internship course credit when she has received your:
•    1. Student Contract
•    2. Copy of your health insurance card

Contact Information

Dr. Katheryn Dietrich
Director, Sociology Internship Program