Community Internships

Community Internship (SOC 416) in sociology is designed to provide students with actual work experience in a community setting and an opportunity to work directly with people involved in the agency, service, or organization. The student should gain insight into the structure, responsibilities and routines of the setting, the work of the staff, and the background and needs of the clients.

The student may benefit in at least the following three ways: (a) gaining actual work experience as a means of enhancing theories and concepts learned in the classroom; (b) testing personal satisfaction with a particular type of work; and (c) making contacts that may help in securing future employment.

The community setting should benefit by gaining a reliable and hard-working volunteer who can help meet the needs of the operation.

Specific requirements for the Community Internship are:

1. is classified as a second-semester junior or as a senior.
2. has completed successfully a minimum of 3 sociology courses.
3. has a minimum GPA of 2.5 in sociology or special permission.
4. has submitted a formal proposal of goals and plans (applications are available from any sociology faculty member).

Submission of the proposal and arrangements with the community and faculty supervisor should be made no later than 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the exam period in the semester prior to the internship.

Specific requirements for completing the Community Internship include the completion of a minimum of 120 hours covering at least 10 weeks in fall or spring semester (8 weeks during summer semester), regular meetings with faculty sponsor, completion of appropriate forms, journal of activities, and formal paper. The paper is a case study of the agency, service, or organization and includes an application of sociological theory and/or concepts to the Internship experience.

Full course credit (on a pass-fail basis) is granted for the Internship. Financial recompense for the Internship from the community organization is not permissible.

Recent Internships Placements

• Salem Head Start
• Carilion Health System Marketing Department
• Planned Parenthood
• Allegheny Hospice
• Roanoke County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
• Salem Senior Citizens Center
• Augusta Center for Women, Work, and Community
• Virginia Western Community College Deaf Education
• Medical University of South Carolina Physical Therapy Center
• Richfield Retirement Community
• Lewis-Gale Clinic Health Management Center
• Schumpert Hospital Social Services
• Community Hospital Pediatric AIDS Unit
• Jason and Koppenheffer Law Firm
• American Red Cross
• Bradley Free Clinic
• Salem/Roanoke County Health Department
• Roanoke Express Hockey Club
• Kent County Juvenile Probation Office
• Child Abuse Prevention Council
• Carilion--RMH Capability Department
• Columbia-Lewis-Gale Radiation Oncology Unit
• Roanoke College Office of Admissions
• Metalspray--computer design
• Robert Claiborne Agency
• Youth Haven II
• Carilion Patient and Family Services
• WDBJ--Channel 7 News
• Lutheran Family Services
• Blue Ridge Community Services
• TRUST Crisis Counseling Program
• Department of Corrections, Adult Probation and Parole
• Good Samaritan Hospice
• Virginia Baptist Children's Home
• Roanoke City Schools Maternal and Infant Education Center
• Roanoke College Center for Community Research
• R. G. McCrossen and Associates (Management consulting)
• Roanoke City Schools Truancy Prevention Program

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