Internships
An internship (HSRV 416) is designed to provide students with work experience in a community setting and an opportunity to work directly with people involved in an agency, service, or organization. The student will 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:
- Gaining actual work experience as a means of enhancing theories and concepts learned in the classroom
- Testing personal satisfaction with a particular type of work
- Making contacts that may help in securing future employment
Students work with the internship coordinator, PLACE, or through their own contacts to find a suitable internship site.
What kind of internships are out there for Human Services Studies students?
Students conduct internships in the Roanoke Valley and elsewhere. Students may conduct summer internships for credit near their hometown. Paid internships are permitted. This is a sampling of internships from the past five years.
- Department of Juvenile Justice
- Roanoke Valley Counseling Center
- Habitat for Humanity
- Youth Advocate Programs
- Roanoke Resource
- The Borgen Project
- YMCA summer camps
- Roanoke County Police Department
- Salem Police Department
- Inside-Out Program
- Roanoke County Department of Social Services
- TAP (Total Action for Progress)
- Child Advocacy Center
Requirements for Registration:
Classified as a junior or senior; has successfully completed three HSRV courses; minimum HSRV GPA of 2.0 at the time of application.
Course Designation:
HSRV 416 (1 unit; P/F).
Internship Coordinator, Site Supervisor, and Internship Requirements:
Before beginning the internship, the student must complete all required forms for registration in HSRV 416. To earn credit, the student must: complete a minimum of 120 hours at the internship site; submit a journal that reflects on the daily experiences of the internship; communicate with the Internship Coordinator throughout the internship; complete a 7-10 page paper, and; present a poster at a campus showcasing event.
The paper should discuss: the mission of the organization; an analysis of how the organization fulfills that mission; an assessment of the practical and experiential benefits of the internship, and; an analysis of how the internship experiences relate to, enhance, or differ from theories and concepts learned in the classroom.
NOTE: Students who are currently employed at a Human Services agency are encouraged to find an internship at a different organization as they will gain new skills and knowledge, and the experience will enhance their resume. However, students can do an internship at their own agency as long as they take on additional responsibilities that are connected to their learning in the classroom. Students who opt to continue at their agency of employment should include at least one additional page explaining the relevance of their job to the HSRV major and describing the new responsibilities they will assume when they submit their application for an internship to the internship coordinator.
Application:
Students complete all application forms, including the internship application and two Learning Agreements (student’s goals and site supervisor). Forms must be completed no later than one week before the start of the semester. The site supervisor will complete an evaluation at the end of the internship.