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Sociology 4100: Sociology Internship Program

Abbreviated course outline

Dr. Linda Cohen, Ph.D. Sociology

Sociology 4100 is a one semester internship course at the 4th year level. Its aim is to provide students with the opportunity to incorporate their academic learning into their volunteer labor in a nonprofit agency. Students will use their sociological knowledge to consider how sociology might inform the nonprofit sector in general. Student internships may include placements in a variety of fields ranging from health care, education, social services, criminal justice, development and environmental agencies. Sociology 4100 has two main components: an unpaid field placement which requires a total of 48 hours in the assigned agency; and a total of eight weeks of in-class work and instruction.

Please note that entry into this course is by interview with Dr. Cohen and dependent on clearance with the volunteer agency placement.

Course Objectives

The main course objective of Sociology 4100 is to have students understand their intern experience sociologically and to identify social policy development in the nonprofit sector.

More specifically, students will:

  • Gain volunteer experience at a nonprofit agency.
  • Apply their theoretical and methodological skills to understanding the nonprofit sector.
  • Reflect on how their sociological knowledge can help them think critically about their role as student interns.
  • Learn or refine those qualitative methodological skills needed for their research papers, including ethics review (students are not permitted to publish observations from their volunteer experience), coding, reflection, narrative and document analysis.

    • Required texts and course materials

    • All required material is on reserve at the Queen Elizabeth II library or will be sent to you electronically/>

    • Readings (journal articles, excerpts from ethnographies) and online video are listed in the Schedule and at the beginning of each unit. Most will be online or accessible through the Queen Elizabeth II library. They are usually available in PDF format; you will need Adobe Reader to view PDF files. Students must ensure that they have a working library card and pin number for off campus access to the library catalogue.



    Evaluation * IN ADDITION to 48 hours of volunteer time:

    Class participation (throughout the term) : 10%
    In- class presentation & group work : 10%
    Fieldnotes / journal submission & annotated bibliography: 10%
    Midterm examination: 30%
    Research Paper and Presentation 40%

    This evaluation may change at the beginning of the semester.

    Specific directions for each assessment will be discussed in class. In general, incorporate ideas from the course readings into your answers whenever you can, along with anything else you feel is relevant (e.g., from your observations or reading elsewhere).

    Communication

    Office hours will be announced at the beginning of the semester and you will have daily access to online communications in the course website. Feel free to email me (Linda Cohen) with any questions you have. Other addresses:





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    ©Linda Cohen, 2023(since 2003)