Sociology internships

Undergraduate students with a major or minor in sociology have the opportunity to complete an internship for course credit. The University works with a number of local and national organizations providing both paid and unpaid internships for students.

In order to receive academic credit towards your sociology electives requirement, you will enroll in ACE 400, a course taught regularly by Elizabeth Loun from the Career Studio. ACE 400 can be taken for one-to-three credits; one credit = 40 hours of work at your internship site. The first step is to secure an internship. Browse the lists below and check out current opportunities on the University's job board, Handshake. For help arranging an internship, contact Elizabeth Loun. She will then help you develop a contract with the organization that outlines your responsibilities as an intern that will need to be approved by the chair of the department of sociology.

There are four types of internships that you may complete and apply towards your sociology major or minor as a required elective course that are described in detail below.

Approved internship sites available on a regular basis

The organizations listed below have offered internships or volunteer opportunities (paid and unpaid) in the past and have gone through the University approval process. If you are interested and want more information, contact Elizabeth Loun.

ACTIONN: Communities of faith working for social justice Arbors Memory Care: Working with individuals and families manage Alzheimer's Awaken: Faith-based organization fighting sex trafficking-educating the public and assisting survivors CAAW: The area's leading provider of services to those experiencing family violence CCNN The ST. Vincent Programs: Catholic Charities helping those in poverty: broad range of activities Children's Cabinet Reno: Working to keep children safe and families together Communities in Schools of Western Nevada: Helping youths stay in school providing in-school community resources Continuum: A community-based rehabilitation and wellness center Food Bank of Northern Nevada: Provides emergency food support to families, esp. children and seniors Galena Creek Visitor Center: Community and educational programs about the Sierra environment Latino Research Center - On campus organization working to help students and the community More to Life Adult Day Health Care: Helping families take care of their elders Nevada Humane Society: Providing for animal welfare and adoptions; helping to train volunteers Nevada Youth Empowerment Program: Community-based youth (18-21) service provider Planned Parenthood: Working for reproductive justice for women and children Northern Nevada International Center: Serving Nevada's educational and international oriented communities Purple Door Preschool: Unique preschool Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe: Assisting with their Environmental Program Reno Buddhist Center: Buddhist education programs Reno Housing Authority: To provide fair, sustainable, quality housing for low-income residents Step2: Helping women to rebuild their lives after substance abuse, poverty and family violence Urban Roots: Education and service from planting and harvesting to preparing the food we grow Washoe County CASA Foundation: Working with the courts to help abused and neglected children Washoe County School District: Working with students K-12 Washoe County Senior Services: Committed to building a higher quality of life for seniors

Approved internships available on an irregular basis

These are internships are not necessarily available on a regular basis, or may be limited to a specific time period often evolving around a yearly event that the organization sponsors. Therefore you may not be able to take them for a full three credits in a given semester. After looking over the organization and the event, if you are interested and want more information, contact Elizabeth Loun.

CHISPA NV - Working on social justice and environmental issues in Latino communities Envirolution: Giving back to the community via clean-ups, action events, and awareness campaigns Girls on the Run, Sierras: Inspiring girls through running Habitat for Humanity: Building homes for those in need High Sierra Area Health Education Center: To train, recruit and retain health professional workforce to underserved populations Immunize Nevada: Promoting health and preventing disease JUSTin HOPE: Providing support for individuals and families with autism and other neurodevelopment disorders Kiwanis Sparks: Serving the communities through various activities and service projects Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation: Relieving the financial burden and emotional strain on families in the battle against childhood cancer Reno Initiative for Shelter & Equality (RISE): Helping to feed and house the homeless Reno Salvation Army: Working on various needs of the Reno community: poverty, addiction, recycling United Blood Services: Provides blood and blood services throughout the local area hospitals Washoe County Parks: Keeping our parks clean, attractive and safe

Pack Internships

The Pack Internship Grant Program takes place during the spring semester and students apply for the program in the preceding fall semester. Students should check the Career Studio's Pack Internship Grant Program website in the fall for information on how to apply for internships in spring. The application period typically runs from October to the beginning of November each year and is competitive. All positions are posted on the Career Studio website and applications can be found by searching the University's job board, Handshake, for Pack Internship Grant Program. All Pack Internships are funded at $12/hour for 120 hours (approx. 10 hours/week). If you are interested and want more information, contact Elizabeth Loun. Here is a list of some of the organizations that have hired University of Nevada, Reno students through the Pack Internship Program (note that this list may change from year to year):

Amplify Relations: Advertising and public relations agency Boys and Girls Club - Helping Washoe County youths and their families City of Reno, Mayor's Office: Working to make reno a great place to live Discovery Museum: Creating an interest in science; working on programs and fundraising Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada: Working with individuals and families Join Together Northern Nevada - Identifying, measuring, and working to help substance abuse problems KUNR: Public radio Nevada Arts Council: Supporting Nevada's art and cultural sectors; expanding access to and public participation in the arts Northern Nevada HOPES: Helping young women from poverty to opportunity Project REAL: Teaching kids (5th thru 12th grade) about the importance of the law and preparing them to understand their social responsibilities and rights Renown Health: Get an inside view of the medical field Ridge House: Addiction recovery; Helping former prisoners re-integrate into society Ronald McDonald House of Northern Nevada: Meeting the health needs of children and their families Second Judicial District Court: Working with the judicial system Sierra Nevada Journeys: Outdoor science education program Tahoe Rim Trail Association: Outdoor (on the trails) and indoor (education and office) work

If you are interested in interning at an organization, such as a place you already work at, but that is not on any of the lists above, it may be possible but you will need to work with Elizabeth Loun to pursue an approval process. You should allocate three-to-four weeks before the start of the semester in which you plan to intern to complete the approval process.