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• Get Involved
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Internship Opportunities
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• Service Learning
• GEN ST 350: Independent Fieldwork
• Students in Service
• MLK Jr Day of Service
• Fellowships and Awards
• Spring Celebration
• Support the Carlson Center

Get Involved!

"Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you."
-Aldous Huxley

An important Carlson Center goal is to help students develop a sense of civic responsibility to their communities.  We provide resources for students to find internships and volunteer opportunities in community-based organizations (most of which are non-profit agencies, government offices, and educational institutions).  It is our hope that these experiences will help students clarify values and life goals, explore career interests, and gain leadership roles.

If you're seeking internships in business or in industry ("private sector") there are dozens of internships posted on HuskyJobs through the UW Career Center.

Earn money for volunteering and public service internships through Students in Service, find out more by visiting the Students in Service section of the Carlson Center website.

What is the difference between volunteer opportunities and internships?

What do volunteers do?

Volunteer work is service for an organization without pay, usually for the benefit of a community or natural environment. Many organizations, such as non-profit organizations, depend on volunteers to assist with day-to-day operations and to carry out the mission of the organization. Some positions require an on-going commitment (every Friday afternoon to answer the phone for a local crisis line) while others are on a one-time basis only (helping staff at an annual fundraising auction). The level of skills and training required vary with position. Volunteering usually involves reciprocal benefits for those serving and being served.

What do interns do?

Internships provide students with practical job experience in their field of interest. Students working as interns gain skills and experience over an extended period of time (usually 3-6 months). Usually, a student begins the internship with prior knowledge in a particular field (marketing, web design, accounting) but without significant applied experience.