What is an internship?

An internship is a planned learning experience in which a student spends time in the workplace under the supervision of workplace supervisor. Some organizations offer both paid and unpaid internships. Paid internships typically require that you apply and go through an interview process to be hired. On the other hand, many organizations offer non-paid volunteer opportunities that can serve as your internship as well

Why do an internship?

All Women Studies majors are required to do an internship or fieldwork prior to graduating; the department has found that internships offer a unique opportunity to help student achieve many of our department learning goals, including that students engage in active and student-centered learning that contributes to social justice . Some of the many benefits for students may also include:

• The chance to learn by doing in a setting where you are supervised by a work-place professional, without the responsibilities of being a permanent employee.
• Helping you to explore and learn about a career field
• Give you new skills and add to your knowledge base
• Let you both apply and test some of the ideas you've learned in your courses
• Allow you to meet new people in your field
• Making a valuable addition to your resume
• Enhancing your application to Graduate School
• Potentially lead to other job opportunities
• Be an opportunity to earn a professional letter of recommendation or reference
• Provide a way of strengthening university ties with local communities
• Be a valuable contribution to community building (your own and others!)

How many hours of work are required for the internship?

The minimum number of credits is 3 credits; the maximum is 15. The university translates 3 credits to approximately 9 hours of work per week. Depending on your needs and the needs of the internship site, you may chose to register for between 1-3 credits per quarter (i.e. you could register for 1 credit, 3 quarters in a row).

How do I up set an internship?

Chose an internship site with a social justice mission.

For help doing so: Peruse through the sites listed on this page. Write down the sites that interest you and look them up on the internet for more info, current openings and contact info. (There is a binder of student reviews of internships outside the WS Advising Office). Look on the internship board in the WS hallway.

If you don’t find a site here, see the additional resources to the right of this column. If you are still unable to find a site, please make an appointment  with the advisor.

Once you’ve identified a site:

Typically, the person to ask for when you call is the volunteer coordinator. When you have a contact at the site who will supervise you, make arrangements to fill out a form with them filling out your expected duties or projects. When that form is completed, you turn the form into the adviser who will register you for the credits you specify. All the forms you need for setting up an internship are all in folders in outside of the adviser’s office door.

Click here to see a representative list of internship sites. This list is meant to be suggestive, rather than complete.

Check out these other resources!

The UW Carlson Center: The mission of the Edward E. Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center is to foster the preparation of undergraduates for effective lives as engaged citizens.

The office coordinates the University's service learning programs and co-curricular tutoring programs, and is also a clearinghouse of internship and community service opportunities.

Weekly orientation sessions provide students guidance in identifying volunteer or internship opportunities that are related to their goals, interests and availability, and explain how to earn academic credit. The office encourages student service initiatives and collaborates with student groups in the development of service projects and programs. For more information, contact the Carlson Center at 543-2618 or email leader@u.washington.edu. The center is located in: 34 Communications Building. If you have a second major or minor: check with your department for related internships. 

For an up to date and comprehensive list of community based organizations in King County, you can use the search options through Community Resources Online.

You may also try Volunteer Match – a non-profit web site matching volunteers with agencies.