EIU Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Criminology

Sociology/Anthropology/Criminology Internship Information

The Sociology/Anthropology/Crimonology Internship Program offers students with diverse interests an opportunity to explore the fields of social work, criminal justice, counseling, geriatrics, student affairs, domestic violence, among others while earning academic credit.

For example, recent student interns have completed their field work as case management workers in the human services, college student affairs and academic counseling, gerontology and elder care, general social work management and case work, criminal justice and probation, police officers, juvenile and adult rehabilitation, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, and sexual assault and domestic violence work.

While most internships take place with community agencies close to EIU's campus, students have completed summer programs with agencies and police departments in or near Chicago, the Disney Summer Intern Program in Orlando, Florida, with community-based organizations in Dallas, Texas, and social service agencies in St. Louis, Missouri.

The internship program is open and flexible and focused on the academic and professional needs of each student. For every 40 hours on the job at their placement, interns earn one credit hour; moreover, each intern can, if selected, earn up to 12 credit hours of internship experience equaling 480 hours of direct field placement!

Below is a list of eligibility requirements for student interns prior to their experience:

1. The student-intern is responsible for finding and securing their internship. Typically, agencies have their own application process, therefore once this is completed, the student can then complete the application for the department's program.

2. Students pay for internship hours just like they were enrolling in a traditional classroom-based course.

3. Eligible interns must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 and are a Junior or Senior in good academic standing.

Once accepted and enrolled, student interns must meet the following requirements and expectations:

1. Internship hours do not count toward the required hours for the sociology major (23 required core hours or 21 hours of sociology electives - 44 total required hours) or departmental minors in anthropology or criminology.

2. Internship hours earned do count toward the total number of 3000- and 4000-level hours required to earn a degree from Eastern Illinois University.

3. Student interns are required to complete TWO reflective writing assignments as part of their internship: 
        a.  weekly electronic journal entries
        b.  a final reflective essay due during final exam week.

4. Student interns are required to meet face-to-face or by phone with the Internship Coordinator at the mid-point of the internship experience as well as during final exam week.

5. Student interns are expected to behave in a professional manner during the course of their internship (being punctual, polite, identifying yourself as an intern, carrying out assigned tasks, etc.). Further, student interns should ensure they exceed the level of professionalization and accountability as determined by the employment policies of the organization with which they are working.

6. Students do not receive letter grades for internship hours completed; rather, internships are graded on a CR (credit) or NC (no credit) basis.
   
        a.  No partial credit is given for internships.
        b.  Credit is given when the intern: 
   
   

• • completes the required number of hours at their internship site (verified through daily activity sheets submitted weekly);

  • receives positive feedback from site supervisors;

  • meets with the Internship Coordinator at the mid-point & final of the Internship semester;

  • sufficiently completes submits on time each weekly journal entry;

  • and the final essay is printed and submitted directly to the internship coordinator.

Questions? Contact Dr. Michael Gillespie, Sociology/Anthropology/Criminology Internship Coordinator:

mgillespie@eiu.edu

Internship Application 

Daily Activity Sheet