Sociology and Anthropology

The Sociology & Anthropology Internship program helps students earn academic credit through a structured-work experience in the community.

Internships can help students:

• Apply academic knowledge in a work setting
• Develop new knowledge and skills
• Explore career opportunities
• Assess strengths and weaknesses

Internship settings include labor and community organizing groups, government organizations, nonprofit agencies, educational institutions, business, treatment facilities and research groups. Factors to consider when choosing an internship, include learning goals and availability of field supervision.

Guidelines

• The internship program is open to Sociology & Anthropology majors in their junior or senior years. In addition, a student must have completed three of the core courses of Soc 201, Soc 200, Ant 200, and Soc/Ant 203, and at least one 300 level course in Sociology or Anthropology, before beginning the internship.  
• Students must have a minimum grade point average in the major of 3.0 or have a written letter of recommendation from a Department of Sociology & Anthropology faculty member justifying a waiver.
• Internships are available for 4 credits for one semester. A 4-credit course requires an average of 8 hours per week over 14 weeks. Students are allowed to count either an independent study or an internship, but not both, as part of the five electives required for the major.
• If a student is interested in doing an internship they must set up a meeting at least one semester before the internship with the Program Director, Professor Arena. He can be reached at: John.Arena@csi.cuny.edu.
• The department has developed a file of placements, but students can also propose a possible place to intern.

Tips for Preparation

• For best results, apply at least two semesters before you intern.
• Discuss possible placements with faculty members.
• Become familiar with the areas in which you want to work or pursue graduate study. It is preferable to have classes, interests and experience in those areas.
• Factor in scheduling conflicts and transportation issues when exploring placements. A motor vehicle is sometimes necessary.
• When interviewing internship prospects, consider special skills you have, such as research or a second language.

Sociology is the study of social life, social change and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies and how people interact within these contexts. Since all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime to religious cults; from the divisions of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture; from the sociology of work to the sociology of sport; and all the way up to globalization and the world system
(American Sociological Association, 2002, pg.1).

According to the American Anthropological Association, “Anthropology is the study of humans, past and present. To understand the full sweep and complexity of cultures across all of human history, anthropology draws and builds upon knowledge from the social and biological sciences as well as the humanities and physical sciences. A central concern of anthropologists is the application of knowledge to the solution of human problems. Historically, anthropologists in the United States have been trained in one of four areas: sociocultural anthropology, biological/physical anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics. Anthropologists often integrate the perspectives of several of these areas into their research, teaching, and professional lives.” The department at CSI has a particular strength in Sociocultural Anthropology.