Experiential learning is an essential part of the sociology major at Mizzou. It offers the opportunity to gain professional skills, puts the academic material from your classwork into context, and builds a professional profile as you prepare for graduation. This can take the form of a service-learning course and/or professional internships. The professional internship can also serve as the senior capstone. 

Internships are invaluable when it comes to students’ professional development. With that said, finding an internship that best suits your particular talents and educational background can be an exciting, intriguing and sometimes perplexing journey. 

Recommended steps:

  • Activate and Update your profile on Handshake
  • Reach out to the Career Center for feedback on your resume
  • Schedule an appointment with the A&S Internship Coordinator, Kirsten Pape, on MUConnect
  • Narrow your search (paid vs. unpaid, when, where, how many hours, skills you are interested in developing and being exposed to)
  • Keep track of positions you are interested in (create an excel with all the important information)

 Helpful links:

Sociology students have recently interned at Columbia Public Schools, Artists First, Missouri Crisis Line, MO Commission on Human Rights, Coyote Hill, MO House of Representatives, and with a local law firm. This is just a sample.

Internship course:

Sociology 4940, Internship in Sociology. Fulfills senior capstone. Once you have secured an internship apply here. Please keep in mind that you need to apply prior to the start of the term. The course is variable from 1-9 credit hours. Students must serve a minimum of 50 hours per hour at their internship site.

A&S Career Development Scholarships are available to undergraduate students pursuing an A&S major and are designed to support credit-bearing summer internships. All students who receive the award must be enrolled in a minimum of one credit hour of internship. Award amounts reflect available scholarship funds, internship budget, and financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. Typical awards range from $2500 to $5000.