Academic Internship Courses (SOBL Students)

 

The steps on the bottom half of this page are for PSYC, CHST, GERO, and CRIM Juniors and Seniors as well as POLS Sophomores-Seniors interested in an ELECTIVE academic internship or fieldwork course. Follow each step carefully. 

Please note that internship hours must be completed concurrently with an internship course. 

  • For information about Economics Internships, Click HERE.
  • For undergraduate Social Work (BSSW) practicum program, click HERE
  • For graduate Social Work (MSW) practicum program, click HERE.
  • For non-academic internships, visit Career Education & Development. 
I feel grateful for having the opportunity to enroll in this internship class. This has been the most important class of my college career.
Psychology Student
Psychology Student
I learned a lot about the many theories in regard to child development and the background knowledge of my other classmates in education, social work, and psychology settings.
Childhood Studies Student
Childhood Studies Student
I definitely think this experience has also made me more confident in terms of how to communicate with people in the workplace,  and it also made me aware of skills I need to work on in the future.
Psychology Student
Psychology Student

 

 

Upcoming Walk-in Information Sessions 

Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 12:00-2:00 PM

Zoom Link

Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 12:00-2:00 pm

Zoom Link

About the SOBL Academic Internship Process

Field placements and internships are regularly cited as the most important courses of a student's undergraduate and/ or graduate career. Internships/ Field placement are experience along with writing reflective papers is equivalent to the time spent reading, studying and doing assignments for other courses. Students must make sure they have time in their schedule each week to devote to the internship (8-15 hours/week depending on course).

The process of obtaining an internship mimics the process in finding a job. Student will have to apply for a position at an agency after meeting with the internship coordinator. Throughout the process, the student may ask for resume writing feedback and advice on interviewing as well as connections with potential sites. Students must have a placement at an approved agency before the internship course begins.

Application Dates

Applications for Summer 2024 internships opened on February 5, 2023.

  • Applications for summer open the first week in February.
  • Applications for fall open the first week in April.
  • Applications for spring open the first week in October. 

Please note that many criminal justice sites have application deadlines, so Criminal Justice students should apply and schedule the first available meeting.

Follow these five steps to obtain an internship for credit: 

 

The purpose of the meeting is to apply to a specific site choosen by the student. Prior to the meeting, look through the list of placement sites (eligible students receive an email with a list of current sites). You are not limited to the sites emailed, but it's a starting place to begin your search. 

Think through your interests and goals for internship (career goals). When you meet with the internship coordinator, be prepared to share 3 specific sites you want to consider. The internship coordinator will answer your questions and review the process you'll need to follow to apply at your chosen site.

You must meet with the coordinator even if you've already been offered a placement at a site. Please note you cannot begin your fieldwork hours until the semester begins unless this is approved by your professor. 

Schedule your appointment early as internships fill quickly.  Meetings can be in person or through Zoom, but must be scheduled using the Calendly app: 

Schedule an Appointment

Come to the meeting prepared to discuss your availability (times when you are not taking classes or working at another job) for the upcoming semester. 

Please note that ONE missed meeting with the internship coordinator or ONE missed meeting/interview with an agency may result in disqualification from  internship/fieldwork.

Mark the date and time of your meeting in your calendar and arrive on time as meetings take the full 30 minutes. Use Calendly if you need to reschedule. 

Course registration is required in order to complete an academic internship. Register as soon as registration opens (a POI is required for GERO students). Registration may occur BEFORE your scheduled internship meeting. You must complete all steps in a timely manner in order to remain in the course. 

Note that some of the courses require in-person meetings. If your class is meeting in person or synchronous online, you will find the class meeting times in Course Registration. 

Step 4a - Prepare for your First Contact with the Site

First impressions matter, and they begin the first time you make contact with an organization. Use a professional tone when communicating.

Please note that sites have different methods of preferred contact. If the internship coordinator introduces you by email, you can use this script to reply:

“Hi, my name is __________. I am a ___________ major/minor at Stockton University with a concentration in __________________. I am currently in my ______ year, and I am taking a field placement course which requires me to complete (# - see course info box in step 1) hours of service between (semester dates), which works out to approximately (# ) hours each week. My goal is to become a  _______________. I am interested in (name of agency) because __________________ (be specific). I look forward to hearing from you."

Please do not contact sites until you are introduced to our contact person.

It is recommended that you clean up your social media presence before applying to any sites. Some sites require interns to accept a friend request so that they can use your online presence as a character reference. 

Have your resume and cover letter prepared to send upon request. See Stockton’s resume writing document below for assistance. You can find resume writing templates by scrolling to the bottom of the Career Education & Development Office  webpage.

 

Step 4b - Communication and Progress Updates

If you do not hear from someone at the site one week after you've initiated contact, follow up with a phone call to the site using the number provided to you by the internship coordinator.

Once you are in contact with the site, it is best to use email so that you have a record of the conversations. 

You are responsible for sending updates to the internship coordinator every time you communicate with a site, schedule an interview, complete an interview, are offered a placement or are working on human resources (HR) paperwork. You can do that by emailing elyse.matthews@stockton.edu.

If you are told the site is no longer accepting interns, please email Elyse Matthews so the other students are not referred to the site.

Stay in contact with the internship coordinator throughout the process until you have completed all of the associated paperwork and background checks for the site. If you do not receive confirmation of your email within 1 week, please call 609-626-6139. Please do not send multiple emails or schedule a second Zoom meeting as this causes delays. 

 Step 4c - Interviewing

Click here for interview guidelines.

  • Prepare by reading the agency's website to learn their mission and about their programming
  • Dress for Success
  • Listen Carefully
  • Ask Questions - it is important to know what you will be doing during the internship so that you can make an informed decision (see interview guidlnes documnent for questions to ask).
  • Thank the interviewer in person and follow up with a thank you email.
  • Before accepting an internship, carefully consider the hours, location and job duties. If you do not want the internship, send a "no thank you" email.

Students may only intern at affiliated sites. Check with the internship coordinator to see if you are working with an unaffiliated site or a site that needs a renewed agreement. If so, send the information below to elyse.matthews@stockton.edu ASAP:

  1. The legal name and address of the site
  2. The name, department, email and phone number of your site supervisor
  3. The name and title of the agency representative authorized to sign the agreement

No part of the information listed above can be missing or incorrect. The internship / affiliation agreement process can take 2 weeks - 6 months depending on the agency. Please plan accordingly. 

Human Resources paperwork (onboarding) - Many agencies require background checks, immunizations, TB Test, drug screening, etc. YOU MUST ask the site for their requirements and follow their directions carefully. Complete this process  BEFORE the start of the semester you plan to intern. 

Copy Elyse Matthews on your correspondence with the site so that she can keep your internship file updated.

Clearly communicate your availability to intern with the internship / field placement site (these are the hours when you are NOT in school, at work or involved in a sport or activity). Make sure to account for commute time when sharing your availability. Plan your hours around times you will be able to do meaningful work at the site.

Transportation to and from the site is your responsibility.

When you are on site or engaging in any communication with an organization, you are representing Stockton University. Professionalism is required. 

Elyse Matthews is available to advocate for you should you have any issues during the application process or internship. Email or call for support.


Questions & Contact

Elyse Matthews

Elyse Matthews

Coordinator of Community Experiences & Academic Internships

elyse.matthews@stockton.edu

609-626-6139