3.4.12

Andrew Austin

Director

SCD Home

UW-Green Bay Library

The Department of Social Change and Development (SCD) believes that a crucial component of the educational experience involves student learning to apply knowledge gained in the classroom in practical situations. Through practice, students discover the usefulness of social theory and method. To meet this need for practical know-how, SCD has developed an internship program and is now placing most of its students in various organizations covering a wide range of interests.

SCD's internship program is rooted in the idea that the modern university in a democratic society should play a role in preparing students to participate actively in shaping their communities. Internships encourage students to think seriously about what they have learned in the classroom in the context of everyday activities meant to bring about progressive social change. Through its students, the university increases its presence in community life.

In light of the fact that so many Americans have become distressingly apathetic and increasingly disinclined to join civic organizations and share in political activities, SCD's emphasis on democratic participation takes on a special significance. The extent of political disaffection may be attributable, in part, to a sense that politics is too far removed from the daily realities facing most Americans. Internships provide access to local politics so that students may feel that they can make a difference.

And, of course, the SCD internship program helps students prepare to take their place in society upon graduation from UW-Green Bay. Students, by working directly with community organizations, develop ideas about where they want to work in the future, and they can develop further the skills and experiences that will prove useful throughout their careers.

We encourage students to find internships they wish to pursue and then work closely with the department to arrange the field work and other internship components. There are four reasons for this: (1) There is a better match between student interests and the needs of external organizations when students seek out opportunities; students know themselves, their interests, and the capabilities. (2) By student's personally establishing contact with an organization/activity of their interests, the working relationship is strengthened. (3) There is a great diversity of interests among SCD majors; students often have more knowledge of opportunities than do their instructors because students are intimate with their field of interests. (4) Searching for and obtaining internship opportunities prepares students for life beyond college, where success depends on knowledge and initiative.

Nuts and Bolts

The basic requirements for doing an internship in SCD are as follows:

• Students must be majors in Social Change and Development to potentially secure an internship.
• Internships must be compelling and relevant to the major.
• Internships are negotiated in advance and organized through the office of the internship director (Andrew Austin is currently internship director, MAC Hall A326).
• Qualified students must have a minimum of 45 credit hours prior to doing an internship.
• Students must perform 45 hours of service for each hour of academic credit, up to a maximum of six credit hours.
• Internships may be undertaken during either the Fall or Spring semesters, or during the Summer (but arranged either at the beginning of the Fall or Spring semesters).
• Students are expected to keep a daily journal of activities, which they will submit as part of the final portfolio (submitted to the internship director).
• Students are expected to write an issue-oriented research paper (approximately  1000-2000 words) on a relevant topic to be proposed and negotiated with the sponsoring professor.
• Students will also write a 500-750 word paper summarizing what they have learned during the internship.
• The field supervisor will submit a written evaluation of the student's performance in the internship.

Internship opportunities

SCD has access to a wide range of organizations in the Green Bay community. What follows is a partial list of internship sites where SCD students have in the past been placed and that may be currently available. As noted above, we encourage you to look for internships in your field of interests. 

• Southeast Asian Community Center (concerned with easing the transition for Southeast Asian immigrants in Green Bay)
• N.E.W. Community Shelter (a shelter for homeless men)
• Crossroads (a shelter for homeless women and families)
• Self Help of Wisconsin (working with prison inmates)
• The Center Project (concerned with HIV- and AIDS-related issues)
• Family Violence Center (a shelter for women and families facing domestic violence)
• Ethan House (a home for young males who have experienced problems at home or with the law)
• Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center (a minimum security facility aimed at rehabilitation)
• Neville Public Museum (concerned with Wisconsin history)
• Heritage Hill State Park (concerned with Wisconsin history)
• Legal Services of Northeastern Wisconsin (provision of legal services for indigent clients)
• Victim-Witness Assistance Program (a branch of the Brown County Prosecutor's Office)
• The Salvation Army (aimed at helping poor and homeless people get back on their feet)
• St. Vincent De Paul (Paul's Pantry) (provides food for the poor and homeless)