Internship Opportunities
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology academic internship program provides supervised hands-on learning opportunities for undergraduate sociology and anthropology majors and minors. On this site we provide a list of employers in the region that our faculty work with, in one capacity or another.
Internships provide structured on and off-campus internship and research experiences under the guidance of a faculty mentor and an intern supervisor. The internship program is designed to help students develop knowledge and work skills through practical experience and facilitate networking opportunities. Internships provide a great way to improve your resume while obtaining college credit for your work. In addition to job training, students can gain first-hand knowledge about social justice and advocacy work on topics such as domestic violence, homelessness, child poverty, community gardens, etc. in the Springfield area. Students are expected to contribute to the day-today work at the organization. In addition, possible internship activities include:
- Project management
- Program evaluation
- Training activities
- Grant-writing
- Applied statistics using SPSS and/or Excel
- Qualitative coding using ATLAS.ti or NVivo
- Conducting interviews and/or focus groups
- Transcribing interview data
- Report-writing
- Presentations to City Council
Finding an internship
SOC 499, Internship in Applied Sociology provides one 1 credit hour for every 35 clocked hours on the job. Only three hours of credit can be applied to the major. SOC 499 is offered every fall and spring semester. Academic credit is based on the student's performance during the internship, monthly meetings, and a final presentation.
ANT 499, Internship in Anthropology, may provide up to six (6) hours of class credit.
A list of our community partners is posted below. Once you have reviewed possible placement sites, please send an email outlining your interests, along with a copy of your professional resume to Dr. Laura Hart.
Becoming a community partner
All organizations (for-profits, nonprofits, government) interested in providing internship opportunities and lending their valuable time to mentor a student intern, please contact Dr. Laura Hart for more information.
Review student internship presentations
Community partners
The list provided below is not exhaustive; you may find any number of other opportunities to intern in the community.
Contact your advisor for assistance in your search, or call the Sociology and Anthropology Department Office at 417-836-5640.
| Organization | Description/mission statement |
|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield | To enhance the quality of life for youth as participating members of a richly diverse society with special concern for the disadvantaged |
| Burrell Behavioral Health | Private, not for profit organization that provides a wide range of mental health services for individuals and families, business and industry, and educational programs for community and professional groups |
| Child Advocacy Center | Provides services for children who have been victims of abuse |
| City of Springfield and other local agencies | Various agencies dealing with community needs including community and neighborhood programs |
| Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) | Trains volunteers to represent the interests of victims of child abuse and neglect |
| Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) | Provides basic disaster preparedness and response training to the public |
| Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) | To enhance the quality of life in our region through resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration, and public leadership |
| Community Partnership of the Ozarks (CPO) |
To facilitate and promote the building of resilient children, healthy families, and strong neighborhoods & communities. Internship opportunity areas include: Social Work, Early Childhood and Family Development, Affordable Housing, Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention, Fundraising/Development, and Communications/Marketing/Media. |
| Developmental Center of the Ozarks | Serves infants, children, and adults, who have developmental or physical disabilities, or developmental delays – as well as those who do not – through therapies, education, and habilitative programs |
| Doula Foundation | To be a source of emotional care, advocacy, and comfort for all mothers and their families during pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood |
| D.R.E.A.M. | Mission is to expand opportunities for youth and families by providing positive role models, invaluable life experiences and ongoing support and assistance |
| Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) |
Federal Sector Social Science Research Internship offers internships to students related to the mission of ensuring justice and equity in the workplace. Applications accepted on rolling basis; positions usually start in January or May. Dr. Morgan Walls-Dines, Assistant Director. |
| George Washington Carver National Monument | Museum and public education experience |
| Good Shepherd Hospice | Unique care program designed to meet the special needs of terminally ill patients and their families in their homes or in their long term care facilities |
| The Grantwell LLC | To provide nonprofit social service groups (including faith-based, community-based, and grassroot groups) with quality and affordable grant support, grant writing, and grant training |
| Greene County Juvenile Office |
Provide prevention, intervention and protection services to children, families and the community, while promoting collaborative partnerships with private and public entities in an ongoing effort to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Greene County Internship opportunities include: GEM’s (Girls Empowering Minds & Spirits), Delinquency Unit, Detention Center, Abuse/Neglect Unit, Evening Reporting Center (ERC), and Probation Unit. |
| Harmony House | To provide shelter, advocacy and education to survivors of domestic violence |
| Help At Home, Inc | Supporting individuals with disabilities living in the community, attaining independence, and achieving personal goals |
| Help Give Hope | To assist needy families, children in particular, in Southwest Missouri |
| Kingdom House |
Works with youths, teens, adults, and elderly populations in St. Louis Missouri; great summer internship opportunity! |
| The Kitchen, Inc | To prevent and end homelessness in the communities we serve by providing housing and stabilizing services |
| League of Women Voters | The League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri is a nonpartisan political organization dedicated to active citizen participation in democracy |
| Malheur National Forest | Archaeological and cultural resource management experience |
| Mark Twain National Forest | Archaeological and cultural resource management experience |
| Mayor’s Commission on Human Rights and Community Relations | Works to promote understanding and respect among all citizens and provides the community recourse for discriminatory acts. Over the past several years, students have conducted original research in housing and ex-offender issues |
| Minorities in Business | To promote economic development and business opportunities through advocacy, networking, community development and capacity-building for minority businesses and entrepreneurs |
| Missouri Archaeology Society | A nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to educational and charitable purposes |
| Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division | Services for children |
| Missouri Public Health Association | Identification of public health needs and problems and improve health of Missourians |
| NAACP | Actively engaged with and sought out by business and community leaders to participate in the economic, social, and cultural growth within the community |
| O’Reilly Auto Parts | With their corporate offices in Springfield, they provide internship experiences for qualified students in the area |
| Osage and Chinook Nations | Osage and Chinook Nations have own government system with various agencies including museums and other service opportunities for students |
| Ozarks Regional Food Policy Council | To promote the development of a sustainable, local food system providing healthy food to all individuals of Southwest Missouri |
| Rare Breed | Offers free and confidential services to youth ages 13 through 20 who need help; homeless youth shelter (part of the Kitchen, Inc) |
| The Salvation Army | Offers many social services and community programs to local residents in addition to disaster relief work |
| Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau | Promotes tourism in the area |
| Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management |
Strives to be a national model of best practices in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery against high-impact events to reduce loss of life, damage to property and harm to the environment *see also Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) |
| Springfield-Greene County Public Health Department | Public health encompasses a variety of functions and services that protect the health of the community and help citizens live longer, healthier, happier lives |
| Springfield Regional Arts Council | To transform lives and enrich the community through the arts |
| Urban Districts Alliance | Supports development of downtown Springfield |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Archaeological and culture resource management experiences |
| The Victim Center | Provides multiple services to any victim of a violent or sexual crime |
| The Watershed Committee of the Ozarks | To sustain and improve the water resources of Springfield and Greene County through education and effective management of the region's watersheds |