Undergraduate Internship Program

The SCA Internship Program complements formal course work, testing theory with practice, and combining internship experience with a classroom seminar. The internship gives you the chance to explore career paths and gain invaluable hands-on experience outside the classroom. You can choose internships related to your major in many areas including arts, city planning, education, housing, law and social welfare. Some examples of compatible internships include: A/P/A majors might work with the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families; Latino majors with the Mexican Educational Foundation; or Met majors with the Urban Justice Center’s Homelessness Outreach and Prevention Program.

All SCA majors are required to complete the internship program, which combines 2 credits of fieldwork with a 2 credit seminar (V18.0040 Internship Fieldwork and V18.0042 Internship Seminar).  SCA offers majors in Africana Studies, Asian/Pacific/American Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Latino Studies, Metropolitan Studies, and Social and Cultural Analysis. (Internships are not required for Africana and GSS majors who began NYU prior to fall 06.)  Participation is open to juniors and seniors.  Seniors in A/P/A, Latino, & Metropolitan Studies have priority since they need the internship to graduate.

Seminar Options

V18.0042.001, General Seminar: B. Brown  Fall & Spring

Co-requisite: V18.0040.001, Fieldwork

Choose from a wide range of internship areas: the arts, government, education, youth, social welfare, the environment, health, housing, economic development, planning, and preservation. Examine policies, issues, ideas, and theories related to internships and agencies. BA/MPA & BA/MUP students must take this seminar.

V18.0042.002, Legal Aid Seminar: S. Silverblatt, Spring only

Co-requisite:V18.0040.002, Fieldwork

Should be taken by all students interested in law.  Placements are with criminal defense lawyers at the offices of the Legal Aid Society in Queens.  Learn about the criminal justice system and related topics in criminology, penology, and urban sociology.

The Fieldwork

For two credits of fieldwork, you will intern 10 hours a week for 13 weeks, a total of 130 hours.  Internships begin the first week of the semester and end the last week of classes.   Schedules are arranged according to your and your supervisor's needs. However, you should plan to work no less than three hours at a time.  Many interns schedule two full days while others spread the internship over three or four days.  

The Agencies

All internships are with agencies related to department majors. The program is an academic one and internships must be unpaid.  Choose from many different placements listed in the internship books in our offices. Responsibilities vary by agency but we require all students to be involved in meaningful projects that contribute to their understanding of the organization.  

To Apply

• Research, plan and locate your internship the semester before enrolling.

• Prepare a resume and cover letter.  For information on resume preparation consult the career development guide book.

• Come to the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis and look through the available internships opportunities. 

• Use the binders are outside 727E to determine which opportunities are of interest, and write down the name and address of at least three agencies, as well as the contact person, address, and phone.

• Fill out an Internship Planning Form and e-mail to betts.brown@nyu.edu.

• Come to an internship meeting.  If none are scheduled, meet with Betts Brown, Director of Internships. Office hours are posted outside Room 718 (41 E. 11th 7th Floor).

• Send cover letter and resume to your preferred agency via e-mail, fax, or mail.

• Interview with an agency and secure internship commitment.

• Submit Internship Placement Information signed by your internship supervisor.

• Access codes are given only after this form is submitted.