Are you interested in bolstering your resume by developing skills relevant to your future career? Looking for ways to apply knowledge from your GWS classes to the real world? GWS 399 helps you get hands-on experience by working with a local organization while earning academic credit for the GWS program. Read on to learn more!
Where can I intern?
Past students have interned at:
- Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice
- UIUC Women's Resources Center
- UIUC Education Justice Project
- University of Illinois Press
- Humanities Research Institute's Gateway Internship
- Women at NCSA
- State Representative Carol Ammons's Office
We can also discuss internship possibilities at:
- The Immigration Project
- CU Reparations Coalition
- U-C Independent Media Center
- The Well Experience
But you aren't limited to these! If you have an idea, contact Dr. Mahruq Khan (mahruq@illinois.edu) to explore other options!
How do I find an internship?
You're responsible for applying for internships yourself, but your GWS 399 professor can help you make connections with organizations and can answer questions you have about the process. Many internships for Spring have deadlines in mid-Fall, so we encourage you to contact organizations as early as possible! Check out the bottom of this page for a sample email you can use as a template.
What can I expect from the internship class?
You should plan to spend 8-10 hours per week (either in-person or online) for your internship during the 16-week Spring semester (late January to early May). You'll also meet online with your GWS 399 professor throughout the semester; these meetings can be arranged to fit with your schedule.
You'll log entries about your internship experience a few times each week in your journal. In a mid-semester essay, you'll reflect on an aspect of your experience and connect it to your GWS coursework. In a final research paper, you'll explore a particular question or observation that arose during your internship, situate it in relation to GWS scholarship, and develop a policy recommendation for the organization you worked with.
How does the course credit work?
GWS 399 provides three undergraduate credit hours, and is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. It may be repeated (with a different internship site) for a maximum of six undergraduate credit hours.
SAMPLE LETTER OF INQUIRY
Dear [name of internship contact],
I hope this note finds you well. I am a student at the University of Illinois and am interested in exploring internship opportunities with your organization for the upcoming Spring semester. I was wondering if you could email me a brief description of the internship(s) and information about the application process and deadlines.
For further context: I am hoping to earn academic credit for an internship by simultaneously enrolling in the Gender and Women’s Studies Internship course. So, I am particularly seeking an internship that connects to gender and sexuality issues and/or social justice more broadly, and that has 8-10 hours/week of work (either in-person or online) from approximately late January to early May.
If your organization has internship opportunities that may be a good fit, I would love to learn more about applying. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
[student name]