An internship offers a valuable opportunity to gain specific experience within the broad field of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. An internship can also lead to networking and/or employment opportunities for both current students and new graduates.
Local Internships: WGS 290 — Practicum
This course is called "the practicum" by some and “the internship class” by many others. It combines a seminar with a local internship or service learning placement in a community organization. Typically, the WGS 290 course instructor will develop a list of possible placements, and then match these to student interests and preferences.
All placements are with organizations that work to improve the lives of marginalized and underserved groups. Typical placements:
- American Cancer Society (breast cancer awareness program)
- El Centro (support group for Latina mothers)
- Planned Parenthood
- Re-entry Services (program for women in prison and recently released from prison)
- Supported Work Program (welfare to work)
- Survivors (services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; requires that intern has previously completed Survivors training course
- WIC (USDA's Women, Infants and Children nutrition program)
Off-site Internships
WGS students may also find their own possible placement and approach the course instructor about it. This is the most common framework for internship placements outside the local Gettysburg area.
Information on offsite internships (located in both the United States and abroad) can be found in the Center for Career Engagement or online in Handshake.
Local Volunteer Opportunities
The Gettysburg area has many opportunities for WGS students to get involved by volunteering. Work with Survivors INC.
LEGO Robotics empowers middle school girls to get involved with science by building robots in the Physics Department on campus.