"My internship made the issues we discussed
in my WGSS classes come to life."   
                                               - Jessica Surd, WGS 120 student

Internships 

All Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) intership opportunities allow students to apply the knowledge and skills they've acquired in their classes in a practical way. Most students volunteer with a variety of local or regional social justice and advocacy organizations. Students may identify their own opportunities or select existing opportunities. All interships, however, must be arranged in advance with the approval of the WGSS director and academic advisor.

In the past WGSS students have interned at organizations such as:

• The McLean County Museum of History
• YWCA Programs:
  • Stepping Stones: Sexual Assault Awareness Program
  • Labyrinth Outreach Services to Women
• Planned Parenthood of Illinois
• Central Illinois Pride Health Center
• Habitat for Humanity, Women Build
• Students wishing to set up their own internships should consult with the WGSS advisor. 

WGS 398: Professional Practice Internship [Undergraduate]

The WGS 398 Professional Practice Internship opportunity provides supervised work experience with agencies, institutions, or organizations focusing on social justice issues related to gender and it's intersections with race, ethnicity, sexuality, class/caste, age, dis/ability, and citizenship. May be repeated; maximum of 6 hours.

To be eligible for this internship, students must:

• Be a WGSS undergraduate minor
• Have completed 75 hours of course work 
• Have completed at least 6 hours of WGSS coursework
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (3.0 in the WGSS minor)

For more information, please review the WGS 398 Professional Practice Brochure. 

WGS 498: Professional Practice Internship [Graduate]

The WGS 498 Professional Practice Internship provides the opportunity for graduate students to gain supervised work experience in local, state, national, or international businesses, agencies, institutions, or organizations, including teaching internships, focusing on issues related to women's, gender, and sexuality studies. Maximum 3 credit hours.

To be eligible for this graduate internship, students must: 

• Be a WGSS graduate certificate student 
• Have taken WGS 490 Feminist Theories and Methodological Issues 
• Have consent of the WGSS Director and Academic Advisor