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Internships

Internship photo

2014 Urban Studies Fellow Amy Tomasso spent a summer working with Project for Public Spaces in New York City.

As part of their capstone, Urban Studies students may hold an internship with a non-profit organization or government agency.

Arranging an internship

Students should enroll in Urban Studies 201A during the quarter in which they carry out their internships. Students are required to meet with the Program Manager for Service Learning at least three months prior to the quarter in which they intend to start their internship. Please keep in mind that internship host organizations may require significant preparation and outreach to establish an internship, so it is advantageous to begin the internship search process as early as possible to ensure that students will find an appropriate placement that meets their personal and research interests. Internships must be completed before the beginning of winter quarter of senior year, or two quarters before graduation.

Students should work with their host organization supervisor and Program Manager for Service Learning to complete the Placement Objectives Agreement prior to starting the internship.

Internship details and requirements:

  • The minimum time commitment is 80 hours, to be completed over approximately 10 weeks. Students are encouraged to work with their organization longer than 10 weeks, but the 80-hour minimum should not be spread out over a longer period, except in special cases such as research projects.

  • Internships must be completed before the beginning of winter quarter of senior year, or two quarters before graduation.

  • Urban Studies majors may conduct their internship at a government agency or a non-profit/community organization relevant to the major.

  • Students who intern for the private sector may receive credit for URBANST 194, but not for URBANST 201A. Only URBANST 201A will count towards the service learning capstone experience.

  • In accordance with university policy, internship credit is awarded for the work that emerges from the internship. No transfer credit is awarded for internships.

Past internship sites have included:

  • A small community development organization working with the Pacific Islander community in San Francisco.

  • An education and training program for youth within or at-risk of entering the juvenile justice system.

  • The environmental planning department of a local city government.

  • A network for direct community organizing around issues of neighborhood safety in San Francisco.

  • An urban design non-profit that solicits public participation in order to design sustainable neighborhood plans that meet residents’ specific needs.

Academic-Year Internships

For students completing their service learning requirement outside approved courses or individual internships, communication with the Program Manager for Service Learning is required. All service learning criteria apply. Students must complete the Placement Objectives Agreement.

With prior approval, students may arrange their service learning experience under the auspices of one of the following:

  • Stanford in Washington: SIW includes a substantive internship in a wide range of governmental and non-governmental organizations.

  • Stanford Overseas Programs: Students who are enrolled in or completed an overseas program may have access to overseas internship opportunities in their country of study.

  • The Archaeology Program sponsors an internship through ANTHRO 112, Public Archaeology: Market Street Chinatown Archaeology Project. This is an especially appropriate internship option for students in the Cities in Comparative and Historical Perspective Concentration. Contact Prof. Barbara Voss for more information.

Students may also propose an independent internship through URBANST 194. Students who are interested in setting up their own internship should contact the Program Manager for Service Learning and complete the Placement Objectives Agreement. See the Career Resources page for links to organizations and government agencies.

Continue to Summer Internship and Fellowship Opportunities

Contact

Deland Chan

Lecturer in Urban Studies

Program Manager for Service Learning

Office: Bldg 120, Room 160

(650) 724-6252

deland@stanford.edu