Sociology internships are where classroom learning meets the real world. Each year, WWU sociology students work with community organizations across the region, applying sociological insight to real social problems. They work in nonprofits, advocacy groups, schools, and public agencies, and more. Sociology internships help students build professional networks, gain skills, and learn about different career options in a supportive environment.
But not all students can afford to take an unpaid internship. This Give Day, we’re raising funds for internship scholarships. Your support will help ensure that every sociology student can have access to the kind of hands-on experiences that turn education into impact. Even a small gift can make a big difference!
 | Leo Anguiano During his internship with Whatcom County Therapeutic Courts, Leo spent time talking with and listening to participants while also sitting in on pre-court sessions where judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors discussed cases. The experience gave him a more human understanding of how the system works and impacts people, while also helping him build connections he still relies on in his work today. “My internship was really eye opening and meaningful for me. It showed me what a more humanistic, people centered approach to policy and advocacy looks like, and the relationships I built with the team have been incredibly valuable in supporting me in my current role with the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission.” |
 | Alec Villa Alec interned with Sun Community Service, a small housing agency in Bellingham, where he applied skills learned in sociology courses like Homelessness and Housing Policy and Global Health, such as programmatic intervention. "As soon as I graduated, my internship agency offered me a full-time position as the Operations Manager. Two years later, I'm still working at Sun House and have progressed my skills in team leadership, trauma informed care, and programmatic interventions. Without the internship, this never would have happened. My internship allowed me to explore a field that I was extremely interested in, but had absolutely no experience in. Because of the internship, my career has launched on a pathway I wouldn't have seen for myself otherwise." |
 | Ellie Wilson During her internship at Mental Health Court, Ellie got to learn the ins and outs of a therapeutic court system designed for people who have a diagnosed Serious Mental Illness, using a holistic approach to rehabilitation. Among many other activities, she engaged in master’s level crisis intervention trainings and got to help design and implement a life-skills course for clients. "My internship helped me learn hands-on how the different social service systems in Whatcom County work, and gave me the opportunity to speak with clients about their wide range of lived experiences leading to their involvement with the criminal justice system. It showed me how the things I learned about in the classroom actually play out in real life, and it helped me become confident in my career path choice for after college and gave me professional connections in Bellingham I couldn't have made otherwise." |
Please use Sociology Summer Internship Scholarship as the Fund Designation to donate to the Scholarship.
We greatly appreciate your support to #WWUGiveDay! To learn more about the department, please follow us on Instagram @wwusociology or find us on WWU Sociology Department | Facebook.
