Santa Cruz Internships: A Guide for Students
Internships offer invaluable opportunities for students to explore career paths, develop professional skills, and gain practical experience. For University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) students, a variety of internships are available, both locally and globally, providing diverse avenues for professional development. This article explores some of the internship opportunities available to UCSC students.
The Benefits of Internships
Internships serve as a bridge between academic learning and the professional world. They provide a platform for students to:
- Explore the world of work in a professional setting.
- Clarify career goals.
- Develop a professional network.
- Enhance marketability.
- Gain relevant hands-on experience that builds a resume.
UC Center Sacramento
The University of California operates a premier teaching, research, and public service site located one block from the State Capitol Building in Sacramento, California, known as the UC Center Sacramento. This center offers internship opportunities for students interested in public policy, government, and related fields.
Global Internships
For students seeking international experience, exploring global internships can be highly rewarding. These internships allow students to:
- Explore career goals in a global context.
- Expand professional networks internationally.
- Develop skills applicable to a global workforce.
- Gain real work experience with international organizations.
Walnut Avenue Center: A Local Internship Opportunity
Walnut Avenue Center, located near the UCSC campus, offers internship opportunities for students interested in supporting survivors of domestic violence. UCSC's proximity to Walnut Avenue, which is located on the corner of Walnut and Chestnut Streets, makes our location easier to access by public transportation from campus. Walnut Avenue welcomes interns of all genders, orientations, and other intersections of identity and lived experiences. There are no requirements regarding majors, minors, or other areas of education.
Read also: A Guide to Santa Clara University Academics
Internship Details
If you’re a UCSC student interested in interning with Walnut Avenue for academic credit, keep on reading! If you’re a student but you’re not looking for academic credit, then you don’t need to worry about extra guidelines or paperwork.
Requirements and Eligibility:
- Volunteer Orientation: First, make sure you’ve read the general volunteer online orientation, including the basic eligibility requirements.
- Program-Specific Requirements: Next, look to see if your class, program, or department is described below. If it is, then you will find more information tailored to the specific requirements of your program. Your professor may have provided a handout that lists the class or program requirements, such as what activities are or are not allowed, expected learning outcomes, and/or end-of-term evaluation requirements. The staff person will need this information to determine whether or not Walnut Avenue can accommodate you as an academic intern. If Walnut Avenue is able to accommodate you, then the staff person will provide you with next steps!
Number of interns allowed at one time: no limit
Psychology Field Study Internship
Psychology Field Study interns gain experience in peer counseling and crisis intervention through direct service as a hotline advocate. To do so, however, you must first complete the domestic violence certification training. We offer the training for volunteers twice a year beginning April and October, so you will need to plan ahead to complete the training before you can begin your six months of Field Study. For example, if you plan to start Field Study in Winter Quarter, you should complete the Fall training in the prior quarter.
A weekly shift on our hotline plus the once-monthly supervisory meeting is usually enough to meet your quota of hours, but if not, then you’re invited to participate in our other volunteer programs to expand your experience.
Volunteer advocates are asked to commit to 12 months of service. This means that you would be expected to continue as a hotline advocate for an additional six months, even after your Field Study program has ended, for a total of 12 months.
Read also: Explore Santa Clara University
Once you complete your 12 months in good standing (i.e. you’ve upheld all the requirements of the program), then you may use Walnut Avenue as a professional reference for future employment or academic applications upon request.
Application Process
The process for setting up an internship at Walnut Avenue involves several steps:
- Initial Inquiry: Contact Walnut Avenue to express your interest in an internship.
- Information Review: Review the general volunteer online orientation to understand basic eligibility requirements.
- Program Alignment: Check if your academic program has specific requirements or guidelines for internships with Walnut Avenue.
Read also: A Deep Dive into SCU's Undergraduate Enrollment
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