What are the field studies and internship requirements for a SPPS major?
Students must take the one-year Field Studies 193ABC series, consecutively. Each 193 course is 4 units and students must enroll in the 193 series in the Fall quarter. Students select the field placement site in the Fall and complete their field work in the Winter and Spring quarters. Students complete a total of 80 hours Winter and Spring quarter - totalling 160 hours (8-10 hours weekly).   

SPPS students must also complete the 194A professional internship requirement. This requirement is an independent placement in the local community where students volunteer at a non-profit or government agency to advance their studies in their functional focus (i.e., education, health, or governance). Students attain credit for their hours through the online course (2 or 4 units). A total of 80-100 hours are required for this requirement. Some students do UCDC to fulfill this requirement. For credit for UCDC, please submit a petition online.  

What are the requirements for 193ABC series?
Students select the field placement site in the Fall and complete their field work in the Winter and Spring quarters. All placements must be approved by the instructor. During the series, SPPS students conduct community research; they develop a research project at a non-profit, collect and analyze data. A total of 80 hours are completed per quarter in the field with direct supervision and direction by a department faculty.

When should I take Social Science 193 (Field Studies in Public & Community Service)?
This course should be taken junior or senior year as the course requires analytical skills and there are a number of prerequisites to be completed prior to enrolling.  It is not recommended for students to do the 194 during the same year they do the 193 series given the course’s demand. Further, first and second year students must wait to take the course given its heavy emphasis on research and analytical knowledge.

Can I take 193 Field Studies in the summer?
NO. The 193 series is offered in the academic year (Fall, Winter and Spring) only. Further, students are required to enroll in the Fall and remain enrolled for three consecutive quarters. You CANNOT add the course in the Winter or Spring; the course is sequential and the curriculum presented builds on material from previous quarters. 

When should I take 194A (Public Service Internship)?
It is recommended that you take 194A in the Fall of your sophomore or junior year. The course requires 80-100 hours throughout the quarter but some students take the class for 2 units twice to split the hours (50 hours one quarter and 50 more the following time they take the course). Students must intern at a non-profit organization that will excel their studies in their functional focus (e.g., education, health, and policy). At the end of the internship, an assessment is required by your agency supervisor. This course has an online module that must be done during the time of the internship. The course is offered the entire academic year (including summer).

Where can I find a list of internships for the 194A course?
A comprehensive list of approved internships is available on the SPPS website. The instructor also posts this list on the Canvas, and the SSARC provides guidance and support when students need assistance in finding a placement. The placement must be at a non-profit or government agency. Organizations must be addressing social issues in the local community (e.g., hunger, poverty, inequity). Placements at UCI also fulfill this requirement if students’ functional focus is in education. Panels for SPPS are also offered by the SSARC to assist SPPS majors in finding internships, soliciting sites, and developing resumes. Please visit the SSARC calendar for details.

Can I complete an internship that is not on the approved list? 
Yes, you may have the instructor of the course review and approve the placement prior to the course. The agency must be a non-profit organization or government agency. The placement must be at an established placement with a history of housing interns. The placement must have a website and the resources to supervise and guide an intern during the entire quarter. Weekly meetings will be required to offer feedback on your work, leadership, and contributions. Once you have selected your placement, please submit your petition for approval.  

How do I qualify for an internship?
Internship requirements vary, depending on the type of organization and functional focus. However, SPPS interns need a well-written resume, transcripts, and letters of recommendation prepared with their application. Placement may have additional requirements, such as a specific major or writing samples. Research the qualifications of each position before submitting your application. Plan an entire quarter prior to your class to secure a placement. Some internships take weeks to interview and invite interns to their sites. Some require lifescans depending on the work and community served. 

What are the requirements for an internship to meet criteria for the 194 course? 
The 194 internship must provide an experiential learning  experience that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional workplace setting (across in-person, remote, or hybrid modalities). Internships provide students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience, develop social capital, explore career fields, and make connections in professional fields.

An internship should include:

• A learning experience with a real-world opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or replace the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
• Learned skills and knowledge that are transferable to other employment settings.
• A defined beginning and end that is mutually agreed upon and consistent with institutional sponsor guidelines and schedules.
• A position description with clear responsibilities and required/desired qualifications.
• Clearly defined learning objectives/goals supportive of the student’s academic program goals and institutional requirements.
• Direct supervision by a professional(s) with relevant expertise and educational and/or professional experience who provides productive feedback, guidance, and the resources and equipment necessary to successfully complete the assignment.

Poor or bad internships are placements where you are given menial tasks. You do not receive support or training. The agency is not organized and unprofessional.There is a lack of clear goals and learning objectives.

What should I expect of my internship experience? 
Internships vary significantly, depending on the career and the quality of the placement. Most organizations use their internship programs to find potential future employees and provide many opportunities to learn the skills required to earn an entry-level position. Therefore, most interns are utilized as support personnel, performing standard administrative tasks such as copying, filing, and organizing. However, internships are often as good as you make them. Seek more responsibility by requesting more challenging tasks. Ask to shadow someone in the position you are interested in pursuing. Practice the skills required for the job, create mock portfolios, and ask for feedback from your supervisor. A proactive attitude makes a good impression on any employer.

How can my UCDC experience be considered for the 194A requirement?
Many students petition their UCDC placement to count for their 194A requirement. To attain credit for your UCDC experience, you must submit your petition here. The submission is submitted through the website under the internship tab. The placement must be a non-profit organization or government agency.There must be an overlap with the functional focus demonstrating the relationship between your placement and your area of study.

Can I volunteer at a for-profit internship and earn academic credit?
To attain credit for the 194 requirement, students must do their volunteer hours at a non-profit or government agency for the major requirement. If a student, however, wishes to secure a placement at a law firm or for-profit company, they can volunteer and earn credit through the 197 Professional Internship course. The 197 course does not fulfill a major requirement but the course units do count toward graduation.