Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies

We strongly recommend internships for all RGSS majors and minors.  They can help you:

• Make a difference right now and right away!
• Explore career and work settings
• Provide practical work experience and develop marketable skills
• Build your resume, strengthen applications for graduate school, and develop contacts
• Develop more answers to the question:  "What will you do with a RGSS major ?"

Internships and Course Credit:

• RGS 450: Internship (Fall or Spring, occasionally Summer, 1-6 credits). You can also arrange a more extensive internship. The expectation is 40 hours of internship credit hour over the semester per credit hour.
• Noncredit internship.  Even if you are not receiving academic credit, you may be able to use this experience to build your resume, skills, and contacts.   

Please Note:
Some RGSS double-majors and minors do internships under their other department. You may be able to use your RGSS knowledge in internships sponsored by other departments.  Check with that department's website, chair, or adviser for more information. You would need to follow their departmental procedures and rules.

Getting Started:  It's never too early!

• Start dreaming and scheming early.  Talk with your professors, faculty adviser, students, the Career Services office and visit websites that capture your attention. We are here to help! 
  
• Visit the Career Services website or office for listings of current internships, important information on requirements, resources, contacts, and tips. 
• Make an appointment with your RGSS Advisor, the earlier the better, ideally early in the semester before you plan to do your internship.  Good internships can take time to plan.  
• Attend one of the fall or spring information sessions and talk with the Career Services staff person assigned to the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (Matt Gordy).

Exploring Internships:  Go local, global, and everything between!

A great place to start:  

Handshake - a comprehensive listing of established and local internship sites. 

RGSS has developed relationships with several local internship sites.  If you're interested in any of these issues, learn more about internship possibilities locally:

• Reproductive Justice:  Planned Parenthood La Crosse
• Helping women access higher education:  Self Sufficiency Program (run out of the RGSS Dept.)
• Working with Victims of Violence:  New Horizons Shelter or Bluff Country Family Resources
• LGBT Justice:  The Center:  7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection
• Public Policy and Gender Equity:  American Association of University Women

These agencies and organizations frequently advertise their internships on the Career Services website, but if you don't see this opportunity advertised, talk to your advisor about making a connection.

You can also develop your own internship. You could work with community coalitions, elected officials, grassroots or activist organizations, or you could design your own project, including a campus activism project.

If you have an idea, interest, setting, or specific organization in mind, your advisor can help you identify potential sites and contact people to customize your experience as a RGSS intern.  

You can also consider:

RGSS Department Internship:   We need interns to help us with various public relations tasks.  Inquire with Jodi about these opportunities.  

Willing to expand beyond La Crosse?

A (small) sample of gender justice and RGSS specific internships beyond the Coulee Region:

• Feminist Majority
• Planned Parenthood
• National Organization for Women
• Women's Congressional Policy Institute