Welcome to the UCSB Asian American Studies department database for community internships.
This resource was created to support our new Community Studies curriculum. Students can now receive academic credit (4 units) for internship service that takes place during the summer or Fall academic term, through enrollment in 197 (Field Studies).
The database lists organizations in the United States whose work engage principles of community change1:
"The process of producing modification or innovation in attitudes, policies, or practices in the community for the purpose of reducing (or eliminating) problems, providing for general improvement of the way needs are met, or developing assets for the benefit of its members." (Homan, 2008).
The listings include not only community-based organizations focused on serving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, but also local Santa Barbara nonprofit organizations whose missions address social justice and the dynamics of racial, class, and gender inequity. Besides an alphabetical index, users can search targeted California regions, and by service category.
1Mark S. Homan, Promoting Community Change: Making It Happen in the Real World. (Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2008)
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Academic Credit Internship Requirements
Student Eligibility & Prerequisites:
- Student takes course 163A: Community Leadership & Social Change before the start of the internship (usually offered during Winter quarter).
- If a student has prior experience volunteering at a community-based organization, and has taken 113: Social Movements, the student may apply to take 197, per consent of the instructor.
- Junior or senior standing.
Required Hours:
Summer internships:
- at least 12 hours/week in the internship at the community site, for at least 10 weeks in length; or 120 hours total.
- with week 1 being an orientation/meeting between the student and internship site supervisor on/off campus and;
- week 10 being the final evaluation/exit interview of the student with internship site supervisor.
Fall internships:
- 120 hours for the quarter.
- with 90 hours student time at the internship site;
- regular conferences with the field counselor.
The student and the community organization's needs will be taken in to consideration. Modifications to the service requirements shall be structured in consultation with the AAS field counselor.
Registration and Oversight of Internship
- The student and the supervisor at the sponsoring organization shall submit a Learning Agreement which describes the duties and projects to work on during the internship, and skills the student will develop by the end of the internship. This agreement form should be signed by both the student and the internship supervisor, and turned in to the Asian American Studies (AAS) department field counselor at least two weeks before the start date of the internship.
- Internship progress will be monitored by the AAS field counselor. This oversight may take the form of counselor check-ins with the student, and the internship supervisor. For a student whose service region is too far to attend campus meetings, phone and online correspondence.
- The student shall submit weekly field notes during the internship, in consultation with the Asian American Studies field supervisor.