IDS 490: Interdisciplinary Internship
Course description
Note: This course requires an interview process. Students are expected to complete at minimum 50 hours of on-site work with their community partner organization.
This course offers students a hands-on internship experience rooted in community engagement and social justice in Bologna and the broader Italian context. Combining academic study with service learning, it encourages students to reflect on key social, political, and humanitarian issues affecting marginalized groups, including migrants and underserved communities. Through placements with local and international organizations, students gain practical experience while contributing to grassroots initiatives focused on human rights and environmental justice. Class sessions and guided reflection help students connect their fieldwork to broader cultural and global perspectives. Overall, the course fosters professional development alongside a deeper understanding of social responsibility and community impact.
Learning objectives
Our HUM490 internship course is designed to allow students achieving these major objectives:
Address some key topics referred to Social and Environmental Justice, Human Rights, the Italian Welfare System, Sustainability and Ethics, among others.
Gain historical, cultural, and practical perspectives on Italian life and community work.
Apply classroom knowledge and group experiences to a professional work environment.
Deeply understand the social, educational, and/or health challenges of people experiencing marginalization, poverty and several other issues.
Learn the mission, challenges and variety of activities and approaches of an organization to meet the needs of this people and develop personal and professional skills through contributing to their action.
Train the ability to work individually, by especially critically reflecting upon intellectual, personal, professional, and civic learning within a social justice context.
“Test the waters” of a specific professional area connected to a broader Social Justice domain and “get a foot in the door” by accruing work experience.
Gain valuable professional experience in an international setting, thereby making their resumes more competitive in the U.S. and world labor markets.
Develop key relational and organizational skills as, for instance, adaptability to contexts, sensitivity, capacity to develop communication-related skills (including Italian language) and work collectively, feedback and relationship skills.
Support the Social Justice action of the SHC Italy Center Program by actively engaging and serving within the Bolognese not-for-profit community and other entities and organizations, including businesses, strongly ethically based.