
Duane Oldfield
Associate Professor and Chair of Political Science, Chair of International Relations
2 East South Street
Galesburg, IL 61401-4999
309-341-7156
E-mail: doldfiel@knox.edu
Knox College has a long tradition of its students reaching out to help others. As members of campus organizations and as individuals, Knox students give their time and talents to the local school district and to organizations like the United Way and domestic abuse shelters. Many students are interested in extending those kinds of experiences into careers that might include counseling, social work and education.
Knox offers an interdisciplinary minor in social service to enhance students' familiarity with the many aspects of careers in working with the socially disadvantaged. Because working with this segment of the population, by its nature, involves interactions between people and with governmental, legal, and community agencies, the program addresses each of these areas and ensures hands-on experiences by asking students to complete an internship with a social service agency in Galesburg.
The Program
The Social Service minor requires five credits in courses focusing on topics central to careers in social work, such as contemporary racial/ethnic issues in society, social inequality and social class, and governmental institutions and their relations to social services.
A core element of the Social Service minor is actual work with a socially disadvantaged group in the community. Students pursuing a minor in social service complete an internship with a social service agency in Galesburg. Recent internships in Galesburg have been conducted at:
Seniors Megan Beney and Eva Marley spoke at the Central States Anthropology Society. Beney's topic was the musical nature of speech directed at infants, and Marley discussed social media sites and social movements.
Knox College students Alec Freytag and Lindsey Morgan are chosen for the prestigious Kemper Scholars Program, which offers scholarships, summer internships, and leadership opportunities.
Vincent Rug and Stephanie Sorensen, both 2012 Knox College graduates, describe their experiences in the financial industry. Chosen for a selective leadership program at Fifth Third Bank, they are working as commercial associates.
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