The purpose of the African American Studies Internship is to expose students to grassroots, community-oriented opportunities to engage in Applied Black (Africana) Studies. This approach guides the production of scholarship which is centered and relevant to people of African descent. Each student who seeks to earn a minor or BA in AAS is required to complete an internship. The internship site (including the site supervisor) will be identified/arranged by the student in consultation with the AAS program director, and the student must meet with the internship supervising faculty member (Internship Director) in-person or online, to discuss and to get an approval for the identified internship site and work. Once approved, the student and the site supervisor will discuss/determine the student's goals, the means of achieving them, and the manner in which the site supervisor evaluates the student’s internship work at the site.

Internships must be set up for no less than 60 hours for the 3-credit option or 120 hours for the 6-credit hours option. It is also possible for students to repeat the 3-credit option twice. Students are required to complete the coursework including, but not limited to, keeping a journal of their work, maintaining a log of their hours, writing a reflective essay on their internship experiences, and completing all  internship documentation for the School of Liberal Arts.