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Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences

Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences

Undergraduate Psychology Internships

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Students witness how to apply psychology to the world around them and gain important, hands-on experience working with community agencies through our field practicum program.

We offer students the opportunity to gain professional development experience working in a human services-type setting through our internship (field practicum) course.  Our Psychology Undergraduate Program Director helps students find an internship site that meets their long-term professional goals.  For example, if a student is interested in working with children and families as a career, we help them find a site that offers experiences working with children and families.

Through our field practicum class (PSYCH 461), students can earn course credit toward their major or minor in psychology.  During the fall or spring semester, the course requires students to work on-site eight hours per week (for a total of 120 hours over the entire semester).  Students also complete online assignments in the class that’s taught by a faculty member who encourages them to connect their psychology coursework with their internship experiences.

(FYI about summer internships: Over the summer, 120 hours worked on-site at an internship are still required.  Because the summer session is half as long as the fall semester [i.e., 8 weeks compared to 16 weeks], the average weekly hours worked are doubled.  Over the summer session, then, for 3 credit hours, students work approximately 15 hours each week on-site at their internship to accrue 120 hours.)

We see many benefits of completing an internship in psychology:

  • Course credit
  • Networking opportunities
  • References for job and school applications
  • Opportunities to audition career paths
  • Helping your community

Internship experiences are also critically important for students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in clinical or counseling psychology, or a related human services field.

“Internships are a useful tool for students to get exposure to the field they have chosen to really get a glimpse of what it will be like outside of the school environment. Having observed the different areas of the mental health field, I was able to pinpoint which direction I want to pursue for my master’s degree.”  — Raven Kimmi

Our community partners work closely with our students to make the internship experience worthwhile.

“Getting direct experience in your field with clients is so important. You will have the opportunity to learn de-escalation techniques and problem-solving skills … Our internship offers experience with clients from every demographic and allows you to work with people you have never encountered before.”  — Kaitlin Dempsey, site supervisor at Newhouse Domestic Violence Shelter

How to Apply

We work with a variety of community partners and offer several pre-approved sites during the academic year.  Those pre-approved sites include Jumpstart, several programs within the Newhouse Domestic Violence Shelter, Phoenix Family, and Rockhill Academy (among others).  Students can also create their own site for the class by completing a short contract.  For more information about this option, please contact the Psychology Undergraduate Program Director .

How to Apply:

  1. The Psychology Undergraduate Program Director will email all psychology students to announce the opening of the application process for PSYCH 461.  This email will include a list of our pre-approved sites and a link to the contract if students want to create their own site for the class.
    1. For the fall semester, the application process typically begins in mid April.
    2. For the spring semester, the application process typically begins in early November.
    3. For the summer session, the application process typically begins in late March.
  2. To apply for a pre-approved site, students will rank order their top two or three choices and email those to the Psychology Undergraduate Program Director.  Afterward, we will virtually introduce students to the site supervisor so that they can begin the site’s application and interview process. 
  3. Each pre-approved site has its own application processes, but students will mostly likely be required to complete an in-person or phone interview and pass a background check.  Some sites have other application requirements, which they will tell students about when they begin the process.
  4. After an application has been approved by the site supervisor, the Psychology Undergraduate Program Director will secure permission for students to enroll in PSYCH 461 in Pathway.
Questions?  Email us at any time!  We’re here to help you!