IMPORTANT: Internships are not required to complete the Psychology degree. Students considering applying for an internship should contact the department to discuss the possibility of an internship at least two months before the start of a proposed internship. Approval and required forms must be completed at least a month before the new semester starts. Enrollment in a course that awards academic credit for an internship is at the sole discretion of the program.
An internship provides practical experience in a professional setting for psychological science students. Our students work in a business, government agency, state mental health institution, or similar location. The internship gives students opportunities to apply their academic background to develop applied skills. It also provides the student with the experience of preparing a resume, applying for a job, and going through the interviewing and selection process. The department cannot guarantee access to any internship, but we will try to help you get placed at an appropriate site.
Psychology Internship (3369, 3469) is a three or four-credit hour course with prerequisites of junior standing (60 or more completed hours), consent of the instructor, and preference given to those with a 3.0 GPA in psychology and overall.
A maximum of six hours may be earned and applied for credit toward fulfilling major requirements. A maximum of three hours may be earned and applied for credit toward fulfilling minor requirements.
Internship Requirements and Key Details
- The project work plan must be well-defined in advance of registration deadlines and be acceptable to the student, faculty supervisor, internship mentor, and internship coordinator.
- A mid-semester report must be provided to the faculty supervisor by the internship mentor (may submit the Mid-Term Internship Mentor Feedback Form).
- An end-of-term paper (formal paper, at least 1000 words in length, APA format) must be submitted to your faculty supervisor.
- An End-Term Internship Mentor Feedback Form must be provided by the internship mentor.
- A written log book of hours worked must be submitted to your faculty supervisor at end-of-term.
- See the table below. Numbers are per credit hour. The table shows the timeframes for *one* credit hour. This needs to be multiplied by the number of credits in which a student is enrolling.
- Internships will be unpaid unless stated otherwise in advance.
- A student’s regular workplace cannot also serve as an internship.
- Prerequisite preferences: GPA 3.0
- Evaluation of the student-intern’s work is executed by the faculty supervisor in consultation with the internship mentor.
How to Get Started
- Select your faculty supervisor. You may have someone in mind, if not, contact the department chair for suggestions. The department cannot guarantee access to any internship, but we will try to help you get placed at an appropriate site.
- Choose your internship site. Much of the responsibility of finding an internship site is the student’s. You may find an internship site that students have interned at in the past or you may establish an internship at a new site that better fits your needs.
- Meet with your faculty supervisor to discuss your internship site selection before you contact your potential internship site. Your faculty supervisor will evaluate the appropriateness of your selection and guide you in contacting internship sites.
If you select an established internship site approved by your faculty supervisor, you will need to:
- Contact your internship site to determine position availability and mentor availability
- If a position and mentor are available your faculty supervisor will provide you with an internship mentor contract, you will complete this form with your internship mentor
- Upon completion of the internship mentor contract, you will complete an internship individualized instruction contract with your faculty supervisor
If you select an internship site that is not established, and if approved by your faculty supervisor, you will need to:
- Contact your proposed internship site to arrange a meeting between you and a potential mentor
- Obtain an internship site application from your faculty supervisor
- Take the application form to your proposed internship mentor for review and completion
- Return the internship application to your faculty supervisor for approval
- If approved, your faculty supervisor will provide you with an internship mentor contract
- Return to your now-approved internship site and complete the internship mentor contract with your internship mentor
- Complete an internship individualized instruction contract with your faculty supervisor
