Internships

INTERNSHIPS

Internship Purpose

One of the most difficult things for undergraduate students to obtain is applied experience in psychology. We have many students each year who are thinking of doing some form of applied clinical work as a career. While research experience is often available, clinical or quasi clinical in general is not. As a result, many students are left wondering if what they think about as a career is viable and whether they will truly like the work.

The Psychology Department has a course, Psy 275, that is meant to help address this dilemma. Psy 275 is the course designation for internships that are approved for academic credit. Such internships consist of field work in approved settings under the supervision of qualified professionals. The internship program is a quasi-clinical placement where students have the opportunity to volunteer with different populations who often have some physical and/or psychological needs. In many ways this course is similar to an independent study in that students need to initiate the process of completing the internship by finding an acceptable site and supervisor and then applying to be enrolled for the course. Readings related to the internship and a term paper are required for successful completion of the internship.

The Psychology Department has some internships that are pre-approved. Students proposing an internship that has not been pre-approved must make contact with the proposed site, find a suitable on-site supervisor and formally apply for that site before enrollment can be granted. In either case (pre-approved or otherwise), students must file their request in the appropriate form at least 1 month before the proposed start of the internship. For both internships types, students must secure permission from the Psychology Department internship director who will assign the final grade.

Important Considerations

Here are some of the most relevant points to consider as you decide if an internship is potentially a good fit for you:

• It is a course that is graded as PASS/FAIL that counts as a general elective, but not as a psychology elective

• A student may register for 1, 2, or 3 hours of credit of the internship meaning that they would need to complete 45 hours of work for each credit hour (over the course of the semester)

• Students must complete Psy 310 or Psy 311 prior to internship.

• Students also must have at least a 2.75 gpa.

• The internship must have a significant academic component, and there will be readings and a term paper.

• Students must have an on-site supervisor of academic and other components of the internship, as well as oversight by the Internship Director in the Psychology Department who will assign the final grade.

• Internship credits cannot exceed 3.0 hours.

• If a student wishes to complete the internship in the summer, they must be enrolled in summer school.

• Internships cannot be paid positions.

Procedures for each type of internship follow.

Details and Procedures Regarding Pre-approved and other Internships

A. Pre-approved Internships

Departmental pre-approved internships are listed below. The link for the application for applying for these internships can also be found below. Please be aware that advance planning is necessary even for a preapproved internship. Typically, the interview process and placement may take from one to six months before the start date. If you are interviewed and accepted for one of the pre-approved internships, please have the organization send an email confirming your acceptance to the Internship Director in the Psychology Department.

Preapproved Sites:

• ABC of North Carolina—Children with developmental delays

• Arts for Life—Art work, etc. with children with cancer or other serious illness

• Riverwood Horse Farm—Equine assisted activities and therapy

• (Family Services—Family Solutions)

• (Youth Opportunities)

B. Other Internships

If a student desires to propose an internship for academic credit that has not been pre-approved by the Psychology Department, an Internship Proposal must be completed (that form is also found below).