First Step:
Before you can enroll in the course, you must get an internship. That's right! It may seem backwards, but we ask you to go into the community, leave resumes, go get interviews, and line up a non-paying job for next semester.
Second Step:
After you find your internship, you will need to confirm with your primary advisor that your placement meets program requirements. You will do so when obtaining the necessary paperwork you must submit before you are eligible to enroll into the course.
Third (and Last) Step:
Have your site supervisor complete the paperwork for volunteer work in the community and submit the completed forms to your primary advisor in psychology. Your primary advisor will enroll you into the course.
Resources Available:
A list of popular internship locations within the Boulder/Denver community, with contact names and phone numbers is available for your review in the Psychology Advising Center, Muenzinger D243. Be sure to check the Internship Binder (a big notebook full of internship flyers and information) for even more options.
FCQs:
What if I already do volunteer work at an agency? Can I keep working here for internship credit?
Probably. If your internship is on our list or in the binder, then it is an approved agency. You will need to be sure that you are doing 8-10 hours of work per week; if your current time commitment is less than this, speak with your supervisor to explore possibly increasing your time. Some agencies have separate programs for "volunteers" and for "interns." Speak to your supervisor about this too. You may need to apply for a separate program to participate in the internship class.
What is "clinical supervision"?
A requirement for any internship is that it must provide you with supervision. You may or may not be familiar with concept of "clinical supervision." For internships, we want to be sure that a member of the agency where you work is available to foster your learning. This person may not be physically present when you work, but they should make regular time available to meet with you, either one-on-one or in small groups, to go over what you've been doing. This is a requirement of the internship program in psychology.
I am interested in doing an internship at a location that is not on your list. Is that okay?
Probably. You will need to be sure that the agency can provide you with 8-10 hours of work per week; that supervision is provided; and that the internship duties are consistent with some area of psychology. (This could mean clinical, counseling, industrial/organizational, or others. If you have non-clinical interests, please check with your advisor).
Can I get paid for my internship?
No.
Do I need to be a psychology major to enroll in PSYC 4931, Field Placement Internship?
Yes.
Do I need to have completed any certain number of psychology hours before I am eligible?
Yes, you need to have at least 15 hours of psychology course work completed or in progress.
Can I retake this internship course at any time and receive credit?
No, the psychology department only allows three (3) total hours of internship credit to be given.
Who can I contact to obtain further information concerning the field placement internship in psychology?
Please note that course enrollment is limited. Only 25 students may enroll in the course during any given semester. Enrollment is first-come, first-served, so be sure to start applying for internships immediately!
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