Psychology Internship

PSY 496 (3 - 6 credits) offers students the opportunity to work in the community for course credit. Many opportunities exist with individuals of different ages (children, adolescents, adults) and different levels of functioning (typical individuals or those with serious emotional and behavioral difficulties). This experience is a wonderful addition to a resume or application for graduate school. To participate, a student must:

• be a declared psychology major or minor,
• have junior or senior standing, and
• have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in psychology.
• Psychology minors must have completed at least four of their psychology minor courses prior to enrollment.

If you are interested in completing an internship in the Summer or Fall 2023 semester, you must attend one of the one-hour meetings, or contact Dr. Kristi Salters-Pedneault at saltersk@easternct.edu on or before March 28, 2023. You are welcome to attend even if you are not sure you are ready to apply for an internship next semester!

Informational Meetings

Some of the meetings will be taking place in person and some will be held online via Webex (see the schedule in the link below).

Please use the link below to see the schedule of meetings, to reserve a spot in one meeting, and receive a meeting link: 

Sign-Up for PSY 496 Internship Meetings

Forms

Click here for the Internship Agreement Form.

Click here for the Internship Evaluation Form.

What opportunities are available?

This is an experiential learning course where students participate in an internship in a social service setting such as a hospital clinic, human service agency, group home, school counseling office, probation office, or specialized classroom. The student acquires knowledge regarding methods of intervention and the treatment philosophy of the placement agency by participating in an observational and supportive role. Students participating in the practicum are typically obligated for the equivalent of 8 - 16 hours per week for 3 - 6 credits. Students negotiate the actual hourly schedule with their placement supervisor.

There is a list of sites where we have pre-established agreements for our students to participate in undergraduate psychology internships. The students can select from this list or students can find their own sites. The list is revised each fall and spring semester, and is presented at the informational meetings held each semester.

Internships are on a semester-by-semester basis following ECSU's schedule. Students may participate in a single placement for more than one semester if both student and agency agree, or students may repeat the course at a different placement.

The placement agency determines the actual program in which you participate. Placement sites may ask you to participate in any activity where they think undergraduate psychology students may be of assistance. In the past, activities that ECSU students have been involved in have included, but not been limited to:

• 1 - 1 mentoring
• 1 - 1 tutoring
• Administering and scoring standardized rating scales
• Co-therapy in treatment groups such as social skills training, problem-solving, divorce, children of alcoholics, anger management, and social skills
• Implementing behavior management and behavior modification programs
• Peer mediation
• Program design/administration
• Shadowing a probation officer
• Small group tutoring
• Systematic direct observation
• Supervision of activity groups