Internships and Individualized Experiences in Psychology (and related areas)

      The following links provide some general information about various aspects of Internships,
Individualized Experiences, and Applications of Knowledge in Psychology and related areas.

      The Psychology major at Metropolitan State University has an "Application of Knowledge" requirement.
This is intended to include an individualized, applied learning experience for students.  A few students may have transfer
work from another school that could satisfy the application of knowledge requirement.  Many (perhaps most)
students complete an individualized internship to fulfill this requirement (this experience appears as Psyc 350I
on a student's record).  Also, some students participate in Group internships (offered in Psychology as Psyc 399,
usually in social psych or the psych lab; also in some other Depts.), which can be used toward the application of knowledge
requirement -- just make sure to discuss (and clear) this with your advisor IN ADVANCE.  Students interested in research
could do an independent-study research experience working with a faculty member of her/his research, of if a student has
interests in a particular topic she or he may be able to do a student-initiated independent study research project with
a willing faculty supervisor.  Finally, some students who have substantial experience in a work or other setting may
qualify for Prior Learning Assessment (or PLA).  Generally, one can consult with the Psychology Department Internship Liaison
to see if this would be possible in your case (to find the liaison, look in the course schedule for the Instructor listed for Psyc 010
under "Workshops" in the Psychology section of the printed schedule -- or look for Psyc 010 in the online schedule).

   ALL of these options require arrangement with offices/individuals PRIOR to registration (so make sure you plan time to do this
work prior to registration.  MOST of these experiences require a paper registration form, and cannot be added through the online
registration process.  Such "classes" are added to your schedule only after the completed forms are approved by the Psychology
Department and delivered to Gateway Student Services.  This process takes time, so PLAN AHEAD!

     Individualized Internships are coordinated by the Center for Community-Based Learning (CCBL).
The CCBL works with internship sites and coordinates the paperwork associated with registration for individualized
internships.  The CCBL also maintains lists of internship possibilities, and will consult with students desiring internships
(they do this in group sessions once a month, or individually by appointment).  The CCBL web site and the CCBL
Academic Internship pages provide links to much information on internships.  Finally, most issues of the Catalyst list
internship opportunities.

     Each Internship also has an academic component.  If you do an individualized internship, the faculty liaison for
the relevant academic area will have group meetings and/or written requirements that provide mechanisms through
which you can demonstrate and/or document your learning (you get credit for Learning, not just for doing). 
In Psychology, find the liaison by looking for the Instructor listed for Psyc 010 under Workshops in the Psychology
section of the printed schedule -- or look for Psyc 010 in the online schedule.  You MUST attend the group meetings
and complete the assignments in order to get credit for your internship.

    For ideas about the areas in which previous students in Psychology have done internships, please browse through the
following links.  Here you will find brief summaries prepared by students as part of the academic component of the internship.
The summaries are not really categorized, but are grouped by time completed (not area of study).
Internships - group 1
Internships - group 2
Internships - group 3
Internships - group 4
Internships - group 5
Internships - group 6

The files above provide examples of diverse internships.  These are UNEDITED accounts written by students who completed the Internships.
Any site in which you can  learn about the application of psychology and psychological
concepts would be eligible, as long as you are supervised by someone with a bachelor's (or masters or doctoral) degree.