Psychology
218 Scotus Hall
814-472-3344
Fax: 814-472-2787
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Mailing Address
Saint Francis University
P.O. Box 600
Loretto, PA
15940-0600
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Psychology Internships and Independent Study
I. The Purposes of Internships
II. Internship sites in Psychology
Clinically-related sites
Other applied settings
Research settings
III. Qualification for Internship in Psychology
IV. Criteria for Selecting an Internship Site
V. Procedure Site Identification
a. Site Identification: The Student’s Responsibilities
b. Site Identification: Faculty Responsibilities
c. Site Identification: On-Site Supervisor Responsibilities
VI. Procedures for Completion of the Internship
a. Completion of the Internship: Student Responsibilities
b. Completion of the Internship: On-site Supervisors Role
c. Completion of the Internship: The Faculty Coordinator’s Role
d. Grading
VII. Required Hours
VIII. Registration
IX. Guidelines for and/or Examples of Projects, Readings, and Journal Entries
X. Evaluation Criteria
XI. Financial Matter Independent Study
PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIPS
I. THE PURPOSE OF INTERNSHIPS:
a. Synthesis of skills, knowledge, and values: An internship can provide a rich opportunity to apply and integrate the skills, knowledge, and values derived from coursework in psychology and in your general education.
b. Help in identification of desired employment or desired area of future graduate study: An internship can be very helpful for a student in terms of providing important information concerning the types of institutional settings, client populations, theoretical orientations, and practical approaches that the student might find most or least desirable in future employment or graduate study.
c. Facilitate acquisition of professional skills and understanding of professional ethical obligations: The opportunity to observe professionals and to work under the supervision of practicing psychologists can help promote student development of professional skills and understanding of professional standards.
d. Serve the needs of the internship host: One goal of community placements is to serve the needs of the host institution or agency.
e. Establishing links between Saint Francis University and the community: The successful education of future professionals obviously requires a cooperative effort between colleges and universities and other private and professional institutions. Internships provide one means to this end.
f. Adding to or changing the nature of your resume: Some employers do seem to value work experience when evaluating the applications of potential employees. At the very least, it provides them with an additional source of information about your performance. It should be noted, however, that almost all graduate programs in psychology are primarily interested in your academic skills. Some internship taken at the expense of two or more upper-level courses may weaken rather than strengthen a graduate application. Sometimes summer employment in your area of interest can allow you to achieve the goals of internship experience without introducing other costs. On the other hand, there are competitive internship placement options which do offer distinct advantages for those seeking admission to graduate programs in psychology.
II. INTERNSHIP SITES IN PSYCHOLOGY:
Each student interested in an internship is responsible for identification of possible placement sites. See section below for additional information concerning site selection. The following list is designed to proved sample of internship placements secured in the past by psychology majors.
a. Clinically-related sites: The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars in Washington D.C. provides housing, supporting classroom instruction, and clinically-related placement options. Information concerning application procedures and deadlines is available on the internet at http://www.twc.edu. Materials are also available in Dr. King’s office (Scotus 310).
b. Other applied settings: Saint Francis psychology majors have arranged internships related to special education (ARIN), community organizations (the Dorothy Day Center, labor union organizing, parent associations, and women’s shelters), high school-college support programs (e.g. Upward Bound), and industrial psychology (personnel office in major corporations).
c. Research setting: The most sophisticated research settings in which SFU students have served as interns have been those established through the above-mentioned Washington Center. SFU students have secured placements in National Institute for Mental Health research projects related to developmental, community, and clinical psychology. Other SFU psychology majors have established internship placements in corporate research laboratories.
III. Qualifications for Internships in Psychology:
a. Junior or senior class standing.
b. Successful completion of available coursework relevant to the internship in question.
c. Recommendation by at least on full-time SFU psychology faculty member for the specific internship in question and approval by the psychology internship coordinator.
d. An invitation by a specific site (contingent on recommendation, application, and successful site interview).
e. Although a student may register for 2-15 credits in internship (or practicum), ONLY THREE CREDITS are applicable to fulfill the requirements of the psychology major. Any remaining credits must be elective.
IV. Criteria for Selecting an Internship Site:
a. For clinically-related internships, the on-site supervisor MUST be a licensed Ph.D. psychologist or a master’s lever psychologist working under the supervision of a licensed clinician.
b. For research-related and other applied psychology setting, if the student is seeking internship credit in psychology, the supervisor should be a PH. D. or masters-level psychologist. Exceptions can be made when the student is attempting to establish a bridge between her/his undergraduate psychology major and anticipated employment or graduate work in psychology-related fields such as education, research, business, or community organization.
c. The internship site must be willing to provide, and capable of providing, a meaningful supervised work experience for the duration of the agreed-upon term of the internship, and to report on the student’s performance.
d. The internship site must be willing to allow the faculty coordinator to make on-site visits to observe the student’s performance.
e. The internship site must provide the student intern with a professional opportunity that provides substantially new areas of knowledge for him/her and constitutes work worthy of academic credit. Existing employment will not be approved for internship credit.
V. Procedure: Site Identification
a. Site Identification: The Student’s Responsibilities
1. Arrange a meeting with the Psychology Faculty internship coordinator to discuss potential placement sites. Be certain to do the AT LEAST four weeks prior to registration for the semester during which you hope to schedule the internship. Discuss the idea of an internship placement with you advisor AT LEAST one semester prior to beginning your internship planning.
2. Obtain Saint Francis University internship application and guidelines from the Office of Academic Affairs.
3. After you and the faculty coordinator have discussed potential sites, contact the site(s) in which you would like seek placement to arrange an interview.
4. Arrange a follow-up meeting with the Psychology Faculty Coordinator to prepare a draft of your internship contract.
5. Finalize the internship contract in consultation with both on-site and Faculty coordinators.
6. Submit the completed contract, signed by the student intern, on-site coordinator, and faculty coordinator to the Office of Academic Affairs.
b. Site Identification: Faculty Responsibilities
1. The Saint Francis University Psychology Internship coordinator will assist qualified student in identifying possible sites and helping match the student’s skills and interests with possible placement locations.
2. The coordinator will contact the potential site to help arrange your interview, when appropriate. The coordinator will contact the potential supervisor to discuss you application, answer question, and clarify the responsibilities of the student, the on-site coordinator, and the faculty coordinator. The supervisor will proved appropriate letters of recommendation, confirmation, and thanks.
3. The coordinator will assist the student in defining internship goals and objectives, required reading, and required project.
4. The Psychology internship coordinator will supervise the completion of the formal, written internship contract and, along with the student and on-site supervisor, sign the contract before it is submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs.
c. Site Identification: On-Site Supervisors Responsibilities
1. The on-site coordinator is responsible for assessing the student intern’s application for the internship placement and approving or rejecting the application.
2. The on-site supervisor will consult with the student in the development of provisions of the internship contract, including the duration of the placement, specific daily schedule, types of work to which the student will be introduced or types of work with which the student will be involved, and the design (if desired) of the required project.
3. The on-site supervisor, along with the student intern and faculty coordinator, will sign the completed contract before it is submitted to the SFU Office of Academic Affairs.
VI. Procedures for Completion of the Internship
a. Completion of the Internship: Student Responsibilities
The Saint Francis University catalogue and the guideline issued by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs list basic obligation of student interns which are included below.
1. Complete the associated project which has been approved by the on-site supervisor, faculty supervisor, and is identified in the formal internship contract.
2. Keep a daily log or journal.
3. Read at least one book, approved by both the on-site and faculty coordinators, which is specifically pertinent to the selected internship.
4. Meet with the psychology faculty coordinator as specified in the internship contract.
5. Meet the standards which normally apply to the employees of the institution which is offering the internship opportunity.
6. Be available, and on time, for scheduled activities. To notify both site supervisor and faculty supervisor, in advance, for necessary absences.
7. Plan and carry out all assignments in a prompt and professional manner.
8. Work hard and learn as much as possible from the experience, and to make a contribution to the host institution.
9. Represent Saint Francis University and the internship host in a professional manner and fulfill, to the best of her/his abilities, the conditions of the contract, and the expectations of the on-sire and faculty supervisors.
10. Failure to complete with any of the above guidelines and requirements can result in immediate dismissal from the program. b. Completion of the Internship: On-site Supervisors Role
1. Provide the intern with significant learning opportunities, including opportunity to observe and to engage in meaningful work.
2. Present the student to co-workers in a manner which insures the student’s professional status.
3. Provide supervision and guidance to the intern.
4. Conduct with the student periodic evaluation sessions to assess the student’s progress, review the projected work schedule, and discuss matters of concern.
5. Notify the faculty coordinator immediately of any problems arising out of association with, or supervision of, the student.
6. Prepare a final written evaluation of the intern’s performance.
c. Completion of the Internship: The Faculty Coordinator’s Role:
1. Monitor the intern’s performance either by periodic telephone contact or personal visit. All internships within a radius of 100 miles require a personal visit.
2. Meet with the student to discuss progress and supervise completion of the required project as identified in the internship contract.
3. Provide specific instructions for completion of other internship course requirements, including the daily journal and required readings.
4. Oversee completion of the internship agreement as approved by the student, the on-site supervisor, the faculty supervisor, and the vice President of Academic Affairs.
5. Arrange mid-internship and post-internship interviews with the student intern to help them assimilate their work experiences and discuss with them future goals and objectives.
6. Solicit the on-site supervisor’s evaluation of the internship, assess the quality of the student’s project, review the student’s journal and report of related reading, and assign grade.
d. Grading
1. The Psychology faculty internship coordinator is responsible for grading the student project and for submitting all grades (graded credits and pass/fail credits) to the Saint Francis College Registrar.
2. The on-site supervisor is responsible for evaluating the student’s on-site performance in terms of “pass” or “fail” and for conveying this assessment to the Psychology faculty internship coordinator.
VII. Required Hours
The normal length of an internship is that of a regular semester during the fall and spring semesters. The student will typically be on-site for fourteen weeks and use the final week of the semester for submission of final papers and evaluation of the project.
During the Summer Session, the length of the internship may vary depending on the number of credits for which the student has registered.
The number of hours worked per week during the semester varies directly with the number of academic credits applied to the internship experience. The student is expected to work about three (3) hours per week, based on a 14 week calendar, for every hour of academic credit. * **
Number of Academic Credits
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Required Number of Hours
Per Week
(Based on a 14 week calendar)
| | 2 | 6 | | 3 | 8 | | 4 | 11 | | 5 | 14 | | 6 | 16 | | 7 | 19 | | 8 | 22 | | 9 | 24 | | 10 | 27 | | 11 | 30 | | 12 | 32 | | 13 | 35 | | 14 | 38 | | 15 | 40 |
VIII. Registration:
Each semester’s schedule of classes includes guidelines for internship registration. To earn credits for an internship, you must register for two co requisite courses: Psychology 398 or Psychology 399. The course numbered 398 is the project portion of the internship and will be graded A-F. The co-requisite course in that same discipline numbered 399 is the supervised experience portion of the internship and will be graded Pass-Fail. Both courses are variable credit courses, which means that the number of credits to be earned in each course depends on the total number of internship credits you intend to earn. The minimum number of credits for an internship is two (2) credits; the maximum number is fifteen (15) credits. Students are not allowed to register for internships until their contracts have been approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
The chart below will be followed to determine the number of credits for each of the co-requisite courses.
Instructions for use of the chart: Select the number in Column A which corresponds to the TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDITS you intend to earn for the internship. Opposite that number in Column B is the number of credits to be earned in 398; in column C is the number of credits to be earned in 399. For example, if you intend to earn 6 credits for an internship, you must register for two (2) credits in 398 and four (4) credits in 399.
| A | B
| C | | Total number of credits in internship (Courses 398+399) | 398
Credits | 399
Credits | | 15 | 3 | 12 | | 14 | 3 | 11 | | 13 | 3 | 10 | | 12 | 3 | 9 | | 11 | 3 | 8 | | 10 | 3 | 7 | | 9 | 2 | 7 | | 8 | 2 | 6 | | 7 | 2 | 5 | | 6 | 2 | 4 | | 5 | 1 | 4 | | 4 | 1 | 3 | | 3 | 1 | 2 | | 2 | 1 | 1 |
IX. Guidelines for and/or Examples of Projects, Readings, and Journal Entries
a. Projects: Ideally, the internship project will be designed to be of mutual benefit to the student and the host agency. The specific requirements of this project must be identified by the student in consultation with both the on-site and faculty internship supervisors. First steps toward the design of the project include (1) identifying your own goals for the internship and (2) asking the on-site supervisor for suggestions of projects that might be of use to them – things they have always hope to do, but never found time for. Projects involving agency data are severely restricted by professional obligations for confidentiality.
Some examples of successful projects:
- preparing an annotated bibliography for staff use on topics requested by staff members
- preparing a “sourcebook” for the agency which identifies various professional resources including grant opportunities, available conferences, available websites, bibliographies, and identifying information concerning local and regional referral sources.
-preparing a guidebook to the institution (for use by other professional and interns) which accumulates information such as patient characteristics (age, diagnosis, length of stay, etc), staff characteristics, funding levels and sources, program availability, evaluations of treatment, community associations, etc.
-accumulating basic agency data (abiding by strict obligations concerning confidentiality) including client characteristics, disposition, staffing, and funding.
-conducting research as requested by the on-site supervisor
-preparing a workshop for agency clientele
-preparing a workshop related to the internship for the SFU community
b. Required Reading: Again, a first step toward identifying your required reading is to ask the on-site supervisor if she or he regards a particular book as essential reading for anyone working in that particular internship placement. The psychology faculty supervisor will also provide suggestions for useful and important related reading. You can also check publisher and bookseller websites and visit a library, or visit a good bookstore to come up with some of your own suggestions.
c. Journal Entries: The purpose of keeping this journal is to help you keep track of questions you have, help you consider and re-consider your internship and professional goals, and give you a chance to monitor your own professional development. Generally, a journal entry should record the date, time, number of hours worked that day, a list of internship activities, and any questions you may wish to pursue, or work-related observations that you find to be of particular interest. Remember that under all circumstances, maintaining confidentiality with respect to clients and colleagues is an absolute obligation.
X. Evaluation Criteria:
a. Fulfillment of the contractual obligations agreed to by the student, on-site supervisor, faculty supervisor, and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
b. Fulfillment of the obligations identified in the psychology internship guidelines.
c. Fulfillment of internship obligations in a manner consistent with professional standards.
d. Completion of written projects or presentations in ways consistent with basic standards of writing as identified by the SFU writing handbook or consistent with professional standards of presentation.
XI. Financial Matters:
a. Students must pay internship tuition charges at the prevailing college per-credit-hour rate.
b. Saint Francis University provides no remuneration to student interns.
c. The host agency is expected to reimburse the intern for all job-related, out-of pocket expenses.
d. Interns are NOT covered by Saint Francis University insurance of any kind.
Psychology Independent Study St. Francis University offers students the opportunity to pursue independent study. Oftentimes, psychology majors use this opportunity to conduct research. Students may also elect to pursue other self-designed academically worthy projects, such as independent reading or study of particular topics or theories. All independent study requires a faculty sponsor.
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