What is an internship?
An internship is a short-term position within an organization, designed to give the intern direct experience in an occupation of interest. We help undergraduate students majoring in psychology to line up internships with relevant local and national organizations. Although these semester-long internships are usually unpaid, you can receive 1-4 credit hours by enrolling in the “PSY 391 Internship Experience” course.
Why should you consider an internship?
• It is not enough to take courses during college, you need other accomplishments on your resume to stand out and be competitive in the job market
• It can be hard to imagine a potential career path if you have never observed or taken part in the day-to-day aspects of the job. Completing an internship will give you a realistic sense of what a potential job actually involves, to determine whether it is a good fit for you.
• Internships expand your career network. You will form relationships with professionals who can write letters of recommendation for you, and help guide and mentor you as you develop your career.
• The host organization may offer you a job after a successful internship.
Organizational Site Partners
We partner with local and national organizations to provide high quality internship opportunities for our psychology majors. Click on the links below to learn more about our regular site partners. Students are also welcome to identify their own sites for internship, subject to approval by the Internship Coordinator.
• MetroHealth - accepting applications for Fall 2024 internships, submit this form by August 16, 2024
• NAMI Greater Cleveland (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - accepting applications on a rolling basis
Please fill out the application form well in advance of the semester in which you hope to intern (several weeks before the first day of classes.)
The PSY 391 Internship Experience Course
The Department of Psychology offers undergraduate course credits for approved internships, via the “PSY 391 Internship Experience” course. These internships can take place in Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters. The details of your internship (e.g., specific duties and activities) will be tailored to each student, based on a proposal that you will craft in collaboration with your host organization.
Students need to meet each of the following requirements to be eligible for a PSY 391 internship (otherwise you will need special permission from the Internship Coordinator)
• Enrolled full-time and in good standing as an undergraduate at CSU
• Have formally declared a major in psychology
• Have taken “PSY 200 A Major’s Guide to Psychology” previously, or are currently enrolled in PSY 200
• GPA of at least 3.0 for the two previous semesters on record
Student can enroll in PSY 391 for 1-4 elective credits in psychology, depending on the hours per week spent interning at the host organization.
• 1 credit = 3 hours/week, 45 hours total
• 2 credits = 6 hours/week, 90 hours total
• 3 credits = 9 hours/week, 135 hours total
• 4 credits = 12 hours/week, 180 hours total
How do I begin my PSY 391 internship?
If you are interested in pursing a PSY 391 internship, start by filling out the PSY 391 Internship Application form. We will then work with you to establish a match with a host organization (if you have not already identified one). Please fill out your application well in advance of the semester in which you hope to intern, as you will need to have the proposal approved and complete any onboarding procedures required by your host organization (e.g., background checks, immunizations) before the first week of classes.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the PSY 391 course and/or internships in general, send an email to the Psychology Internship Coordinator, Dr. Rob Hurley, at r.s.hurley@csuohio.edu