Psychology
Undergraduate Advising
S105 Elliott Hall
75 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN
55455-0344

Map/Directions

Email: psyadvis@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-8520
Fax: 612-626-2079

 

Psychology Internships

Whether paid, unpaid, for credit or volunteer, internships are opportunities to develop practical, work-related skills. Internships in psychology are great because they help you see how the discipline of psychology is at work in the larger community and they illustrates how a major in psychology can prepare you for such a wide variety of careers.

PSY 3996: Field Study/Internship in Psychology

Finding a psychology-related internship does not automatically qualify you for earning Psy 3996 credits. Credits are earned for academic work completed in conjunction with an internship experience. An arrangement of this sort requires a faculty mentor, someone willing to oversee the academic components of your experience and credits earned. This mentorship role requires a time investment on the part of the faculty - time that many simply do not have. Therefore, searches for faculty mentors are not always successful. However, completing an internship can be an extremely valuable experience, regardless of whether you are able to arrange to receive credit in psychology.

Here are the steps that must be taken to arrange for Psy 3996 registration:

  1. Identify and secure a psychology-related internship.
  2. Find a faculty sponsor willing to oversee the academic portion of your experience.
  3. Pick up a Student/Faculty Contract form in Psychology Undergraduate Advising.
  4. Complete the contract form with your faculty mentor. The completed contract will serve as a written learning agreement between you and the faculty; it will outline the academic expectations for the credits you will be earning.
  5. Return to Psychology Undergraduate Advising for adviser approval and further registration instructions.

PLEASE NOTE: Psy 3996 is considered one of the Engagement Opportunities for Credit in Psychology, of which a maximum of six credits may be applied toward the psychology major.

 

Don't need the credits?
Not a problem! Many students participate in internships in the Twin Cities, and other communities, without receiving academic credit. Internships are worth it. Not only are they something you can add to your resume, they can help you decide which careers might be a good fit for you!