DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Byrne Hall, Room 420
2219 N. Kenmore Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614-3505
773.325.7887
Directors: Molly Brown, Ph.D. & Bernadette Sánchez, Ph.D.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM
The program is an integral component of the Human Services Concentration for psychology majors. Students can earn
course credit for fieldwork done outside the classroom and gain practical experience in psychology. This experience is
helpful in making decisions regarding career and graduate school choices.
Upon graduation, psychology majors will generally enter a highly competitive job market or apply to graduate school.
Internship is one way of easing this transition by offering an alternative experience which includes training in specific skills
by way of coursework in Applied Psychology I and II (PSY 357 & 358) and a year of part-time fieldwork (PSY 395). Our
graduates have obtained a variety of entry-level jobs in social services. Many of our graduates are offered full-time jobs at
their internship sites. In addition, this program makes students more competitive for admission to graduate school. Our
graduates have been admitted to law school, and graduate programs in psychology, social work, education, counseling,
criminal justice, nursing, and occupational therapy.
PROGRAM GOALS
The goals of this program are similar to those developed by the University Internship Program. These goals include:
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Actively illustrate the relevance of academic work in an applied human services setting.
Add an experiential dimension to the academic program by providing an opportunity to apply concepts and ideas
learned in the classroom to a work setting.
Assist students in developing and/or applying valuable technical communication and interpersonal skills in a work
environment.
Assist students in developing and applying research skills useful in both professional and academic areas.
Strengthen students’ confidence in their ability to function effectively in a professional setting.
Provide students with an opportunity to explore career possibilities in the mental health field on a first hand basis.
Enhance students’ employability in their chosen human services field by providing them with work experience in
that field.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
In order to participate in the internship program, students must have junior standing and should expect to complete the
following courses by the end of junior year:
PSY 105 – Introductory Psychology I
PSY 106 – Introductory Psychology II
PSY 240 – Introductory Statistics I
PSY 241 – Research Methods I
PSY 242 – Research Methods II
PSY 333 – Child Psychology
PSY 347 – Social Psychology
PSY 353 – Abnormal Psychology
Students must complete PSY 357 and PSY 358 during junior year to be eligible for PSY 395 (Field Placement) senior
year. Most students applying for internship are in the Human Services Concentration and will have completed this
sequence of courses to satisfy the Human Services requirements.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer students must attend DePaul for at least one quarter before applying to the internship program.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Those students interested in the internship program apply during fall quarter of their junior year. The application deadline
is November 1st. If the application deadline falls on a weekend, then applications may be submitted the following
Monday. The internship application is available in a rack across the hall from the Psychology Department (Byrne Hall,
Room 420).
The application process requires a summary of psychology courses taken, a list of human services related volunteer or
employment activities, a brief description of future career plans, and one letter of recommendation from a faculty member
in the Psychology Department.
COURSEWORK DESCRIPTION AND REGISTRATION
Students who are accepted into the Internship Program must register for PSY 357: Applied Psychology I during winter
quarter of junior year and PSY 358: Applied Psychology II during spring quarter of junior year. Also, students register for
PSY 395: Fieldwork/Internship during each quarter of their senior year. These courses are only offered during the day.
A desirable aspect of this internship program is that students share their coursework and fieldwork experience with the
same groups of peers for 5 quarters. Students will develop relationships with others who have similar career interests and
will have the opportunity to develop their professional goals with the support of this group.
PSY 357 and PSY 358 prepare students for their internship during senior year. PSY 357: Applied Psychology I explores
community issues that need to be considered when working with individuals in community settings. Examples of topics
explored in this course include social change, diversity, stress & coping, and the role of community organizations in the
lives of youth. Readings from different sources are discussed in the classroom and students write papers regarding these
readings. Also, individuals from a variety of local community settings come to the course once a week to describe their
organizations, programs/services provided, and available internship opportunities.
PSY 358: Applied Psychology II explores ethics in applied psychology and theoretical and practical bases of providing
assistance in human service settings and/or assisting in applied research projects. The course provides a survey of
models of counseling with an emphasis on identifying and applying a variety of skills utilized in helping relationships,
including listening, reflecting, summarizing, interpreting, and informing. Students conduct small projects in the course to
better help them understand themselves, human service settings, and an important social issue (e.g., AIDS, violence).
Students must receive a grade of “C” or better in PSY 357 & 358 and the approval of the instructors in order to register for
PSY 395. When scheduling senior classes and other activities it is important to keep in mind that an appropriate block of
time is reserved for internship.
During senior year, students will engage in 6-8 hours per week at internship and take PSY 395. Students will earn 4 hours
of credit per quarter for a total of 12 credit hours. Also, students will meet weekly as a group with the internship program
director to receive supervision and discuss their fieldwork experiences.
FIELDWORK SITE SELECTION
A wide range of human services settings are available, including schools, rehabilitation centers, community-based
organizations, jails/prisons, hospitals, residential mental health facilities, and criminal justice systems. Students can work
with persons of different age groups and culturally diverse backgrounds. Students select their internship agency during
their junior year.
Most undergraduate internships are unpaid positions.
FIELDWORK EVALUATION PROCESS
During the fieldwork experience (PSY 395) students will:
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Write a quarterly paper on a topic related to their fieldwork.
Complete assigned readings that are pertinent to a range of fieldwork placements.
Record internship experience in a journal which is submitted weekly to the instructor of the fieldwork course.
Evaluate their experiences at the community setting at which they are working.
Have their performance evaluated each quarter by their internship supervisor.
Meet once per week with the internship program director and other interns to discuss their experiences.
Grades are based on the quality of journals and papers, the internship supervisor evaluations, and class participation.
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Byrne Hall, Room 420
2219 N. Kenmore Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614-3505
773.325.7887
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
(see reverse side for application)
APPLICATION DEADLINE – November 1
Applications must be submitted to the Department of Psychology, Byrne Hall, Room 420.
RECOMMENDATION LETTER
One letter of reference from a faculty member in the Department of Psychology is required.
INTERVIEW
An interview is not required before the application is submitted although it might be requested after you
application has been reviewed.
WINTER QUARTER REGISTRATION
Those students applying for internship should register for PSY 357: Applied Psychology I for Winter
Quarter, even if you have not received formal approval of your internship application.
QUESTIONS?
Questions about the internship program can be directed to your advisor or Dr. Brown at 773.325.7148 or
Dr. Sánchez at 773.325.4841.
UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION (see reverse side for
instructions) (Turn in to Dept., Byrne 420, Attn: Dr. Brown)
Name _____________________________________________________
Date ____________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________________ State ___________
Zip code_________________________
Phone _________________________________________________________
Overall GPA _____________________
Psychology faculty member submitting reference letter _____________________________________________________
(Hardcopy or email to Dr. Brown)
Indicate psychology course taken and grade received below.
Course #
Course Title
Grade
PSY 105
Introductory Psychology I
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PSY 106
Introductory Psychology II
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PSY 240
Introductory Statistics I
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PSY 241
Research Methods I
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PSY 242
Research Methods II
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PSY 333
Child Psychology
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PSY 347
Social Psychology
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PSY 353
Abnormal Psychology
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List any volunteer or employment in human services related activities:
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What are your occupational plans after completing college?
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