Internships

Interested in receiving real world experience in the field of psychology? Apply for PSH 498: Psychology Internship!

Students greatly benefit from internship experiences. For example, Gallup* recently reported that University graduates (2002-2016) with relevant internships were more than twice as likely to acquire a good job immediately after graduation, and an internship reduced the time it took to find a good job in half.

Our Psychology Internship course offers students practical experience in the field of psychology and includes a wide variety of placements where students can work with different populations, including children, adolescents, and adults. Students can use this opportunity to gain worthwhile real-world experience and to explore different career options within the field of psychology. The internship experience facilitates informed career decisions, and provides relevant experiences for employment after graduation as well as graduate school.

*Statistics gathered from Gallop-Purdue Index

About our Internship:

Psychology Internship is a 3-credit course that can be either paid or unpaid, depending on the internship. Students are required to complete at least 135 hours over the course of the semester.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS*

• Minimum Junior Status
• Minimum 2.5 GPA (cumulative and Psychology major)
• Completion of PSH 110, PSH 202, and In-progress or Completion of PSH 301
• Completion of three upper-division courses in Psychology at Brockport
• Reliable transportation to the Internship site
  • If you do not have a car, you are responsible for arranging alternative transportation. On-campus internships may be available.

*Delta students may be able to apply earlier due to the shortened degree program but are subject to alternative requirements. Contact the Internship Coordinator for more details.

How to Apply

Applications are due the semester before you wish to participate in the internship for credit. A completed application does not ensure approval or successful placement.

Spring Internships: Due September 15
Summer/Fall Internships: Due February 15

Apply Now

1. Acquire necessary prerequisites (eligibility requirements listed above.
2. Complete your application online. You will be asked to provide the following:
   1. Verification that you have completed the prerequisites in Step 1.
   2. Names and emails of two full-time psychology faculty Recommenders:
      1. If that is not possible, contact the Internship Coordinator for further guidance.
      2. Click here for a listing of full-time psychology faculty member.
      3. You will need to ask Recommenders for their permission before providing their information, and with their approval, you may list their names and email addresses.
      4. Choose faculty who know you well so that they can accurately describe your academic skills — and equally importantly — your maturity, professional skills and demeanor.
         1. Students must be dependable and conscientious, and they must conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner, with the maturity and work ethic needed to perform successfully on an internship.
   3. An up-to-date Degree Works degree summary report.
   4. A resume and cover letter (It is strongly recommended that you seek input from Career Services in Dailey Hall). In your cover letter, you should address:
      1. Career interests, goals for the internship, and interest in particular populations (e.g., working with kids).
         1. More specific information may allow for a better fit with your placement.
      2. Coursework and previous experience relevant to your internship.
      3. If you have interest in a specific internship site(s), please specify (optional).
         1. Please indicate in your letter if you have restrictions on internship sites due to transportation, as this could have implications for the choice of placements.
3. Meet with the internship coordinator
   1. If the student meets the prerequisites in Step 1 and the application is approved, the Internship Coordinator will contact the student (via email) to set up a group meeting within two-four weeks of the application deadline.
   2. Please respond promptly to a request to meet with the Internship Coordinator. This meeting will help evaluate the student’s suitability for an internship, offer advice on professionalism and interviewing, and discuss placements for students.
4. Notification to begin interviewing with potential internship site.
   Upon successful completion of the previous steps, the student will be notified by the Internship Coordinator to proceed with contacting an internship site.
   1. The Internship Coordinator will facilitate contact between the student and the internship site.
   2. The site may request a phone or face to face interview which allows students to discuss their interests and goals for doing an internship with the organization, potential duties for the internship, and scheduling issues.
   3. This is a professional interview and students should dress and behave accordingly.
      1. In these situations, students are representing the Internship Coordinator, Department of Psychology, and SUNY Brockport. This must be taken very seriously in order to maintain the sites’ interest in having our students as interns.
   4. The organization makes the final determination if the student is selected (please register for a back-up course during major reservation in the event that an internship does not work out).
   5. Note: If the student is accepted by the site, the Internship Coordinator will work with the student to register for PSH 498: Psychology Internship, a 3 credit course which requires a minimum of 135 hours over the semester.
5. Sign a learning agreement
   The Internship Coordinator, student, and site supervisor will work together to complete a learning agreement prior to the start of the internship.
   1. This agreement will clearly define expectations for the intern’s professional behavior and responsibilities as an intern.
   2. A syllabus will be offered by the Internship Coordinator at the start of the semester.
   3. If the terms of the agreement are violated at any point during the internship, the site supervisor will be asked to immediately notify the Internship Coordinator, who will discuss the situation with the intern.
      1. Plans for resolution of any concerns raised by the site will be formulated and the intern will return to his/her duties.
      2. If the concerns are not resolved, the student, site supervisor, and Internship Coordinator will need to discuss possible termination of the internship.
   4. Students may need to complete additional internship site procedures (e.g., background check and finger printing, vaccinations, trainings, etc.).

Note: If you do not meet the necessary prerequisites or do not get accepted into the internship course for credit, you may still volunteer to gain professional experience. If you wish to volunteer, you arrange that yourself and do not need to go through this application process. If you wish to go that route, be sure to present yourself to the site as a volunteer and not a psychology internship student.

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS:

“Throughout this internship I learned just as much about how to conduct myself as a professional and act in a career as I did about the internship site itself. It was one of the smartest and most beneficial choices I have made in my academic and, hopefully, professional life.” - Courtney Jensen, ’19, Children’s Institute

“The highlight of my experience has been being able to use the skills and knowledge that I’ve learned in college and apply them to a real world, practical, setting. I have definitely gained a lot of confidence in my abilities and gotten a taste of what a career in this field would be like. It has opened my eyes to a population of people that will benefit from the skills that I have to offer.” - Alyx Hullfish ’18, Epilepsy-PRALID Inc.

“Prior to my internship, my career outlook was completely different. If I had not taken part in my internship, I would be spending money on a graduate program that wasn’t right for me. The hands-on experience in the “real world” is so important and necessary for students long-term career decisions. In addition, I obtained real experience in the field I would like to go into, which helped me to build my resume and get accepted into my graduate program of choice.” - Hanna Thomson ’19, East House

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For any questions you may have, please contact the Psychology Internship Coordinator, Laurel McNall through email or phone at (585) 395-2904.

For more information on international internships, please visit the Center for Global Education and Engagement in Dailey Hall or visit their website.

For help with your resume and cover letter, please visit Career Services in Dailey Hall or visit their website.

Note: State University of New York (SUNY) policy prohibits SUNY Brockport admission applications from inquiring into an applicant’s prior criminal history. After acceptance, if such individual seeks campus housing or participation in clinical or field experiences, internships or study abroad programs, the University shall inquire if the student has previously been convicted of a felony . The information required to be disclosed under SUNY policy regarding such felony convictions shall be reviewed by a standing campus committee consistent with the legal standards articulated in New York State Corrections Law. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the dean’s office of their intended academic program.