Psychology Internships
An internship is a significant opportunity offered in the undergraduate psychology program at Salem State. The internship experience and the supervision provided by both a faculty member and an internship site supervisor allows students to gain knowledge about a specific area of interest in psychology, narrow career choices, clarify career goals, and learn more about where they might (or might not) want to work. After completing an internship many of our students have the added benefit of being recruited for paid, non-internship positions in their internship settings.
For more internship resources, please explore our Canvas site.
Internships
Internship Preparation (PSY 299)
This course will guide students through the process of identifying internship sites of interest, preparing internship applications and acceptance documents, securing an appropriate internship placement and fostering the development of the knowledge, skills and abilities pertinent to successful internship placement.
Internship in Psychology (PSY 421)
This internship gives the student an opportunity to apply psychology in community, institutional, and business settings. Through this field experience the student explores career options, gains practical experience and skills, and makes contacts with potential employers. The specific type of internship setting will be determined by the student’s interests and by the availability of placements. Open to Psychology majors with at least a 3.0 GPA in Psychology who have completed 24 credits in Psychology. This course may be repeated for additional credits.
Applied Behavior Analysis Internship (PSY 521)
This internship provides an opportunity to apply behavior analysis in community, institutional or business field settings. The student explores career options, gains practical experience and skills, and produces written products that synthesize experiences with readings in the area. The specific setting is determined by the student’s interests and by the availability of placements.
- Identify and investigate sites of interest and/or reach out to Katie Babione (kbabione@salemstate.edu) for assistance in identifying and investigating sites of interest.
- Download Forms I-V
- Submit Form I to Katie Babione, Field Placement Coordinator, at kbabione@salemstate.edu.
- Meet with your internship site supervisor to complete Forms II and III.
- Meet with your faculty sponsor and complete Form IV.
- Submit Forms II, III, and IV to Katie Babione—please note that you should email these forms without any signatures, as Katie will take care of requesting the official e-signatures from the necessary parties.
- Fill out Form V and submit to Katie Babione.
- Once all the paperwork is complete, Katie Babione will contact the Registrar to enroll you in the appropriate Internship course.
For more information about current internships, students can contact Katie Babione.
Is an internship just like any other course I’d take at Salem State?
No. First, you cannot directly enroll in the Internship course—you need to go through the process to secure an internship first, and then Katie Babione, our Field Placement Coordinator, will ensure that you are registered for the course. Secondly, the majority of your work will be completed at the internship under the supervision of your site supervisor. However, you will also have academic readings and homework assignments to complete for your faculty sponsor.
How do I find an internship?
You are responsible for finding an internship placement and a faculty sponsor. Our Field Placement Coordinator, Katie Babione, is available to assist you with narrowing down your interests and possible sites of interest. You may also choose to enroll in the Internship Preparation course, PSY 299, to help with the process.
How do I find a faculty sponsor?
All full-time psychology faculty members can serve as a faculty sponsor, but not all have availability every semester. Speak with your academic advisor and/or the Field Placement Coordinator for help in identifying a faculty sponsor.
When do I need to begin the process?
You should begin the process of applying for an internship at least 2-4 months prior to beginning the internship—this means that you should be starting to look for sites the semester before you intend to complete an internship. For example, if you are planning on a fall internship, you should have everything lined up and your paperwork completed by the end of the prior spring semester.
How do I register for Internship in Psychology (PSY 421)?
After all the forms are completed and have been submitted to the Field Placement Coordinator, they are submitted to the department Chair for approval. The enrollment form is then filled out by the student and submitted by Katie Babione to the Registrar. Any questions about this process should be directed to the Field Placement Coordinator, Katie Babione (kbabione@salemstate.edu).