Behavorial Science Internships

Internship Program in Psychology and Sociology

Why Complete an Internship?

Completing an internship is an invaluable experience for students who plan on entering the job market after earning their degrees and for students who plan to apply to graduate schools. Internships look great on your resume and allow you to get "hands on" experience in working with people. Many of our students have received job offers as the result of their internship. Others have been able to clarify their career goals--either confirming they do, indeed, want to work with a particular population, or learning that they need to further clarify their goals. Internship sites are available all over the Lowcountry. Most internship sites are very flexible in working with student interns concerning when hours are worked. Remember, you earn three credit hours, but do not have to worry about taking tests and completing other assignments associated with regular courses. There is a lot of competition for getting into graduate school and for getting a good job and completing an internship can make you stand out from the crowd! Plan NOW for which semester you plan to apply for and complete an internship within the department.

Program Purpose and Description

The objective for the Internship Program is to guide students in applying discipline-related skills to the process of doing human service work within a well-defined organizational structure. The internship experience is an opportunity for psychology/sociology majors to learn, observe, and where appropriate, apply discipline-related skills in a human service agency under supervised observation. Students must complete an application process. Three hours credit will be awarded for the successful completion of an internship experience. Students may apply to enroll for up to three hours per semester and six hours during their college career. For additional information, please see the Internship (469-470) course descriptions in the psychology or sociology sections of the CSU Undergraduate Catalog. In addition, the complete description of internship position openings is provided in Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word Format.

Internship Program Objectives

To prepare the Behavioral Science student for entry into human service work and/or graduate school, the intern will:

1. Become familiar with how human service work is organized and delivered in our society.
2. Become familiar with human service employment practices, ethics and values expected of human service workers and the concept of professional development.
3. Develop an understanding of the dynamics of interpersonal work relationships and relationships with diverse client populations, the public, and other human service providers.
4. Identify and work to enhance interpersonal skills, multicultural awareness and leadership abilities.
5. Clarify future educational and career goals.

Requirements

Hours: Hours required on-site are 112. Semester hours granted are three.

Student must have a 2.75 overall GPR and permission of the Department Chair. Students with less than a 2.75 overall GPR must obtain permission of the department chair and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Student must be a psychology or sociology major and have completed 61 semester hours (Junior status). Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 15 hours at CSU prior to application.

Students may take up to six hours of internship--but no more than three hours per semester. Three (3) credit hours may be applied toward the psychology or sociology major or minor requirement and three credit hours as a general elective.

Students may not use their current employer as an internship site.

Students will be responsible for completing assignments as required by their faculty supervisor.

Students will meet with the faculty supervisor individually and in small groups with other students during the semester.

Internship Locations

Internship Application