Psychology Internships

The Psychology Department encourages students to explore possible career choices by completing internships. Students may wish to participate in internships in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C, area or their hometowns. Internships may be completed during the school year, the winter term (January) or during the summer. Students may also choose to participate in either research oriented or applied/service internships.

 

In the Baltimore area, there is a wide variety of possible placements for psychology students. Some of the more frequent internships are at prestigious sites such as:

Many other placements in the Baltimore area are possible, supporting a variety of career interests.  Sometimes students choose to complete internships in their hometowns in settings such as hospitals, community mental health centers, public schools and camps.  For more details about internship options, consult your advisor or the CDO.  Upon completion of the internship, students are expected to complete the Internship Evaluation Form downloadable at the end of this document and send it to their advisors. 

In addition to assisting with basic research works such as filing, making copies of data, and recruiting subjects, many students have acquired invaluable hands-on experiences during their internships.  Some of the responsibilities students had include:

 
  • Observing evaluation sessions with parents and children
  • Viewing taped sessions of treatments including cognitive behavioral treatment
  • Attending various seminars, staff meetings and divisional conferences on different research topics 
  • Working directly with assigned patient(s), systematically gathering data on each patient’s behavioral progress 
  • Providing individual and/or group counseling to victims of domestic violence at the shelter
  • Assisting in group therapies, and spending time with patients with traumatic brain injuries, playing games, or just having a conversation with them
  • Helping bunk counselors take care of the campers within the camp bunk
 

The following are some examples of psychology students’ assessments of their internship experiences:

 

“I was able to reflect on my personal interests in psychology and see how these interests transfer to real-world careers.  I learned that going straight to graduate school was not my only option and that gaining experience in research is also a viable option before attending graduate school full-time.  I also learned a great deal about the inner-workings of research in psychology and how vital the small tasks can be."

  

“There is a great deal of needs related to faxing, filing, copying, etc. but it is important to understand that this is the nature of research.  The papers being filed, faxed to data centers, etc. consist of true data.  They are so important to the research and, thus, the duties of the intern are extremely valued and appreciated.”

 

“I gained a better understanding of the developmental disorders that I have only heard about in classes… Now I have experience with people with autism everyday that I work with.  I have to say that these children with autism and mental retardation are some of the most amazing people I have met.  I also gained a sense of confidence through helping these children.  In addition to both of these important things, I found it very helpful to my major in psychology to have this first-hand experience, to actually apply some things I have learned in class in an appropriate setting.”

 

“You’ll learn a lot about the research process from this internship, for some people it may make them more interested in research and for others may make them realize that research is not for them.  Be sure to make it clear to your supervisors what you are and are not interested in doing and they will definitely try to take this into account, and they are more than willing to help you out with whatever questions you may have.”

 

“[Though] this internship was relevant to my original career path of working with people in a hospital setting, this internship helped me understand that working in the [brain-injury] hospital setting… is not for me, or at least I’m not ready for it yet.  I’ve also realized that there are many other careers out there that would still allow me to work with people, just in a different environment.  Another advantage through National Rehabilitation Hospital are the connections and contacts I now have for future references, or just questions I might have about finding what I want to do with my future.”

 

“After interning there this past summer, my boss told me that I could come back and work full time anytime I wanted.  If you do an internship competently, you’ll have a job waiting for you!”

 

“I gained a lot: I learned medical terminology and abbreviations, gained confidence in speaking with patients and doctors/nurses, learned how to handle new situations: meeting new people, working in a sometimes chaotic environment… I gained a realistic view of the pitfalls of research studies, as well as a view of what working in the Emergency Department entails; I gained a better understanding of clinical research and all the protocols: IRB review and approval, HIPPA, consenting, making sure to follow procedures and document everything.”

 

“Working at a domestic abuse shelter is intense.  The children will break your heart on a daily basis.  However… [i]f you can be part of it, this can become one of most rewarding things you may ever do in your life."

 

Dowlonad: Internship Evaluation Form