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Psychology Internships

Internship experience is beneficial to you as you determine the right career path and these experiences will give you the opportunity to gain new, marketable skills. If you would like to explore different opportunities available to you to gain experience, email the FHSS Internship Office (fhssinternships@byu.edu) to schedule an appointment with Alison Sondrup, Social Service & Community Internship Coordinator.

Psych majors who want to earn academic internship credit can apply for either Psych 399 or Psych 496. They are offered every semester and students should plan internship credit during their late junior or senior year of the program after completing the Psych core classes (through Psych 309 and 310). See an explanation of the difference between these two Psych Internship Options in the "Internship Application Process" section below.

To apply go to:

https://experience.byu.edu/students

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    • It enhances your career opportunities and performance
    • It can provide a potential job post-internship
    • It benefits your own family
    • It is a great learning experience
  • Psychology Department Academic Internship Guidelines



    Psychology Academic internship has the following general expectations for an approvable internship experience:

    1 – Students must have real, meaningful responsibility (more than receptionist, summer sales, retail sales, custodial, etc.)

    2 – Students must be mentored/supervised by someone with a college degree and experience in the specific field

    3 – Students must have the opportunity to gain new, marketable skills (not something they have already been doing for a year or more)



    Psychology Academic internships are NOT APPROVED for the following conditions:

    1 – Students supervising themselves, or being supervised by a student, or by any family member (including in-laws, stepfamily members, extended family, etc.) – students cannot receive academic internship credit at an organization owned or led by a family relation.

    2 – Direct Sales teams (Including independent contractors, recruiting, sales, presentations, etc.)

    3 – Virtual Experience situations (working/volunteering from your home on your own computer rather than going into an office or other work setting where you have the opportunity to work alongside others and have regular interaction with your mentor)



    Psychology Academic Internship credit fits well with a wide range of opportunities. Here are some suggested career paths that provide meaningful internship experience:

    • Established for-profit organizations: Marketing, Market Research/Analysis, Human Resources, Customer Experience, Strategy, Operations, etc.
    • Non-profit organizations: United Way, Make-A-Wish Foundation, etc.
    • Women and Children’s Shelters
    • Refugee Communities
    • Early Intervention programs
    • Drug Addiction Recovery programs
    • Head Start Programs
    • Social Services
    • Homeless Services
    • Community Services
    • Developmental Services
    • Family Services (DCFS, Wasatch Mental Health, UVU Stronger Families, etc.)
    • Residential Treatment Centers
    • Behavioral Therapy
  • Our staff is available during normal office hours (9 am to 5 pm) and by appointment to counsel with interested students and help them secure appropriate internships to match their future educational and career goals. We maintain a database of internship opportunities in a wide range of disciplines that are served well by Social Science majors. The FHSS Database is not all-inclusive but does provide a good starting point in your search for meaningful experiences. Always consider your own network and how family and friends may be able to help you connect with good organizations that would provide meaningful experience as well.

    Alison Sondrup directs the Community & Social Services Internship Program. She maintains contacts with internship providers and cultivates new internship opportunities for students. She also monitors the quality of internships offered by internship providers to meet the standards set by the FHSS College Internship Committee. Questions may be directed to: alison_sondrup@byu.edu

  • The Psychology Department has a college internship application that should be submitted and approved prior to completing the University IRAMS application.

    It is best to start looking for a meaningful internship in the semester before you want academic internship credit. Once Psychology majors secure an opportunity and determine that it will fit well with PSYCH 399 or PSYCH 496 internship guidelines and the student's future goals, they should fill out the internship application here: https://experience.byu.edu/students

    Once final IRAMS approval is given, the student receives a final approval email from the University Internship Office informing the student that approval has been given and the student can now register for their internship class (PSYCH 399 or PSYCH 496). Appliations will not be approved passed the add/drop deadline.
    If you have any problems with this process, please contact the FHSS Internship Office at fhssinternships@byu.edu or 801-422-2168