Psychological Sciences: Internships

Students planning to take PSY 497 Internship as their Applications course (offered Fall semester) should review key information below and begin their search for an internship early:

Who should take the course?

Students interested in gaining professional skills, assessing their strengths, exploring career interests, and developing employer connections should consider completing an internship for course credit. In addition, any student planning to carry out an applied project for their senior capstone experience (PSY 498A; offered Spring semester) should strongly consider completing an internship, as it is expected that students will have already established a partnership with a community organization, business, or project site prior to the spring semester of their senior year. Completing an internship is not only a great way to build a solid working relationship with a community partner, but may also lead to a strong external letter of recommendation from an internship site supervisor.

What will the class involve?

Students enrolled in the course will meet weekly for group discussion activities, with occasional individual check-ins with the faculty supervisor. Additional time will be spent directly in an individual internship. Class assignments will include journal entries, submitting monthly timesheets, and a final written reflection of the internship experience. Professional development activities are woven throughout the course.

What is the time commitment?

Group Class: *HISTORICALLY* Mondays 4:10-6:55pm (Fall semester)

Individual Internship: 8-9 hours/week outside of class (120 hours completed across the Fall semester)

How do I find an internship?

Finding an internship may take some time, so definitely plan ahead – well in advance of the Fall semester! Many students actually begin their internship – especially at sites with more involved training and onboarding processes – during the latter part of the summer preceding the fall semester they take PSY 497. PSY faculty are happy to consult with students on the internship search process, but here are some recommended steps to finding an internship through UP (in no particular order):

1. Review the “Internships” section on the UP Career Education Center website
2. Search for current internship opportunities posted on Handshake
3. Schedule an Internship Search appointment with Career Education Center staff through Handshake
4. Attend internship-related programming and/or enroll in the following course regularly offered by the UP Career Education Center: CAS 197 - Internship & Career Prep (offered Mondays from 5:00-5:55pm): This course introduces students to the career planning process including occupational exploration, internship planning, and how to conduct a job search. Students will learn skills in networking and interviewing, and create self-marketing materials including a resume, cover letter, and professional online presence. After taking this course, students will be better prepared to locate satisfying internships and/or jobs. Course is grade Pass/No Pass. 
5. Consider the Moreau Center’s Community Service Work Study (CSWS) program (if you’re work-study eligible you can get paid to work at a non-profit organization while also receiving internship course credit!)
6. Keep an eye out for opportunities forwarded along via the weekly PSY newsletter 

Past Internship Sites (2021+)

Active Children Portland

Albertina Kerr Crisis Psychiatric Care for Youth (Subacute)

Autism Learning Partners

Because People Matter

Behavioral Learning Network

Brighton Hospice

Camp Yakety Yak

Cascadia Health

Central City Concern

Centre404

City Team Portland – Night Strike

Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center

Do Good Multnomah (St. John’s Village)

Friendly House

GaoTek

Good Neighbor Center

Guam Department of Education

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)

Janus Youth Programs

Kartini Clinic for Children and Families

Kids n Play OT

L’Arche Portland

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Lines for Life

Lifeworks NW

Make-A-Wish Oregon

Marquis

MiaDonna

Morrison Child & Family Services

Multnomah County Department of Community Justice

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Multnomah

Oregon Health & Science University

• Hemophilia Department
• Kohno/Hoffman Lab (VA)
• Oregon Family to Family
• Prenatal Environment and Child Health (PEACH) Study
• Veterans Affairs (VA) Portland Medical Center

Oregon Justice Research Center

Peninsula Youth Theater

Portland Parks & Recreation

Portland Public Schools

• Near Peer Mentor Program
• Parkrose AVID Tutor Program
• McDaniel High School

Portland Tennis & Education

Portland Village School

Positive Behavior Supports

ProActive Physical Therapy Specialists

Regence Boys and Girls Club of America

Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls

St. Johns Swapnplay

Sunshine Early Learning Center

The Big Yard Foundation

The Gateway Center – Multnomah County

University of Portland

• BIPOC Clubs & Gender and Sexuality Partnership (GSP)
• First Gen (FGEN) Student Ambassadors
• Health and Wellness Center
• Human Resources (HR) Department
• Interpersonal Violence & Prevention Program
• StockUP

University of Washington

United States (U.S.) Pretrial Services

Vitidore Inc.

Youth Villages