Field Experiences Information

Field Experiences in Psychology (PSYC 3759, 3760, 3761 and 3762) is a three-quarter service learning course sequence designed to give students interested in therapy, counseling, or pre-health professions exposure to clinically-relevant settings and populations. It has students simultaneously complete an internship at a community organization and participate a weekly classroom experience. The classroom experience helps students navigate many clinically relevant topics (e.g., learn about various modes of therapy, how to work well with clients from diverse backgrounds, which ethical principles govern clinical work, etc.) and pushes them to focus on professional development. It also provides support related to experiences students have at their community-based internships.

Students also completed an off-campus internship that requires them to work for 12-16 hours/week on site. In recent years, students have worked at places such as Firefly Autism, Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health, Denver Children’s Home, Gateway Domestic Violence Services, and other sites in the Denver metropolitan area. Available internship slots for a given year are arranged for by the instructor, and information about them is shared with students who have enrolled in the class during the first class meeting of the fall quarter. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from internship.

Students are admitted to the course by application only and students must commit to completing all three consecutive quarters (Autumn, Winter, and Spring). Most students choose to do Field Experiences during their senior year. Class size is limited, and therefore a competitive application process is in place. You must meet the following admission requirements:

• Be at least 21 years old by the end of fall quarter.
• Have completed any two of the following four courses:
  1. Child Development, PSYC 2050 
     -OR- 
     Child and Lifespan Development, PSYC 2070
  2. Child Psychopathology, PSYC 2530
  3. Adult Psychopathology, PSYC 2500
  4. Introduction to Clinical Psychology, PSYC 2520
• Complete an application and interview.
• Obtain the instructor's permission.

Priority for enrollment in this class will be given to students with:

• career aspirations in the mental health service field
• good interpersonal skills
• a strong GPA
• a positive reference from a faculty person or supervisor

If you're interested in enrolling in this program, you should attend an informational meeting in the spring quarter that precedes the year in which you wish to take the class. This year’s meeting will occur on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 6PM.  Join us at this Zoom link! 

You can also find the application and information about the Field Experiences course at https://liberalarts.du.edu/psychology/academics/experiences  Hard copies of the application are additionally available at the Frontier Hall front desk.