Internship Experiences in Psychology

What is an Internship?

Internships are entry-level jobs for students to gain experience in psychology. Some internships are paid, while others are volunteer work. Internships are (usually) off-campus at a local non-profit, company, or other organization.

What are the Benefits of Internships?

Internships can help you learn about your interests and potential careers while you gain experience doing fieldwork and growing your professional network. UMBC students are also able to earn PSYC 398 credit while they do it (see below for more information).

What are the Requirements before I complete an Internship?

  • Freshmen: Must have completed one full-time semester at UMBC.
  • Transfers: Either one full-time semester at UMBC, or transfer in with 30+ credits.
  • Must have a GPA ≥2.5.
  • Browse available positions on Handshake (formerly UMBCworks).
  • Make an appointment with the Career Center.
  • You can email Jeremiah Sawyer (jsawyer2@umbc.edu), who works at the Career Center, for help finding a psychology-related internship.
  • Below are some organizations that have reached out to us, specifically looking for UMBC psychology majors. These are NOT the only internships available.
    • Center for Hope provides comprehensive services to child victims of maltreatment and their families. See the internship description here. Contact Ashley Masis for more information: amasis@lifebridgehealth.org
    • AccentCare strives to provide excellence in end-of-life care for patients and families. Visit this page for volunteer opportunities. Contact Suzanne Rucker for more information: suzannerucker@accentcare.com
    • Maryland Public Service Scholars offers 3 paid internship programs for summer 2023: Governor’s Summer Internship Program; Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership Program; and Maryland Dept. of Transportation Fellows Program. Information about all internship programs can be found here: publicservicescholars.umbc.edu.
    • Service Coordination, Inc: this non-profit organization is the leading case management provider for people with developmental disabilities in Maryland. Visit their website or email Justin Volman at Volman@sc-inc.org for more information.
    • Pathways Behavioral Health is a mental health company serving children in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. At the completion of this paid year-long internship, the intern will have completed the coursework and practical requirements required to take the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) exam. Our undergraduate internships are one academic year (Fall 2023-Spring 2024) in length and require an average time commitment of 10-15 hours of in-person work per week. Interns primarily work out of our College Park office on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (flexible scheduling is available). For more information visit their website or email Co-Clinical Director, Amber Shriver, at ashriver@pbhaba.com.
    • Transformation Healthcare is currently looking for interns for their substance abuse and mental health departments. See transformationhealthcare.comfor internship application links. For more information, email Nacelle Saah at nakelee@transformationhealthcare.com.
    • PALS programs: A non-profit organization that creates inclusive camp experiences for young people with Down syndrome and their peers. If interested, check out their website.
    • Maryland Public Defender’s Office internship program: interns work in their District offices assisting our trial attorneys in the representation of adult and juvenile clients in criminal cases. If interested, check out their website.
    • Verbal Beginnings: A local company that provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services to children ages 2–18. They are currently seeking students who are interested in learning about ABA and will provide training to new hires with no ABA experience. For more information, email Nicole Dunkle (dunkle@verbalbeginnings.com). To apply, submit an application through this link.
  • Step 1: Find an internship (see above). Your internship must be related to psychology for you to earn PSYC 398 credit.
  • Step 2: Register for PRAC with the Career Center. Jeremiah Sawyer (jsawyer2@umbc.edu) will help you do this.
  • Step 3: Email Dr. Aubrey Etopio (etopio@umbc.edu) to register for PSYC 398.
  • Step 4: Complete your internship hours and your PSYC 398 requirements.
  • PSYC 398 a pass/fail course that will show up on your transcript.
  • It’s not a typical course that meets for regular lectures, but there are still academic requirements/assignments.
  • Depending on how many hours per week you work at your internship, you can register for 1, 2, or 3 credits of PSYC 398.
    • 40 hours total = 1 credit
    • 80 hours total = 2 credits
    • 120+ hours total = 3 credits
  • These credits count toward the 120 credits you need for graduation.
  • You can earn up to 6 total credits of PSYC 398, but it must be from at least 2 different internships across at least 2 different semesters.
  • If your internship is paid, you can still earn credit! 

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