How to Find an Undergraduate Psychology Internship

An undergraduate internship can complement your psychology degree program. These experiences create an avenue for pursuing your personal learning interests, building your network, and laying the foundation for a successful job search.

Finding the right opportunity can take some legwork. Explore strategies for finding a placement and connect with resources that can help.

Psychology internships allow you to apply your theoretical learning, connecting with other members of the psychology community, and gaining firsthand insights from working professionals.

Undergraduate psychology internships may provide guidance if you are unsure of which path to take in your future studies or career.

“[An internship] can help identify populations that the student may want to work with or not want to work with,” said Melissa Meade, a mental health counselor specializing in dance and movement therapy.

Additionally, internship experience can make students more marketable when searching for jobs, said Dr. Jeanne Slattery, a professor of psychology and a licensed psychologist.

The skills you build in an undergraduate psychology internship can prove valuable as you transition from school to the workforce.

“Because internships take many different forms and students enter internships with many different skills and needs, there will be a wide range of skills obtained,” Slattery said. “I encourage my students to talk with their internship supervisor about goals and expectations from early in their internship.”

Psychology internships can help you build a variety of important field-specific skills. Key examples include:

Some placements offer direct insights into the professional practices psychologists use with respect to:

You can also participate in research internships, which can enhance your scientific literacy and help you learn how experts design experiments.

Empathy is a critical skill for psychology practitioners, and internship settings can give you helpful insights into its professional value. “The student can learn how to deal with his/her emotions in response to the clients/patients,” Meade said. “Students may not expect the depth of response they may have when working with people.”

Psychology professionals must have well—developed active listening skills, especially those in licensed, client-facing roles. Active listening involves authentic engagement with the speaker, a foundational element of effective dialogue.

The earlier you develop this important skill, the more proficient you will become.

Effective communication lies at the core of many psychology-related career paths. You will likely encounter many different personality types during your career, and having adaptable and versatile interpersonal communication skills will serve you well.

As an intern, you can have a unique window into the analytical techniques and strategies psychology professionals use to navigate work-related challenges. This can help you better understand how classroom-based theory translates into practice in real-world environments.

Your school can help you find an undergraduate psychology internship, but you can also self-direct your search. Check with human services organizations in your area, including:

Social and professional networking platforms can also help you source opportunities. However, be mindful of some limitations that may apply — especially for placements at organizations with limited funding. “Nonprofit organizations will likely want help, but may have limited opportunities to work with professionals as guides or mentors,” Meade said.

Undergraduate psychology internships generally carry the most value when you have already built a base of relevant theoretical knowledge. Your junior or senior year is the ideal time to start looking, especially if you plan to enter the job market immediately after graduation. However, as Slattery noted, you can start volunteering before seeking out an internship placement.

Also, consider the relationship between proper timing and placement success. “I would start looking for placements the semester before it is required,” Meade said. “If it is not required, I would start in the early spring to look for something in the summer.”

If you want to pursue an undergraduate psychology internship and you need more help than your school can provide, try these strategies:

Once you identify an undergraduate psychology internship opportunity you would like to pursue, pause to review the next steps as you prepare for the application process.

Before working on your application, ensure the potential placement aligns with your school or department’s internship policies. This is particularly important if you are pursuing a placement the school has not already vetted.

Things to check include:

If you need help evaluating an opportunity from these angles, contact an internship coordinator, one of your professors, or another faculty member from your psychology department.

If you source the internship opportunity from a posted notice, the posting should specify details of the application process. Application requirements may be less obvious if you arrange the opportunity yourself. In either case, clear up any doubts by asking.

The application process will generally involve preparing and submitting a resume and a personalized cover letter. Your letter should contain:

During your internship interview or before your start date, you should understand precisely what your internship provider will expect of you. Clarify:

Internship opportunities will often come with a written offer letter specifying these details. You can request a written offer if one is not already provided.

The following resources may assist your search for an undergraduate psychology internship or provide helpful insights into the internship process: