Purpose of the Program
The fieldwork experience is an integral component of the Community
Psychology Concentration for Psychology majors. Students can earn course
credit for fieldwork done outside the classroom and gain practical
experience in psychology. This experience can also be helpful in guiding
decisions regarding career and graduate school choices.
Upon graduation, Psychology majors will be entering a competitive
job market or applying to graduate school. Fieldwork in Community
Psychology is one way to help prepare for this transition. This
2-quarter applied experience (PSY 359) will build upon training and
skills obtained in previous community courses [Community Psychology (PSY
354) and Principles of Field Research and Action (PSY 356)], as well as
the other core psychology courses in this concentration (e.g.,
diversity courses, research methods, statistics).
Program Goals
The goals of our program are similar to those developed by the
Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Internship Committee. These
goals include:
- Providing unique training in community psychology, emphasizing collaboration and change strategies to promote well-being.
- Understanding people within their social, cultural, economic, geographic, and historical contexts.
- Promoting health and empowerment and preventing problems in communities, groups, and individuals.
- Providing students with knowledge and practical skills to work effectively in the community.
- Facilitating the development of students as community advocates of social justice and empowerment.
- Actively illustrating the relevance of academic work in applied settings.
- Providing opportunities to apply concepts and ideas learned in community settings.
- Enhancing students’ employability by providing them with community-based skills and work experiences.
Those students interested in the internship program apply during
winter quarter of their junior year. The application deadline is
Feb. 18. Download the Community Psychology Concentration Application.pdf.
A wide range of
settings are available, including those which involve working in
schools, rehabilitation settings, independent research institutions, and
assisting in various community agencies. Working with faculty on
community-based research (at DePaul or other institutions) can also
serve as a fieldwork experience. During spring quarter of the Junior
year, students select their fieldwork agency. Students may have an
opportunity to meet some agency supervisors to learn more about the
nature of the agencies and the actual internship responsibilities. Most
undergraduate fieldwork experiences are unpaid.
Directors:
McMahon, Susan, PhD
Byrne 518
Phone: (773) 325-2039
Olya Glantsman
Jason, Leonard, PhD
Director of Center for Community Research
990 W Fullerton, #3100
Phone: (773) 325-2018