Fieldwork

A key component of the Applied Psychology major is our sequence of fieldwork placements and seminars. These field experiences are closely supervised and take place in schools, social service agencies, psychiatric hospitals, legal clinics, and youth centers. Students also have the opportunity to satisfy their fieldwork requirement by joining a faculty member's research team. Research in the Department of Applied Psychology is conducted in diverse settings and covers a broad array of topics.

Our course of study is specifically designed to provide practical hands-on learning experiences in the field in conjunction with theoretical knowledge learned through coursework in the classroom.  One of our goals in this program is that through  supervised field experiences and coursework, our students will be able to make informed decisions about career or educational plans following graduation from this program.

The Fieldwork Sequence

Applied Psychology majors are involved in a three-semester sequence of fieldwork activities. These activities are intended to help students learn about the field of psychology. During Fieldwork I, the first semester of the sequence, students focus on assessing specific abilities, interests, values, and personality characteristics. Students then select a field site by exploring the major and subfields of psychology and by developing insight into their own professional goals. Students also become familiarized with research literature in psychology, formulating research questions and writing reviews of literature. In addition, students develop basic skills necessary for professional development, including resume and cover letter writing, interviewing, teamwork, and oral and written communication.

During the second and third semesters of fieldwork, Fieldwork II and III, our aim is for students to gain in-depth exposure to the work in the field. Students learn how to relate theory to practice as they continue to process fieldwork experiences through discussion groups and written logs. During these two semesters, there is a continuous focus on ethical issues and professional standards, writing in psychology and the dissemination of findings in a professional forum, and exploration of future professional and education goals in relation to fieldwork experiences; such as graduate school admissions, career paths, and basic skills for entry level jobs.