Supervised Field Placement 1900

Declared psychology majors enrolled in Supervised Field Placement (PSY 1900) earn credit for volunteer work in a supervised setting approved by the Department of Psychology. The purpose is to provide practical experience related to other coursework and to help students determine a career path. Sites on the list below are the only approved places where students may "intern" and receive PSY credit for their work. This opportunity is particularly beneficial when determining your interest in the day-to-day workings of a particular field. 

Some of these sites, especially if you are working with children, will require you to get clearances. These can take 4-6 weeks to process, so apply for them as soon as you obtain a position.

Please  be aware that because of the nature of psychological or clinical social service work, undergraduate psychology students are not permitted to provide any direct client/patient services. Due to state licensing and healthcare provider regulations,  the provision of psychological or counseling services requires a graduate level degree.  You should not expect to have unsupervised client/patient contact or to be trained to provide any type of counseling or therapy services as part of a field placement.

Please review the requirements for this opportunity here before applying to a site. Once you determine that an internship/field placement is appropriate for you, follow these steps:

1. Discuss site specific choices aligned with your goals with your psychology advisor.
2. Locate and apply for an internship position following the steps listed on each site's description page below.
3. If positions are available and you are a good fit for the program, the Site Supervisor will offer you an interview. At that time, discuss with the supervisor the number of hours you are desiring for placement according to the number of credits you are seeking. If accepted for an internship, the Site Supervisor will work with you to create a schedule to complete the number of hours required.
4. If accepted, you will complete the PSY 1900 Learning Agreement with the Site Supervisor. You are responsible for providing the Learning Agreement form to the Site Supervisor. The Site Supervisor will complete page 2 of the agreement, sign it and return it to you. This completed form is required to register for PSY 1900.
5. Email the completed learning agreement AND your academic advisement report found via your Student Center to psyadvis@pitt.edu. The permission code for self-enrollment in PSY 1900 will then be provided to you via email.
6. Use the permission number to self-enroll in PSY 1900 Supervised Field Placement
7. In order to earn credit, you are required to submit mid-term and end-of-term papers as well as mid-term and end-of-term evaluations as the academic component to complete your internship experience. All forms are available on Canvas once the term begins. See below for guidelines about the papers.

Supervised Field Placement Sites

• The categories listed below are used as a means of organization. Please do not overlook any sites because of the categories.

Completing PSY 1900 - Paper Format and Guidelines

PSY 1900 Supervised Field Placement may be used to fulfill the general elective for the psychology degree. In order to earn credit, the student MUST complete two reflective papers (one due at midterm and one at the end-of-term) as well as midterm and end of term evaluations. These papers must be submitted to the Canvas site by the published due date and are expected to be upper-level quality.

As a supervised field placement student, you have gained valuable skills that extend beyond the classroom and are highly transferable to future academic, professional, and personal contexts. These skills are highly in demand and highlighted under the NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) career readiness competencies.  This reflection assignment is designed to help you identify these skills, provide concrete examples of when you demonstrated them, and consider how they will benefit you in future opportunities. 

The following are a few important guidelines to help you construct your papers:

Cover Page

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Term registered and date
• Site location and supervisor’s name

Reflection Assignment Instructions

Please write a 2-3 page reflection (double-spaced) that addresses the following prompts:

• Identify at least three transferrable skills you have developed or strengthened during your time as a supervised field placement student.
• For each skill, provide at least one concrete example of when you demonstrated or practiced this skills.
• Explain how these skills would be applied in future settings (e.g., workplace, academic), or personal contexts.
• Reflect on which skill you feel most confident about and which skill you would like to continue developing and explain why.
• Do not include the actual names of clients/patients. Indicate in your paper that names have been changed.
• Please note, you will also submit this reflection to your site supervisor so they can work with you on further developing these transferrable skills.

Your reflection will not only help you recognize the value of your supervised field placement experience but will also provide language you can use in resumes, cover letters, and interviews to describe your skills to future employers or programs.

Common Transferable Skills Gained as a Supervised Field Placement Student

• Communication (engage in conversation/ activities with the clientele at site, building a report with supervisor and clients, detailing client interaction)
• Collaboration and Teamwork (demonstrating empathy, active listening and strong communication with supervisors, peers, clients and other professionals at site)
• Leadership (guiding discussion, mentoring clients and supporting peers when needed in times in need of conflict resolution)
• Time Management (balancing internship responsibilities and work hours with your own coursework, balancing several responsibilities concurrently assigned)
• Organization (plan client activities, manage different cases simultaneously, meet deadlines, take notes, ensure efficient project completion.)
• Problem-Solving (adapting to unexpected challenges, responding to supervisor and client concerns)
• Professionalism (maintaining appropriate boundaries, handling confidential information, dependability with attendance expectations)
• Adaptability (adjust to supervisor expectations, changing client needs, and site rules while maintaining positive demeanor and patience)
• Critical Thinking (evaluating client behavior and identifying appropriate interventions and solutions)
• Public Speaking and Presentation Skills (leading group discussions or demonstrating for the clients, daily verbal interaction with the clients)
• Interpersonal Skills (building rapport with clients and professionals at site, fostering a supportive work environment)
• Technical/Administrative Skills (learn and understand the technology platform at the site, utilize platforms for the best client experience)

How will you know if your paper is acceptable? Once you turn in your paper at both the mid-term and end-of-term, you will be notified through your Pitt email address if the paper is unacceptable and comments on how it needs to be improved. If you do not receive an email, the paper was acceptable. If papers are not completed to standards, you will be asked to REDO the paper or receive an “NC” (no credit) for your PSY 1970 credits. Any AI generated materials will automatically receive a 0 on the assignment and a NC for the class.