The skills and abilities specific to your career that you learn and develop on the job are invaluable. We encourage you to complete an internship while you are an undergraduate, either through volunteer or paid work. In some circumstances, you may be able to earn department or college credit for this experience (see PSYSC 479 on the list of courses). If you are interested in obtaining course credit, you must talk to the department internship coordinator, Kelly Fischer.

You can get hands-on, work-related experience for credit three ways:

1. Internships as a supervised community volunteer

Internships are professionally supervised work experiences that relate to psychology. We suggest interning somewhere that has previously or is currently supervising internships already. For example, we have had students work during the summer for the Easter Seals Society or during the academic year for various women's shelters such as the Julian Center in Indianapolis.

Search for internship possibilities on the Indiana INTERN.net Web site and on the Ball State Career Center Web site.

For more information and to discuss course credit, students should contact Kelly Fischer, department internship coordinator. 

2. Psychology-related part-time job

The Delaware County area has many part-time jobs related to psychology. In addition to hearing about these jobs through word of mouth, look in the Muncie Star Press (paper or online) and other common sources of job listings, visit the Ball State Career Center in Lucina Hall, or contact Kelly Fischer, department internship coordinator. 

3. Non-supervised community volunteer

Volunteer experiences may help you gain practical work experience and develop interpersonal skills by learning to relate well to people of other ages, backgrounds, and cultures. As a volunteer, you will not be paid. 

Student Voluntary Services a Ball State student organization, acts as a clearinghouse for many community volunteer settings. If you have contacts or know of an organization that often needs volunteers and would be appropriate for you to learn skills concurrent with your career goals, check to see if they have openings.  You can also contact Kelly Fischer, department internship coordinator, for suggestions.