Internships and Clinical Experiences
Our students apply what they learn in classrooms to internships and practicum sessions in campus labs (counseling, behavior analysis) and community settings. Program directors assist students with selecting applied learning opportunities. Internships often lead to employment at an agency.
Undergraduate
Addiction Counseling
Chemical Dependency majors complete two internships and must demonstrate entry-level practitioner/counselor abilities through an assessment by faculty and the internship agency.
To receive approval for internship site, you must complete the internship agreement contract through the Handshake portal. Below is a link to the Handshake portal and an attachment explaining how to access Handshake.
Community Psychology
Many community organizations rely on the help provided by the approximately 200 Community Psychology undergraduates completing internship experiences. Students may intern in other states and countries. Field work fits well with our Education Abroad programs
Graduate
Applied Behavior Analysis
Our students gain experience in practicum and internships that is useful in their careers at the same time they accrue hours toward becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Instructors of our practicum and internship courses have relationships with all major autism programs, several school districts and private nonprofit agencies that provide services to people with disabilities in Minnesota. They also have developed partnerships in 18 countries, the Canadian provinces and 49 states.
- CPSY 597 Practicum in Behavior Analysis: Students get practical experience in how to design and apply behavioral programs in an agency for 5 to 10 hours per week. Practicum can be done as part of employment with employer approval and appropriate supervision.
- CPSY 697 Internship In Applied Behavior Analysis. Our 750-hour internship requirement is part of the eligibility for BACB certification. Students must earn a 3.0 GPA.
Addictions Certificate
Once two 440-hour internships are completed, our students are qualified to work as entry-level chemical dependency practitioner/counselors. One internship must be an inpatient setting; the second must be a different site.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The clinical phase of Clinical Mental Health Counseling involves a practicum and an internship experience. The practicum is done on campus and the internship at various clinical sites around Minnesota.
College Counseling
Our students often have the opportunity to complete their practicum and internship experiences locally or even on campus.
- Supervised Counseling Practicum: Full-time students are placed for their Supervised Counseling Practicum; part-time students apply to the coordinator of College Counseling & Student Development for placement. Details are in the program handbook.
- Supervised Internship: Students get an Internship Handbook the spring semester before their 600-hour internship. It outlines how to find an internship, the required internship orientation meeting and how to submit materials to the College Counseling & Student Development coordinator. Internship sites are in place during the spring semester before your fall internship.
Marriage and Family Therapy
Students complete 600 hours of internship, 300 of which must be client service. Your supervisor will be approved by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and you can complete the work over one or two semesters.
You can choose internships in the St. Cloud or Twin Cities metro areas or rural communities.
Rehabilitation Counseling
Our students begin their internships ready to function semi-independently and handle the work and responsibilities of a counselor by putting into practice the concepts and theories learned in the classroom. They build their confidence and have opportunities to demonstrate their best skills and strengthen their weaknesses.
School Counseling
Our reputation and our alliances with area schools simplify the work of finding an internship. You'll spend 600 hours, or about two to three days a week, in a school practicing your skills under the supervision of a licensed school counselor. We work closely with counselors in St. Cloud's metro area schools, rural school districts and some Twin Cities metro schools.