Practicum and Internship
Clinical Practicum in Psychology
For more information contact Dave Lutz at (417) 836-5830
Purpose
"Why do a practicum or internship?"
Psychology 696 is the graduate practicum course. Clinical students take six hours of graduate practicum regardless of whether they do a thesis or seminar paper. Psychology 698 is the graduate internship course. Clinical students who choose the seminar option take three hours of graduate internship.
Prerequisites
"When can I do a practicum?"
Students are supposed to have completed the following courses to take a graduate practicum: Psy 620 (Individual Intelligence Testing), Psy 660 (Clinical Communication Skills), Psy 665 (Techniques in Individual Psychotherapy), and Psy 666 (Psychopathology).
Finding a Practicum
"Where can I do a practicum?"
There are two ways to obtain a practicum. The first is to use a site from those at which we have had students in the past or which have expressed interest in our graduate students. You can see this list below. Click on a particular site, and you can find out information about that site. The other way is to obtain a practicum is to develop one on your own. If you know of a potential placement site, talk with the supervisor there. If this might be a possibility, then talk with Dave Lutz (Hill 424; 836-5830) to see whether the proposed site would be appropriate for a psychology practicum.
Burrell Behavioral Health - Autism Center
Burrell Behavioral Health - Bramblewood and Milano House
Burrell Behavioral Health - KLASS (Kids Learning About Social Skills) Program
Carol Jones Recovery Center for Women
Drury University Counseling and Testing Services
Greene County Juvenile Justice Center
Greene County Pretrial Services
Lakewood Residential - Lakeland Regional Hospital
Rivendale Institute of Learning
Springfield Marriage and Family Institute
Springfield Public Schools' School Psychology
St. John's - Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation
Online forms and paperwork
"What do I need to fill out?"
Once the student has obtained a practicum, the student should contact the practicum coordinator, Dave Lutz. The student and the practicum coordinator will finish completing forms appropriately. The student is given permission to enroll in PSY 696 or Psy 698, at which time the student enrolls online.
Completing the Practicum
"How many work hours are involved?"
For each hour of academic credit for PSY 696, the student must complete about 57 hours on site. For a typical three hour course, this means completing about 170 hours on site. As PSY 698 also involves a seminary paper, fewer onsite hours are required. For PSY 698, the student must complete 125 hours on site. In addition to hours on site, the student must also keep a journal and activity sheet. Beginning and ending dates are flexible. For all requirements, see the course policy statement for PSY 696 or PSY 698.