About Practicum in psychology
The process of students’ professional skills development begins with contacting prospective sites and arranging for a semester-long experience that involves observation and participation in organizational activities. Prior contact will be made with respective and relevant organizations in order for the students to get conducive environments to work where they are assigned. Students should contact the organizations they are assigned to by their contact information or in person and settle the possibility of spending 3 hours per week (48 hours per semester) at the sites observing and working in a capacity related to their interests in the various psychological areas. Before approaching an organization, students must have an official letter from the psychology department in hand. There is no specific rule to which the work of the students need to stick to. Students can explore different areas in counseling, organizational behaviors, children home-care practices, social issues and welfare, gender issues, hospitals, schools and related areas. Once the practicum site is amenable and the student kept interest in the site, the process of drafting arrangement begins using the following logical steps. Step: Students must have advisor from Psychology Department who will be their faculty supervisor for the course according to agreeable schedules. Step: Students must choose one or two practicum sites and make timely contact. Step: Students must submit official letter as directed by the site contact person/ supervisor. [You can get the letter from the department] Step: Once a site is selected, students must begin to draft an agreement using a) A copy of Introductory Letter, to be obtained and signed by the faculty members in the Psychology Department who are assigned as faculty supervisors for the duration of the practicum. b) The Agency Profile [one copy to be submitted to the students’ faculty supervisors] c) The Work Schedule [one copy to be submitted to the students’ faculty supervisors] 230 231 Step: Students must be aware of the activities required from them and the respective performance measures which include: a) Mid and Final experience evaluations [to be completed by the site supervisor] b) In addition to the requirements of the practicum site, students are required to turn in the following to the Faculty Supervisors. i. A written journal/portfolio/Report which includes a dated entry for every day of work at the practicum site. Each journal entry should summarize the daily activities as well as reflection on thoughts, emotions, and questions that are stimulated by the students’ practicum work. The Faculty Supervisors may ask to see this anytime during the semester. ii. A 3-5 page summative paper which answers the Questions for the Final Paper provided by the faculty supervisors.