Partner with Us
The Psychology Department’s field study program partners with organizations throughout Santa Cruz County to offer internships that allow students to explore career paths and pursue professional development related to their major. Field study students log over 20,000 hours each year at organizations that provide services related to mental health, wellness, law, social justice, and education, contributing to the overall well-being of the greater Santa Cruz community.
Organizations interested in hosting interns can fill out an interest form. Questions should be directed to the field study director at psyfield@ucsc.edu.
Supervisor responsibilities
Your responsibilities as a field supervisor are to:
- Screen and approve students according to the standards of your organization (e.g., fingerprinting, background checks, interviews, etc.)
- Provide intern(s) with thorough orientation that includes organization norms and expectations, and prepares students for the work they will be doing
- Provide supervision; meet with interns for 30 minutes one-on-one (or 60 minutes small group) biweekly to check in and exchange feedback
- Complete an evaluation of the student’s performance at the end of each academic quarter (every 3 months)
Internship requirements
Internships should be related to the psychology or cognitive science major and require active participation in meaningful work that advances the organization’s mission.
- Length: 2 academic quarters (about 6 months)
- Hours: 10 hours/week
Benefits of field study for partner organizations
Interns bring fresh perspectives and academic insights that contribute to organizational growth. Hosting interns can also allow organizations to expand services to the populations they serve, resulting in greater community impact.