Department of Psychology // University of Notre Dame

Externship Program

The Department of Psychology offers an externship program that places psychology majors at sites ranging from hospital mental health units, addictions clinics, drug treatment facilities, women's and children's shelters, schools, and residential treatment facilities.

The class exposes participants to the variety of roles within the field of mental health services, broadens their appreciation of how research is used in daily applications and tests their individual interests before they enter graduate programs. Students experience a multitude of service organizations through working at a site and hearing about their classmate's experiences.

Our students learn quickly that they must be self starters and initiate action. Many of their assumptions about themselves and the field of psychology are challenged early. Students have said that the experience has helped them narrow their interests, define their career goals, appreciate the benefits of further education, and/or realize the need for research to improve services and results.

What our students say. . .

"Perhaps the greatest value of my experience at the Madison Center lay in the experience’s ability to combine the elements of all of my past psychology classes."

"I truly believe that taking this course, and spending my time at Portage Manor this semester is one of the best things that I have done throughout my four years at Notre Dame."

Course Requirements

The externship program is a 400-level class that requires students to work in the field of mental health for 8 hours a week during each week of the semester. Participants also meet once a week with classmates and a psychology faculty member to discuss professional readings and applications

Each student is interviewed before the start of the semester to determine his or her interest area and expectations for future studies. Matches are made according to abilities and interest.

Several new opportunities and some unique ones have been implemented in an effort to help students determine their specific interest in considering graduate work. For example, one student expressed interest in pain management for medical school/psychiatry and so a placement at the local hospital in pain management and physical therapy was arranged for that semester.

Sites have been chosen based on enrolled students’ interest, the needs of placement sites, availability of appropriate mentorship at the site, and willingness to allow the Notre Dame instructor of record 2 site visits for each student placed each semester.