Regardless of your focus of study, an internship can be an invaluable component of your education. You can work at a wide variety of agencies, organizations, and programs.
Sociology and Behavioral Science Internships
The Sociology and Behavioral Science Internship Program provides an opportunity for students to participate in a 3-credit elective educational experience designed to build career-related skills and competencies, enhance professional preparation for future employment, and expand postsecondary and/or employment opportunities for graduates of YCP. Internships in Sociology and Behavioral Science allow students to gain work experience in their field of study, as well as to develop and refine future career goals.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the prerequisites for SOC 495/BEH 495?
Students must meet specific eligibility requirements in order to register for an internship for academic credit at YCP. Students must have GPA of 2.5 or better and must have a minimum of 60 earned credits.
Where do I obtain the required forms to register for the internship?
Obtain the YCP Internship Packet titled “Procedures for Completing Internship Applications for Academic Credit” from either Molly Sauder in Career Services on the top floor of the Student Union Building, Cheryl Smith in the Behavioral Science Office (LS 315), or the Sociology and Behavioral Science Internship Coordinator: Dr. Laura West Steck (LS 333).
How do I identify an internship site?
Browse the list of local internship sites located on Dr. Steck’s website (http://faculty.ycp.edu/~lsteck). To view site information, click on the “Sociology and Behavioral Science Internship Opportunities” link on Dr. Steck’s main web page. This link features names, addresses, and web links to a number of local agencies with which recent Sociology and Behavioral Science majors have completed internships. You may select an internship site that is not included on the Internship Opportunities page, but you must consult with Dr. Steck or another Sociology or Behavioral Science faculty member to ensure that the agency is an appropriate internship site.
How do I set up the internship?
Call or make contact with possible internship sites to set up an internship. Personal phone calls and in-person appointments with agency staff are the best initial steps toward securing an internship opportunity. Email contact only is a less effective and far less professional way to inquire about an internship.
How do I register for the internship?
After submitting the required paperwork to your faculty supervisor (the Internship Application for Academic Credit, the Internship Learning Contract, and the York College of Pennsylvania Affirmation Statement), the faculty supervisor will sign the internship paperwork, submit it to the Chair of the Behavioral Sciences Department for a signature, and then the paperwork will be forwarded to Molly Sauder, Assistant Director of Career Services and Internship Coordinator. From this point, the Career Services Internship Coordinator will complete the registration process. Students do not personally register for internship course in the conventional manner (i.e. online or through the Registrar’s Office).
When is the registration deadline for the internship?
The registration deadline for all college internships is the last day of drop/add during any semester. However, due to the chain of signatures required, the Sociology and Behavioral Sciences Internship Coordinator strongly recommends the final submission of paperwork by the student occur at least two days prior to the end of drop/add.
FOR ANSWERS TO MORE FREQUENTLY ASK QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, PLEASE SEE THE SOCIOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR, DR. LAURA WEST STECK, LSTECK@YCP.EDU, LS 333, X6585.
Because the criminal justice faculty believe that experiential learning/internships are invaluable, students are required as part of the criminal justice core curriculum to complete such an experience prior to graduation. Experiential learning experiences provide the student with an opportunity to derive a realistic and practical view of the system that cannot be gained from textbooks or the classroom.
Students have participated in a variety of placements locally, regionally, and nationally - adult and juvenile probation and parole, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, juvenile and adult detention facilities, community based probations, law-related settings (law firms, attorney general, district attorney, public defender, court administrator), commercial asset protection/private security, crime laboratories, and counseling/assistance organizations.
The program also maintains close ties with many local organizations that provide services to crime victims, juveniles, and others in the local community and can facilitate volunteer placement with the organizations to enable students to gain valuable career experience, and often, specialized training. Students are eligible for placement once they have successfully completed 60 semester hours and have a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Psychology Internships
Internships are available during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. Each psychology major can complete two internships for course credit.
Two general types of internships exist in the psychology program:
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Applied internships – These internship opportunities allow the student to learn more about the application of psychological principles to various settings and populations and are particularly helpful both for students who plan to go immediately into the workforce and for students who plan to pursue a graduate degree in some psychology or mental health/human services area. These internships are primarily available in clinical, counseling, school and business settings.
- Research internships – These internship opportunities involve the student in ongoing research activities and are particularly helpful for students who plan to pursue a doctoral degree or a research-intensive Master’s degree. These internships are primarily available in medical school and private research settings.
Any student interested in an internship should speak with Dr. Carla Strassle, (LS306, ext. 6414, cstrassl@ycp.edu) to get more information about the internship application process.
Recreation Practicum and Directed Field Experience
Students majoring in Recreation and Leisure Administration participate in a 120 hour Practicum and a 480 hour directed field experience, giving them a competitive edge in the job market. Practicum and directed field experiences have occurred at various agencies throughout the country including the following:
- Bureau of State Parks, Harrisburg, PA
- Disney World, Orlando, FL
- Lancaster Barnstormers, Lancaster, PA
- Matheny School and Hospital, NJ
- U.S. Parks Service, Gettysburg, PA
- U.S. Naval Air Station, Keflavik, Iceland
- Veteran's Administration Hospitals, Perry Point, MD
- Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms, SC
- Hershey Park, Hershey, PA
- York Jewish Community Center, York, PA
- Trenton Thunder, Trenton, PA
- Camp Thompson, Carlisle YMCA, Carlisle, PA
- Outdoor World, various locations in PA and NJ
- Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, Hamilton, NJ
- Resort Quest, Destin, FL
- Navy MWR, Hawaii