Psychology students are encouraged to experience psychology first-hand through psychology-oriented service opportunities and internships. Many courses in the department offer the opportunity to volunteer through the Joint Educational Project (JEP) as an assignment or for extra credit.

For a more intensive experience doing psychology-oriented work in a community setting, PSYC391, Directed Field Experience in Psychology, offers credit for a supervised placement. Click here to download the syllabus and the complete details for enrolling in PSYC391.

To receive permission to enroll in PSYC391, you must identify a volunteer placement that allows you to acquire applied experience in psychology and a faculty sponsor. You and your faculty sponsor will develop a written plan that includes a designated on-site supervisor at the placement, and a proposal for a written paper due at the end of the semester analyzing psychological issues pertinent to your placement.

Click here to download a list of organizations that offer PSYC391 placements. Locations that are especially interested in having volunteers for Spring 2011 include the American Red Cross, S. Groner Associates, and St. John of God.

If you do not find a placement on this list that fits your goals, or you would like guidance in choosing a volunteer placement, contact Danielle Keenan-Miller at keenanmi@usc.edu to discuss the available options. Other opportunities may also be available through the Joint Educational Project by contacting Jacqueline Whitley at jwhitley@usc.edu. The USC Volunteer Center also runs programs such as Alternative Breaks that could qualify for field experience. To explore those options, contact Joenique Rose at joeniqur@usc.edu. USC faculty members who are conducting research in the community may serve as both the on-site supervisor and faculty sponsor.

If you need more leads, try the following links.

• USC College's Joint Educational Project (JEP)
• USC Volunteer Center
• LA County Internship Bank

You may approach any professor to request supervision of PSYC 391, or contact Dr. Keenan-Miller for help in finding a good match. Professors who have already agreed to supervise include:

Dr. Margaret Gatz (older adults and “Eamon Cannon Comedy Class”)

Dr. Viviane Seyeranian (environmental psychology program at S Groner Associates)

Dr. Danielle Keenan-Miller (suicide prevention, severe mental illness)

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Keenan-Miller at keenanmi@usc.edu.