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 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 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 and who have agreed to accept volunteers in Spring 2010. Get in touch with the ones you find interesting to find out if they have current openings. Some of the listings ask you to contact Jacqueline Whitley at JEP rather than calling the agency directly, so that she can facilitate the placement. If you do not find a placement on this list that fits your goals, the Joint Educational Project (JEP), the USC Volunteer Center, or your faculty sponsor may be able to work with you to identify a suitable placement. Alternative Breaks sponsored by the Volunteer Center might also qualify for the field experience. USC faculty members who are conducting research in the community may serve as both the on-site supervisor and the 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
• Volunteer Match
• Charity Organizations in Los Angeles County

Professors who have indicated that they are available to supervise PSYC391 include:

Dr. Elaine Andersen (for “Bring Me A Book Foundation”)

Dr. Miranda Barone

Dr. Brian Baucom (child and family)

Dr. JoAnn Farver (child programs)

Dr. Margaret Gatz (older adults)

Dr. Gayla Margolin (for “A Better LA”)

Dr. Carol Prescott (substance abuse treatment)

Dr. Biing Shen

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Gatz at gatz@usc.edu