Practicum in Psychological Science II
This practicum is designed to provide students with an in-depth exposure to the methods of research either in psychology or in a field outside of psychology that is relevant to the work of psychologists. Transcending the conventional boundaries of labbased psychological research, the external practicum is meant to provide students with an opportunity to engage in an applied or translational research project that has specific real-world applications. Prerequisites: Statistics and Research Design I and II, and
Applied and Translational Research Methods.
General Overview
Psychological science students are required to take practicum courses as part of their graduate training. The first practicum is required for the M.A. and the second is required for the Ph.D. The practica are meant to form a pedagogical progression with students developing new research skills in the first practicum placement that they may then consolidate and develop further in the second practicum. The first practicum may either be an internal or external placement and the second practicum will typically be an external placement.
Types of Placement:
As an external placement, Practicum II offers the Psychological Science students an opportunity for skill-acquisition and refinement, for developing professional contacts, and for applying scientific knowledge to the needs and demands faced by the host sites.
For example, placements may sensitize students to the social, political, and economic realities that many government, health and human service organizations face as they meet the needs of their clients. The external placements are also important to help students identify possible career directions, gaps in research, and priorities for personal and professional development.
The external placement will allow students to engage in an applied or translational research project that has specific real-world aims. A diversity of external placements will be available, including areas such as community and health psychology, program evaluation, cognitive ergonomics/human factors, and psychology and law.
As best as possible, the placement will be tailored to the individual needs of the students and to their interests and goals for skill acquisition. The placements will take place in a variety of research and human service settings and students may select a placement from a list of “approved” settings, or they may pursue one of their own choosing (as long as it meets the department requirements for a practicum placement).
Some students may wish to develop ideas from their practicum placements into their
Masters theses or Doctoral dissertations.

Setting
 The practicum will be completed in a research laboratory or field setting such as hospital, government agency, company, or mental health clinic.
 The student will be involved in a definable project that can be completed to defined outcomes (i.e., “the deliverables”) within the period of the practicum.
 The host site must be able to designate a person who can provide supervision. This person shall possess the necessary authority to implement the practicum and the necessary knowledge to facilitate the project. This person will often be a Ph.D.-level researcher, though this is not a necessary requirement.
Timing
 The practicum will typically occur in the 4 th years of study.
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The practicum will consist of no less than 120 hours of placement.
Practicum Agreement
A formal practicum agreement will be negotiated between the student and the site supervisor, but may also involve the faculty supervisor.
Purpose of the Agreement
 Contentious issues discussed up front.
 Offers ways to accept or reject a project.
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Provides a forum for communication among all parties.
A Sample of Essential Points to be indicated in the Agreement
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Parties to the contract, including students, supervisors, and organizations.
 Roles and responsibilities of each party.
 Objectives/purpose of applied training objectives.
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Plan to ensure the objectives/purpose will be accomplished.
Supervision
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The practicum will be supervised by a site supervisor. The student should meet with the site supervisor once a week to ensure that the placement fulfills the practicum objectives. As well, regular seminar meetings will be held by the Psychological
Science Practicum Placement Coordinator with all currently placed practicum students.
 Upon completion of their placements, students will receive performance feedback from their site supervisors based on the Student Evaluation Form.
Evaluation
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Students must complete the minimum hours in the field placement to pass the practicum requirement.

August 2008
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At the end of the semester in which the practicum is completed, The Practicum
Placement Coordinator will make a recommendation to the Curriculum Committee of a “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” grade, based on the Student Evaluation Form.
Student Feedback
 Students will complete a Placement Evaluation Form describing the practicum placement.
Forms
 A Practicum Interest Form must be completed by the student prior to beginning the practicum.