Psychology and Cognitive Science Internship

Description

Explore your career goals, expand your professional network and skills, and gain real work experience by participating in an internship for an organization in either Dublin, Ireland, or Cape Town, South Africa. Internships are customized according to your career interests and skills in Psychology or Cognitive Science. You will earn UCSC credit, by enrolling in Psychology 193I, which fulfills major requirements, complements your experience, and supports a successful internship. You will intern approximately 25 hours per week and should expect to spend additional hours per week on coursework for PSYCH 193I.

Dates:

Arrival Date: Thursday, June 20, 2024
Internship Start Date: Monday, June 24, 2024
Program End Date: Saturday, August 17, 2024

Language of Instruction: Internships are in English.

Courses: Psychology 193I International Field Study (10 units)

Contact: Ashley Bayman at globallearning@ucsc.edu or Psych Field Study Director at psyfield@ucsc.edu

Quick Facts

Locations: Dublin, Ireland or Cape Town, South Africa

Minimum GPA – 2.5 Cumulative GPA or higher

Prerequisites and eligibility requirements

Declared Psychology or Cognitive Science Major
Good Academic Standing
Junior or Senior Standing
Completion of PSYC 100 with a C or better by the end of the Fall 2023 quarter. If you have not completed the course by the end of Fall 2023, you are not eligible to apply.

Highlights

Global Internship Highlights:

Gain valuable intercultural communication skills while working with an international team and workplace.
Engage with your host community and culture through activities and networking opportunities.
Fine-tune your professional skills that are useful for a career related to Psychology and/or Cognitive Science.
Add an internship to your resume, and prepare to talk about it in interviews – future employers will be intrigued.

Dublin, Ireland Excursions

Welcome dinner
EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum, including a guided tour
Celtic Boyne Valley tour, including Hill of Tara, Trim Castle, Hill of Uisneach, Loughcrew passage tomb, Fore Abbey, excluding meals
Experience Gaelic Games, including lunch
Abbey Theatre
Galway, Cliffs of Moher, and Connemara tour including admissions and transport, excluding meals
Malahide Castle, including lunch
Howth Cliff Walk, including lunch

Cape Town, South Africa Excursions

Welcome Dinner
Cape Point / Boulders Beach Penguin colony, including lunch
Winelands Tour, including lunch
Table Mountain Hike
South African cooking class
Robben Island tour
Farewell Dinner

Cost

To get a financial aid estimate on how much aid you can expect for the summer 2024 global internship program, review the instructions here.

Summer 2024 Program Budget – Dublin
Summer 2024 Program Budget – Cape Town
Students become liable for the program cost after the withdrawal deadline of March 1, 2024. To withdraw, they must complete the Global Learning Request to Withdraw Form.

Application Fee

There is a Non-Refundable $200 UCSC Global Learning Application Fee. It is charged to your UCSC account after March 1, 2024.

Location

Dublin

Dublin is a vibrant and welcoming city known for its captivating architecture, rich history, non-stop entertainment, thriving arts scene, lively cultural events, green spaces, and friendly residents. It is both the largest city in Ireland as well as the capital, founded as a Viking settlement during medieval times. Dublin is a global city with a vibrant youth culture making it an exciting place to intern. Read more about the city at Lonely Planet Dublin. Learn more about identities in Ireland here.

Currency in Dublin: Euro

Official Language(s) in Ireland: English and Irish (Gaeilge)

Cape Town

Cape Town is the capital of South Africa, which is the southernmost country on the African continent. Cape Town is centered around Table Mountain, and is known for its breathtaking scenery, including beaches, mountains, forests, gardens, oceans, grasslands, and rich biodiversity. Cape Town also has a vibrant, multicultural population with a complex social history. Read more about the city at Lonely Planet Cape Town, South Africa.

Currency in Cape Town: Rand (ZAR)

Official Language(s) in South Africa: Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu. The most widely spoken languages in Cape Town include Afrikaans, English, and isiXhosa.

Accommodations

In Dublin, students will tentatively stay at UCD Summer Residence. Each apartment will have Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens, linens, and in-building laundry. Before departure, students will complete a roommate preference form and will receive official details about housing accommodations 4 to 8 weeks prior to arrival. On-site staff will support students with any housing-related issues, including room change and repair requests. Each participant’s commute will vary, as internship placements are located in different areas around the city. Average commute times range from 30 minutes up to 75 minutes.

In Cape Town, students will tentatively stay at Gardens Apartments, where students share studio apartments in a centrally-located building with 24-hour security, above a shopping mall, with grocery stores, cafes, and shops. Each apartment will have Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens, linens, and in-building laundry. Before departure, students will complete a roommate preference form and will receive official details about housing accommodations 4 to 8 weeks prior to arrival. On-site staff will support students with any housing-related issues, including room change and repair requests. Each participant’s commute will vary, as internship placements are located in different areas around the city.

Meals

Meals are not provided outside of some planned activities and excursions. Students will have access to fully-equipped kitchens.

Weather and Climate

To research the weather and climate in Dublin, visit here.

To research the weather and climate in Cape Town, visit here. Since South Africa is located in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be winter for the duration of the program.

Research Your Destination

Travel Documents Required for US Citizens

A passport is required for US citizens. If you are not a US citizen please email globallearning@ucsc.edu to learn about additional travel documents you may need to pursue this program.

Country Information Resources

Ireland Information Resources

South Africa Information Resources

Students with Disabilities

If you need support services abroad, request an accommodation letter from your UCSC Disability Resource Center (DRC) Coordinator and share it with your UCSC Global Learning Coordinator, Ashley Bayman.

Identities Abroad and Away

UC Santa Cruz Global Learning is committed to inclusion and equity in our various program options as well as striving to make everyone’s experiences abroad enriching, positive, and safe. Learn more on our Identities Abroad and Away webpage.

Learn more about identities in Ireland here.

Learn more about identities in South Africa here.

Academics

Course Description

Psychology 193I International Field Study (10 units)

Designed to provide advanced psychology undergraduates the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to direct experience in a community agency abroad. Students earn academic credit by working as interns at a variety of psychological settings where they are trained and supervised by a professional within the agency. A UCSC faculty member also supervises the students’ academic work by providing guidance and helping them integrate psychological theories with their hands-on intern experience. Applications are due two quarters in advance to the Psychology Field Study Office. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100. Enrollment is restricted to junior and senior psychology majors.

The course will satisfy:

1 upper-division elective for Psychology and Cognitive Science majors
Advanced requirement for Intensive Psychology majors

The Psychology Field Study program

Internship

Internship Hours: 25 hours/week

Internship Partner

Global Learning has partnered with Connect123 to facilitate career-related internships for the Psych and Cog Sci global internship program. Their mission is to facilitate experiences that create equal value for students and for the local organizations where they work. Since 2006, thousands of students from over 600 universities and over 85 countries have participated in Connect123 programs. For more information, you can visit their website and read their reviews.

Once your application has been processed and approved by UCSC Global Learning, you will be working with the Connect123 team on your customized internship placement.

Internship Placement Process

After you have been accepted into this program, Connect123 will schedule a Zoom call to learn about your interests and goals for the internship experience. Prior to the interview, you must send Connect123 your resume and cover letter/statement of purpose, describing your goals, skills, and interests.
During the Zoom call, so that you have an idea about what to expect, Connect123 will provide examples of past projects that Connect-123 interns with similar interests have completed. Connect123 will work with each of you to help you define an ideal, customized internship experience which then informs the placement process and ensures positive outcomes. Placements are guaranteed for all students.
During the placement process, you may receive one best offer. Offers are contingent on successful interviews with your supervisor and Connect123 helps you with interview preparation. Since placements are customized, uniquely around your interests, the process can take up to a few months.
1. Example questions to ask an internship site during an interview may include:
  1. Can you describe your organization’s culture?
  2. What are the main projects or day-to-day responsibilities involved in this internship?
  3. What are some essential qualities for successful interns?
  4. What challenges do you find interns most frequently face in this role?
  5. How do you evaluate performance for this position?
  6. Do you have any additional questions about my background or qualifications?
Connect123 puts substantial effort into the placement process to help ensure positive outcomes for both you and the local organization. That said, if after starting, you aren’t happy with a placement, Connect123’s first step is to discuss options for resolution with you, as finding solutions can be an important part of the learning experience. However, if it’s not possible to fix, Connect123 can suggest other internship options.

***Please note: During the internship placement process, you will be matched with one top organization based on your interests, goals, and skills you want to gain. This process is different than in the United States where you can choose from a variety of internship hosts. That said, if you do not agree that the internship is a good match, Connect123 may be able to find an alternative placement.

Example psychology / cognitive science-related internship projects include:

Helping to develop therapeutic programs for drug users at a rehabilitation center
Assisting a product design lab with human factors-related projects, improving UX/UI and the human relationship with technology
Evaluating program outcomes for a non-profit that assists mentally ill patients and their families
Assisting with supervision, play, and afterschool classes at a community childcare center and helping to plan summer programs
Helping with social media campaigns and creating awareness for a STEM-focused youth training center
Assisting with program development and supervision at a summer camp for marginalized children

Example psychology / cognitive science-related partners include:

The SAOL Project is an NGO supporting women and children in Dublin’s North Inner City

community through their drug rehabilitation, education, advocacy, and childcare programs.

Ozanam House is a community resource center offering skill-development programs to youth groups and adults. Modules include learning to manage emotions, empowerment, and self-belief, managing your inner critical voice, building self-compassion, and developing life skills related to nutrition and physical activity.

Bridge21 is a Dublin-based education program offering a new model of learning that can be adapted for use in Irish secondary schools, changing how students learn and engage with education, focusing on teamwork, technology, and developing leadership skills.

PASCAP Trust provides after-school programs to vulnerable children and youth in marginalized communities in Cape Town that promote development, psychosocial well-being, safety, and career advancement.

Hope House Counselling Centre offers counseling, group workshops, school programs, and trauma-informed training to children, youth, and adults in the Cape Town community.

The Adonis Musati Project provides humanitarian assistance to vulnerable and

disenfranchised asylum seekers and refugees in Cape Town, including health and welfare, training, education, advocacy, and psycho-social and mental health care support.

Neural Sense, based in Cape Town, identifies how marketing, advertising, and communication stimuli can be optimized to enhance emotional impact and responses for brands, products, and services.

Salesian Institute Youth Projects runs life skills, literacy, and computer skills programs in

Cape Town for youth who have dropped out of school and are at risk.