Experiential Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom

Interested junior and senior psychology majors are offered a two-semester internship that allows them to gain extended experience in applying what they have learned. Many student placements have included probation departments of district and juvenile courts, guidance offices in public and private schools, the victim advocacy program of the local district attorney's office, and crisis pregnancy programs. Others have chosen programs outside human services such as an advocacy program for immigrants, legal assistance for the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, fundraising for a non-profit organization and data collection and analysis for a social service agency or other use.

Students spend ten hours per week in placement and meet weekly with others in their class to reflect on their experiences.

All faculty members in the department have ongoing research projects, and depending on other pressures, desire student involvement in their work. If you are interested in working on a research project, please talk with any and all faculty members with whom you would like to work. In some cases, student participation in faculty research can be significant enough that it is appropriate for the student's name to appear in any resulting presentation or publication. Those who wish to pursue a doctorate after graduation from Gordon should explore this option, as research experience weighs heavily in graduate school acceptance, particularly for Ph.D. applicants.

Sometimes students desire to carry out their own research. After completing the two-course Research Methods sequence which teaches the techniques of analysis (statistics) and the methodology of research design and implementation, students will put their learning into practice by carrying out a research project of their own choosing. Although the idea is the student's own, they will receive a great deal of help in carrying out these projects. In some cases, exceptional projects can be submitted for review and possible presentation at a local undergraduate conference.

In a few cases, students desire further research experience. Consult a faculty member as they sometimes supervise independent research. These possibilities of working with faculty members on your own research or on their research can bring students class credit as well as research experience.